Tokyo Marathon Expo 2016 is Opened!

The opening ceremony started with traditional Japanese drums followed by the opening address by Koji Sakurai, the President/CEO of the Tokyo Marathon foundation the organizer for the Tokyo Marathon.

After the opening address, vail opening ceremony was conducted by Koji Sakurai, Yoshimitsu Oku of Tokyo Metro, Kentaro Asahi, former Beach Volleyball Olympian, Masazumi Soejima, wheelchair race director, and Megumi Oshima, two time Olympian, who finished 13th at 10000m in the 2004 Athens Games. Oshima, formerly Megumi Tanaka, is one of the charity runners this year.

Last year, 108 companies set up the booth in the Tokyo Marathon Expo. This year, the number of the booth has increased by 15 to 123. The floor space for the expo has also increased and thus the Expo will be able to accommodate more visitors. Last year’s Expo counted over 100,000 visitors, and this year, with 10th anniversary of the Tokyo Marathon, higher numbers of visitors are expected.

The runners check-in officially started at 11AM at the Tokyo Big Sight, the finish of the marathon on Sunday, and will continue through the early evening hours of Saturday. Many of the booths not only exhibits running related goods, but also sell them at the Expo. The booths from other mass marathons are also inviting the runner to attend their events.

The Expo also runs through Saturday and public are encourage to attend.

“Quick Scan” booth, presented by ASICS is back again this year. The runners can have their feet measured in a few quick seconds and receive the recommendation on the type of shoes that is best for them. But that is not all. This year’s Expo introduced further technological advances. New this year in the Asics booth is “Foot ID,” which includes both “Static Foot ID” as well as “Dynamic Foot ID.”

 

The “Static Foot ID” utilizes 3D foot measuring equipment to measure not only the foot print (two dimensions), but also the third dimension of the runner’s feet. Newly unveiled “Dynamic Food ID” will measure foot landing as well as degree of pronation while running on the treadmill. These new technologies will further help runners to select the right shoes for them.