Running into history: The day Milwaukee Independent stumbled upon a marathon in Tokyo

3.11 EXPLORING FUKUSHIMA: This feature is part of an original Milwaukee Independent editorial series that documented the 13th anniversary of the "Great East Japan Earthquake," tsunami, and nuclear accident, including the conditions of both the people and places that remain affected by the disaster across the Tōhoku region. mkeind.com/exploringfukushima

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors, alongside races in Boston, New York City, Chicago, Berlin, and London. For 2024 it was held on March 3, which coincided with the “Milwaukee Independent” team being in Tokyo just before leaving on a special assignment in Fukushima.

Since its inception in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon has grown in popularity, attracting tens of thousands of runners from around the world. Participants compete for various titles and qualifying times, and the event also serves as a selection trial for Japanese athletes for international competitions.

The marathon’s course main course of 26.219 miles weaves through the city, showcasing Tokyo’s modern and historic sites, starting from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku and ending near the Imperial Palace. Stops along the way include Nihonbashi, Asakusa, Ginza, Hibiya Park, and Tokyo Station.

Benson Kipruto of Kenya clinched his first victory in the prestigious race. His finishing time of 2:02:16 not only shattered the course record but also marked the fastest marathon time ever recorded in Japan. The results positioned him as the fifth fastest globally. The victory added to Kipruto’s impressive portfolio, including wins at the Boston Marathon 2021 and Chicago Marathon 2022.

The Milwaukee Independent team on assignment in Japan was not originally scheduled to report on the event or take photos of it. But on the flight from Chicago to Haneda, many marathon participants shared their joy and anticipation of the upcoming challenge.

With Shinkansen seats reserved from Tokyo to Ichinoseki on Monday, March 4, race day happened to be a free day. With Milwaukee Independent’s hotel mere blocks from Tokyo Station and the Marathon’s finish line, it would have been impossible to avoid the event on that Sunday.

Senior photojournalist Lee Matz was able to capture intimate moments of the race from official media areas, including Kipruto as he reached the finish line. Relocating to other spots around the city to document different scenes came with many logistical challenges.

Aside from the distance, crossing the blocked streets meant navigating the subway tunnels. More than a few times a direction was chosen in error, but the happy result led to rare photographic opportunities.

This collection of images shares what that day in Tokyo was like, as thousands of marathon participants from around the world ran for miles through the heart of Japan’s capital.