Home > TOKYO 東京都 > Sports > Tokyo Marathon 2008 東京マラソン

tm010-IMG_3594.jpg
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on a sunny morning of the Tokyo Marathon, Feb. 17, 2008.
tm011-IMG_3616.jpg
Before the start of the marathon, runners and wheelchair racers warm up in front of the start line.
tm012-IMG_3604.jpg
Before the start of the marathon, runners and wheelchair racers warm up in front of the start line.
tm013-IMG_3613.jpg
Runners and wheelchair racers warm up in front of the start line.
tm014-IMG_3619.jpg
No entry beyond this point. The entire area around the government buildings was restricted and only runners and staff could enter. This is the closest we could get to the start line.
tm015-IMG_3623.jpg
Crowd near the start line. The lookout deck in nearby skyscrapers like the triangular Sumitomo building was also closed to the public.
tm016-IMG_3633.jpg
Tokyo Marathon start line in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
tm017-IMG_3635.jpg
First, the wheelchair race started at 9:05 am.
tm018-IMG_3642.jpg
Then the Tokyo Marathon started at 9:10 am. Also see my video at YouTube.
tm019-IMG_3644.jpg
Here come the runners. On the lower left of the picture, you can see Victor Rothlin of Switzerland (dressed in black) who won the marathon in 2 hours 7 min. 23 sec.
tm020-IMG_3650.jpg
Here they come, over 30,000 of them.
tm021-IMG_3664.jpg
The deluge of runners continued for about 20 min.
tm022-IMG_3694.jpg
Everyone was thankful for the sunny, blue-sky weather, unlike last year's awful rain.
tm023-IMG_3709.jpg
It's unfortunate that ordinary people cannot get a better view of the starting line.
tm024-IMG_3711.jpg
Nippon Ganbare! The runners looked really happy, many were smiling or laughing with joy. If I were running, I would be grimacing and in pain after about 10 min.
tm025-IMG_3732.jpg
Taxi driver from New York?
tm026-IMG_3743.jpg
The runners got sparse at the end of the line.
tm027-IMG_3752.jpg
Now in Yurakucho, near Ginza.
tm028-IMG_3751.jpg
"Due to the Tokyo Marathon, you cannot cross the road. Use the underground pasage."
tm029-IMG_3753.jpg
Yurakucho, looking toward Hibiya Park.
tm030-IMG_3754.jpg
A little over an hour has passed.
tm031-IMG_3758.jpg
The mass media trucks.
tm032-IMG_3760.jpg
The leading pack reach the halfway point.
tm033-IMG_3762.jpg
Many in the leading pack were African.
tm034-IMG_3764.jpg
They sure ran fast. They just whizzed by.
tm035-IMG_3769.jpg
21 km point in Yurakucho.
tm036-IMG_3786.jpg
Road near Imperial Palace.
tm037-IMG_3795.jpg
Yoda
tm038-IMG_3799.jpg
Tiger
tm039-IMG_3800.jpg
Somehow a samurai outfit does not match jogging sneakers.
tm040-IMG_3808.jpg
I agree with her costume. Anybody running (and completing) a marathon is Super.
tm041-IMG_3813.jpg
What is she?
tm042-IMG_3814.jpg
Chinaman's hat
tm043-IMG_3815.jpg
The Blue (or Blues?) Brothers
tm044-IMG_3822.jpg
Iwaida-bashi Bridge over the Imperial Palace moat, next to Hibiya Park.
tm045-IMG_3824.jpg
Iwaida-bashi Bridge over the Imperial Palace moat, exiting the Imperial Palace
tm046-IMG_3834.jpg
Imperial Palace
tm047-IMG_3836.jpg
Women in happi coats labeled with "Tokushima University" and "Honolulu Marathon." Perhaps they ran in the Honolulu Marathon (held in Dec.) as well.
tm048-IMG_3842.jpg
Imperial Palace
tm049-IMG_3847.jpg
Smile for the camera!!
tm050-IMG_3851.jpg
Country hick
tm051-IMG_3866.jpg
Now in Shinagawa, at the U-turn.
tm052-IMG_3873.jpg
Shinagawa U-turn (15 km point)
tm053-IMG_3875.jpg
Also see my video at YouTube.
tm054-IMG_3883.jpg
Cameras were also at the Shinagawa U-turn where some runners posed.
tm055-IMG_3895.jpg
tm056-IMG_3896.jpg
From Shinagawa, they head to Ginza.
tm057-IMG_3903.jpg
Banner
tm058-IMG_3964.jpg
Meanwhile, at Tokyo Big Sight, a marathon festival was taking place. Numerous food stalls and entertainment.
