Interview Relay 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon
〜Connecting Hearts〜

 

Interview Relay: 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon ~ Connecting Hearts~ 

The 33rd interviewee is Mr. Yoshio Kojima, the comedian very popular especially among the children.

He ran the Tokyo Marathon 2025 as a marathon ambassador and charity runner for Gold Ribbon Network Foundation(Gold Ribbon Network), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children with cancer. Immediately after Mr. Kojima crossed the finish line and broke his personal best, we interviewed him about what he hoped to convey as the charity runner and the appealing points of the Tokyo Marathon, which he experienced for the first time.

 

Hoping as many people as possible to learn about Gold Ribbon

 

――Please tell us what you had hoped to convey through your challenge to run the Tokyo Marathon 2025 as the marathon ambassador and charity runner for Gold Ribbon Network.

 Simply, I had hoped that as many people as possible would learn about this Gold Ribbon Network. That was my foremost wish. I myself learned about Gold Ribbon Network just a year ago through my acquaintance, and want as many people as possible to learn about it. My participation in the Tokyo Marathon would raise a question to people as to why I was wearing the gold swim shorts (laugh). The same applies to the T-shirt I am currently wearing. My foremost motivation was to promote “Oh, there is such an initiative” and to have people to learn about it even a bit of it. 

 

――What were your thoughts when you received an offer from Gold Ribbon Network, and what made you accept the role of the ambassador?

 Well, after all, it is indispensable to mutually support one another in society. If people learn about Gold Ribbon Network and even a handful of their feelings come together, it will eventually turn into a big force. The same applies to the donations, right? I thought that the first step was to “learn” and “have others learn” about it. 

 

――What about the interaction with the children?

 The children are indeed genuinely the children (laugh). They are innocent and joyfully played with me the other day, too.

 

――Since your appointment as the ambassador, what sort of feedback and response have you received?

 Through SNS, I received a great number of comments saying, “I came to learn about Gold Ribbon for the first time,” so at least I heard such voices and I felt happy.  I am hoping that with this marathon today, such voices will be raised even more. 

 

Why was Yoshio Kojima wearing the gold swim shorts?

 

――At the Tokyo Marathon 2025 held today, your clock time was 3 hours 58 minutes and 15 seconds, and your net time was 3 hours 53 minutes and 36 seconds.

 Oh, that is my personal best!

 

――Congratulations! Please share with us your impressions after having run the Tokyo Marathon for the first time. 

 The Tokyo Marathon is full of amazing landmarks. It starts from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, passing through landmarks of Tokyo such as the Kaminatimon Gate, and the roadside was filled with cheers and supporters. In addition, there were some interesting runners. Throughout the race, there was a person disguised in Taiyaki (Japanese traditional sweets, fish-shaped cake usually with filling inside) running near me. I had thought that dressed like that, the Taiyaki would slow down behind me soon after the start, but in the end, right before reaching the 40km mark, I was overtaken. The Taiyaki was so fast (laugh)! 

 

――The Taiyaki may have been vying with you (laugh).

 I came across such interesting things and found the Tokyo Marathon very amusing. 

 

――The significance of wearing the gold swim shorts was conveyed to other runners and the people on the roadside? 

No, I don’t think so yet (laugh). Maybe, they thought “why gold swim shorts?” but that was probably it. Though at the 39km mark, near Zojoji Temple, Gold Ribbon Network related members came to support me, so as you would think, the significance was conveyed at least to them, as expected. Subsequently, the significance may be spread like an urban myth with a question of “why was Yoshio Kojima wearing the gold swim shorts?” which may link with Gold Ribbon.

 

――You had thought that far? 

Of course (grin). 

 

A sense of unity – no feeling of running solo

 

―― About 38,000 runners participated in the Tokyo Marathon this year, and of that figure, about 18,000 runners joined from overseas. After running it, what do you think are the appealing points of the Tokyo Marathon? Why do many runners hope to run the Tokyo Marathon?

 I absolutely felt a sense of unity! From the 1km mark to the finish line, I did not feel like I was running solo. I had trained alone, but throughout the race, there was always someone side by side. Towards the end, I was extremely exhausted and people on the roadside cheered me on, shouting “Go for it.” Running by mutually supporting one another – the sense would become a driving force to run again, I thought. 

And, the road remained so clean! The runners tossed the trash into the designated box, so the garbage was not left scattered. I found it amazing. This is one of the appealing points of Tokyo, Japan. I used to live with a person from New York who was astonished with how clean the city was. “Why is it so clean even though there is not any trash box?” Today, I truly felt that people followed etiquette while running. 

 

――We see. Thanks to the Tokyo Marathon today, the allure of the city, Tokyo and Japan may be spread even more globally. 

 Yes, I think it was conveyed. 

 

I feel that I can be someone’s inspiration. 

 

――What does the Tokyo Marathon mean to you? #MyTokyoMarathon is…？

This was a truly historic and memorable event for me.

Just last February or March, I had thought about running the Tokyo Marathon, so I had prepared for it for just a year, but unfortunately in April, I broke my right leg. It was all about breaking my own record after the injury, running as the ambassador of Gold Ribbon and running the marathon as dad for the first time since my baby was born last year. Needless to say, the fact that I had many supporters gave me great reassurance and became one of the motivations and driving force to keep taking a step forward. 

 

 

――Finally, to promote the spirit of charity, could you share a message that highlights its importance, not only for runners but also for those who have yet to participate in charitable activities??

 When you feel that you are someone’s inspiration, it will give you a positive effect on your life. If you try, you may meet your new self, so without taking it too seriously, why not give it a try? A charity is not something that we ask someone to “do.” Instead, you feel that you can be someone’s inspiration and that inspires yourself. So, I want to convey a message that you would feel inspired through small action.