New York, NY – The World Marathon Majors® (WMM) today announced the addition of the Tokyo Marathon to the World Marathon Majors Series. The seventh Tokyo Marathon, which will be held on February 24, 2013, will be the first race in the 2013 – 2014 World Marathon Majors scoring period. The Tokyo Marathon is the first World Marathon Majors event to be based in Asia.  

“Tokyo is honored to join the World Marathon Majors,” said Tad Hayano, Tokyo Marathon Foundation Race Director. “As the first marathon from Asia, we will continuously make an effort to expand the brand of the WMM in Asia. Likewise, as the one of the World Marathon Majors, we believe that the Tokyo Marathon can make an even more positive contribution to the world marathon scene by working with our new partners.”

Founded on January 23, 2006 by the Boston, Virgin London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago, and ING New York City marathons, the World Marathon Majors is a race series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world. In addition to the six other races, the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons also serve as scoring events in the years in which they are held. Athletes earn points by placing among the top five in each race during a two-year scoring period. The champions of the WMM will be the man and woman who score the greatest number of points during the two-year scoring period.

In a joint statement from the World Marathon Majors Race Directors, Tom Grilk, Executive Director of the Boston Athletic Association and Boston Marathon, added, “We at World Marathon Majors are delighted to have Tokyo join our group. The Japanese have a magnificent history and tradition in the marathon, and the Japanese people have long embraced the marathon and distance running in general. They are among the finest fans in the world for our sport.”

The inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held on February 18, 2007 and drew 95,044 applicants and 30,870 participants. Kenya’s Daniel Njenga (2:09:45) and Japan’s Hitomi Niiya (2:31:01) were the race’s first champions. Since 2007, the Tokyo Marathon has grown to over 300,000 applicants and nearly 36,000 participants. In addition to serving as the first race of the 2013 – 2014 WMM scoring period, the 2013 Tokyo Marathon will double as the Japanese men’s national team trials for the 14th IAAF World Championships Marathon in Moscow. Prior to the establishment of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation in 2007, the city of Tokyo hosted two separate marathon events for elite men and women, dating back to 1980 and 1979, respectively.  

Each of the World Marathon Majors races boasts an international elite field for both men and women, has a mass participatory field completing the same course as the elite runners, takes place in a major international market, and is regarded as among the best in the industry.

About the Tokyo Marathon
Organized by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation and established in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon hosts nearly 36,000 participants on a tour of Tokyo’s iconic tourist attractions. Through its theme, “The Day We Unite,” the Tokyo Marathon unites runners, volunteers, and spectators on race day. Following the 2011 race, the Tokyo Marathon instituted “Tsunagu,” a companion charity program for the Tokyo Marathon. Donations go to charitable activities in various fields according to the concept of “Tsunagu,” or solidarity. Registration for the 2013 Tokyo Marathon, which closed on August 31, drew over 300,000 applicants.