Run! Support! Cheer! Mini-Tokyo Marathon – Fun for all!

2025.06.23

Hello all, I’m the Tokyo Marathon Foundation Sports Legacy Program Charity Ambassador, M Takashi.

Through the four keywords and concepts of “Sports Dream (Enhancement and Education),” “Sports Foundation (Facilities),” “Sports Expansion (Public Awareness),” and “The Power of Sports (Contributing to Society),” the Tokyo Marathon Foundation Sports Legacy Program aims to create a society in which everyone can enjoy new lifestyles centered around sports.

One of the initiatives of the Sports Legacy Program is the Mini-Tokyo Marathon, which includes special classes for elementary and junior high school students.

The children can experience a simulated Tokyo Marathon in line with the foundation’s concept of “the joy of running (runners), the pride of supporting (volunteers and judges) and the joy of cheering (supporters).”

This time we are visiting Shinjuku City Tomihisa Elementary School. As the elementary school students are still too young to enter the Tokyo Marathon as runners, by participating in the mock marathon, it creates opportunities for them to participate in future real marathons as supporters, and may even lead to them joining as runners or volunteers!

The Mini-Tokyo Marathon is split into three groups, the Runners, the Volunteers and the Supporters. Participants can experience the different roles of the three groups.

And I, M Takashi, will lead the Supporters group and give a lecture.

First, we will do a warm-up using the Japaxercise workout that I created, then we will split into groups and get started.

The Supporters must choose a leader who will wear the Tokyo Marathon special coat and headband, and it looks like the children are already getting excited, lol! And another fun thing about doing this at an elementary school is that we can borrow the school’s taiko drum and beat out a rhythm to encourage everyone. And don’t forget to wave flags and fans! Let’s go everyone!

Supporters must give encouragement each time the Runners pass. I asked the children to give words of encouragement that would make them happy if they were running themselves.

Calling out a Runner’s name, cheering them when things look tough, and shouting “last lap!” or “just a little more!” as the finish line approaches all give the Runners extra encouragement.

During the full Tokyo Marathon, around 1,000,000 people line the sides of the course giving encouraging cheers.

Although we can’t help the Runners directly by pushing or pulling them forward, our calls of encouragement give them the strength to draw out all of their inner power.

Imagine if you were to run under identical weather conditions, but:

– You’re supported and cheered for all 42.195 km
– You have to run for 42.195 km in silence with no encouragement
– You have to run the whole 42.195 km while being booed and heckled (I don’t even want to imagine it!)

Although we cannot test this, I think we can be sure that it would lead to a massive difference in results.

I think the children are starting to see the power of support!

And after the session is completed, many children tell me “I really enjoyed supporting!”

It really is fun to encourage people! Seeing the Runners spurred on by your support makes you feel energized yourself! And what’s more, it’s a great chance to let loose and shout as loud as you can, lol.

While study and sports themselves are of course great, this event includes the message that we want children to grow up to be people that can support and help others around them.

The Sports Legacy Program also plans to accept donations for the Tokyo Marathon 2026 charity.
The warmth of everyone’s encouragement helps raise the next generation of athletes and supports the future of sports.
Please consider taking part yourself.

Information about the Tokyo Marathon 2026 Charity can be found here.