The Honolulu Marathon celebrated its 51st anniversary on Sunday with a staggering total of 27,000 runners, and almost a third of its participants were Japanese.
Almost anyone can enter the grueling 26.2-mile race; as long as the individual is aged 7 or older, he or she is welcome to participate. And for this very reason, the marathon eventually came to be known as the ‘the people’s race.’
The Marathon
It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest marathons in the US. In 2012, the 40th annual Honolulu Marathon attracted as many as 31,083 runners, making it America’s second-largest marathon that year, behind only the Chicago Marathon with 45,000 runners.
However, these aren’t the most intriguing aspects of the marathon. Every year, a considerable proportion of their registrations are Japanese.
According to a 2006 study published in Tourism Review International, Hawaii depends heavily on tourism, and during the last few decades or so, Japanese travelers have ranked as the state’s most frequent visitors.
The research also discussed the positive effects the Honolulu Marathon had on the overall economy of Japan and its role in drawing in more Japanese visitors.
Japanese runners statistics
The number of Japanese runners began to rise in 1985, when about 2,361 out of 9,310 competitors, or 25.40 percent of the total, had registered. In the years that followed, the percentages shot up and ranged from 40% to as much as 70% (in 1991).
However, as the COVID-19 pandemic began and the restrictions were put into place, only 566 participants, or 3.5% of the total, participated in 2021.
Two years later, as the restrictions were lifted and people were again free to travel to different countries, the numbers have at last returned to normal. This year, it soared to an impressive count of 9,500.
Dr. Jim Barahal, the Honolulu Marathon president, said he hoped the Japanese runners’ return would signal better times ahead for the travel and tourist sectors.
Honolulu Marathon Winners
In the men’s and women’s divisions, a Kenyan duo dominated the field, setting blistering times.
Paul Lonyangata blazed to victory in the men’s race with a record of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 42 seconds, while Cynthia Limo led the women’s event with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 1 second.
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Cover Photo: Wiki