On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2015.10.24(Sat)/09:00～

The Fukuoka Marathon 2015 is going to be held on Sunday, November 8th. Its dynamic course goes from the heart of Fukuoka City out to the Itoshima City nature-filled coastline. That, together with the warmth and hospitality of the volunteers and the heart-felt cheers of Fukuoka’s people from the sideline, make this event even greater. The first time the marathon was held, last year, about 12,000 runners participated. There were more than 3,000 volunteers helping and 210,000 people cheering! It was really a spectacle to witness.

Aside from the marathon itself, there are several other events going on as well…

On Friday, November 6th and Saturday the 7th, from 10 AM until 8 PM, the Fukuoka Marathon 2015 EXPO will be going on along the west side of city hall in the Fureai Hiroba Plaza, as well as in Tenjin Central Park. At the event, there will be grilled oysters, horned turban cooked in the shell, along with other seafood delicacies. Fukuoka prefecture’s fresh fruit will be on sale along side of vendors from other prefectures. On Sunday the 7th, the Fukuoka City Fire Department Musical Band will perform, and festivity ambassador, Mariya Nishiuchi, a native of Fukuoka City, will be on stage.

On the main day of the competition, the 8th, there will be live musical performances at 5 cheering stations along the marathon route, wadaiko Japanese taiko, cheerleading and dance performances, local traditional entertainment and more from various groups supporting the runners.

And, beginning at 11:40 AM at the finish-line of the full marathon, Itoshima’s Shima Central Park, the awards ceremony will take place. Festivities will run until 4 PM, and include all-day performances by Itoshima City’s wind instrument band, along with countless other acts on stage, over 60 festivity booths with yakisoba, grilled oysters, and other tasty foods for you to enjoy and Fukuoka / Itoshima specialty goods on sale. To get there, please take the free shuttle buses running from JR Chikuzen Maebaru Station. It is expected that runners will begin arriving at the finish line around 10:35 and finishing around 3:20 in the afternoon.

The wheelchair race and Fun Run finish in front of the Fukuoka City Museum. The awards ceremony for the wheelchair race will start from 9 AM. Attractions at this location include massage and food booths. You can get a “Cheerer’s Map” showing the starting line, course map and finish line maps, from the 1st floor Information Plaza of City Hall, as well as at Information Corners in each ward. Please, come out and support the marathon! For further information, please call the Fukuoka Marathon Executive Committee Office at 092-711-4676.