Yuki Kawauchi, with 20 sub 2:11 marathons and 75 sub 2:20 marathons to run 2018 Boston Marathon, announced by John Hancock

BOSTON, MA, December 21, 2017--John Hancock said today that Japanese runner Yuki Kawauchi has been invited to participate in the company's 2018 Boston Marathon Elite Team.

During a visit to Boston the last week of December, Kawauchi will train on the Boston Marathon course. And on New Year's Day, he will to attempt to break the world record for most sub-2:20 marathons ever run. Currently the co-record holder with American Doug Kurtis, each having run 75 marathons under the 2:20 mark, Kawauchi will attempt to break the record at the USATF certified Marshfield Road Runners New Year's Day Marathon.

"I can think of nothing better than breaking the record in Marshfield on New Year's Day and then improving that record in Boston on Patriots' Day," said Kawauchi. "There is no place more appropriate than Boston for writing new pages in marathoning history."

An international icon for his high-volume, high-quality racing, Kawauchi is a self-coached amateur who works full-time. His personal best marathon time is 2:08:41, he has won 30 career marathons, and he has competed on several Japanese national teams, including three IAAF World Marathon Championships. He holds the Japanese record in the 50K and world records for running the most sub-2:12 marathons (25), sub-2:13 (40), sub-2:14 (48), sub-2:15 (53), sub-2:16 (62), sub-2:17 (67), sub-2:18 (71) and sub-2:19 (74).

The 2018 Boston Marathon marks the 33rd year of John Hancock's landmark sponsorship of the legendary race. The complete elite international field will be announced in early January. For additional information about the elite athlete program and sponsorship, please visit www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/sportspartnerships.html or follow us @jhboston26 and @johnhancockUSA on Twitter.

About John Hancock and Manulife

John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over $1 trillion (US$806 billion) as of September 30, 2017. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and college savings plans. We also offer advice through Signator, a network of independent financial advisors. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.