tm059-IMG_3959.jpg
Chinese dragon dance
tm060-IMG_4143.jpg
Balloon man
tm061-IMG_4146.jpg
tm062-IMG_3966.jpg
Jazz group
tm063-IMG_3957.jpg
Ethnic booth (Afghanistan)
tm064-IMG_4148.jpg
Try riding on a racing wheelchair.
tm065-IMG_4149.jpg
Wheelchairs
tm066-IMG_3975.jpg
Ariake Station
tm067-IMG_4090.jpg
Passing by Tokyo Big Sight, the finish.
tm068-IMG_3978.jpg
tm069-IMG_4088.jpg
Almost there...
tm070-IMG_3981.jpg
Posing for the camera.
tm071-IMG_4004.jpg
For this marathon, I concentrated on shooting these great costumed runners.
tm072-IMG_4008.jpg
Rabbit ears were popular among women at the Tokyo Marathon 2008
tm073-IMG_4010.jpg
"Today's my birthday" is written on her sash.
tm074-IMG_4012.jpg
Pikachu
tm075-IMG_4015.jpg
Muscular maid at Tokyo Marathon 2008
tm076-IMG_4016.jpg
She wasn't the only one in a maid costume.
tm077-IMG_4018.jpg
Can't figure out this one.
tm078-IMG_4019.jpg
Middle-age cuteness
tm079-IMG_4021.jpg
Another bunny
tm080-IMG_4023.jpg
This guy must be from Hawaii...
tm081-IMG_4024.jpg
Colorful and cheerful. Many runners were still smiling and laughing. They were having fun.
tm082-IMG_4026.jpg
Wish I got a clearer shot of this cute Minnie Mouse.
tm083-IMG_4027.jpg
Whale or fish
tm084-IMG_4028.jpg
Horse
tm085-IMG_4030.jpg
Cute maid who knows how to smile for the camera.
tm086-IMG_4034.jpg
Tomo
tm087-IMG_4035.jpg
Hula dancer? Not from Hawaii though.
tm088-IMG_4038.jpg
Tiger head
tm089-IMG_4041.jpg
Tokyo Tower
tm090-IMG_4042.jpg
Bridesmaid? Gosh, she's carrying a handbag.
tm091-IMG_4046.jpg
What is it?
tm092-IMG_4047.jpg
Higashi Kokubaru, Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture running in Tokyo Marathon 2008
tm093-IMG_4048.jpg
Higashi Kokubaru, Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture. The only celebrity I was able to recognize.
tm094-IMG_4052.jpg
Mikoshi portable shrine. Probably a shrine priest.
tm095-IMG_4055.jpg
Daisy Duck
tm096-IMG_4057.jpg
What character is this?
tm097-IMG_4060.jpg
Devil
tm098-IMG_4061.jpg
What would a marathon be without a cow costume? Her sash says "Let's drink milk." It's true that milk consumption in Japan has been decreasing. Dunno why. One of my favorite drinks. (I have strong bones.)
tm099-IMG_4063.jpg
Highway cone
tm100-IMG_4077.jpg
Spiderman. Can he actually see through the mask?
tm101-IMG_3984.jpg
Approaching the finish line.
tm102-IMG_4001.jpg
Bleachers at the finish line. (Open to the public.)
tm103-IMG_4096.jpg
View from finish line bleachers.
tm104-IMG_4114.jpg
The bleachers were crowded with people. Unlike last year when it was raining and few people was here.
tm105-IMG_4116.jpg
tm106-IMG_4100.jpg
Music entertainment also provided by high school bands.
tm107-IMG_4095.jpg
Road to finish line
tm108-IMG_4097.jpg
Goal in sight. Runners had to cross the finish line by 4:10 pm. The vast majority did so.
tm109-IMG_4105.jpg
The finish line. Unlike last year, we could not approach the finish line and see the runners crossing it up close. Also see my video at YouTube.
tm110-IMG_4123.jpg
After the marathon, the runners enter Tokyo Big Sight and change clothing.
tm111-IMG_4127.jpg
Inside Tokyo Big Sight, an endless stream of runners walk past a crowd looking for their friend or relative.
tm112-IMG_4129.jpg
There is a meeting place inside Tokyo Big Sight. Most marathons use a large park for runners to gather after the race. But Tokyo Big Sight is used for the Tokyo Marathon because it is indoors and unaffected by the weather. It's also warm inside.
tm113-IMG_4140.jpg
Runners and their relatives/friends leave Tokyo Big Sight. Ahead is the marathon festival site.
tm114-IMG_4136.jpg
Goodbye Tokyo Big Sight. Also see photos of the 2007 Tokyo Marathon.
     
105 files on 1 page(s)