Japanese races face uncertainty over autumn dates

Shimada Oikawa was one of the many October/November marathons to have earlier postponed opening registrations – delaying from 15 April to 1 June. Citing the continued spread of the coronavirus and uncertainty about what conditions will be like this autumn, organisers made the decision to pull the plug.

As it currently stands, Japan’s autumn marathon season is looking like this. Numbers are full marathon finisher totals last time.

• 4 Oct: Tohoku Miyagi Fukko Marathon (7,457) – scheduled
• 4 Oct: Matsumoto Marathon (6,455)- scheduled, final decision in early May
• 18 Oct: Chiba Aqualine Marathon (9,541) – cancelled
• 25 Oct: Mito Komon Marathon (9,995) – cancelled
• 25 Oct: Shimada Oikawa Marathon (6,589) – cancelled
• 25 Oct: Iwate Morioka City Marathon (5,729) – scheduled
• 1 Nov: Yokohama Marathon (25,195) – scheduled, final decision by May 14
• 1 Nov: Toyama Marathon (12,603) – entries suspended
• 8 Nov: Fukuoka Marathon (11,349) – cancelled
• 15 Nov: Kobe Marathon (19,444) – scheduled, lottery results to be announced on June 16
• 22 Nov: Tsukuba Marathon (11,461) – cancelled
• 23 Nov: Ohtawara Marathon (1,697) – cancelled
• 29 Nov: Osaka Marathon (31,594) – entries suspended
• 29 Nov: Nagasaki Peace marathon (1st running, field of 10,000) – scheduled
• 6 Dec: Shonan International Marathon (16,821) – to be announced
• 6 Dec: Naha Marathon (14,660) – entries suspended until early July
• 6 Dec: Fukuoka International Marathon (370) – to be announced
• 13 Dec: Saitama International Marathon (13,340) – cancelled
• 13 Dec: Nara Marathon (11,137) – scheduled
• 20 Dec.: Hofu Marathon (2,724) – to be announced

In the same way that the Tokyo Marathon, along with Hong Kong and Chinese races, ended up foreshadowing what was going to happen everywhere else this spring, the above is probably an indication of what to expect elsewhere in the world this autumn.