With its 20th anniversary set for next March, the Tokyo Marathon will see a host of notable changes, like a huge boost in prize money for its elite winners.
The Tokyo Marathon Foundation revealed on Monday that winners of the 2027 race on March 7 will receive a $170,000 prize — the most of any major. That figure is up significantly from previous payouts, with this year’s elite winners Tadese Takele and Brigid Kosgei taking home $80,000 each.
It is unclear if second and third place, or the other finishers in the top ten, will see prize increases. But this year, men’s and women’s second place, Geoffrey Toroitich Kipchumba and Bertukan Welde, received $30,000 while Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Hawi Feysa got $15,000 for third place.
Boston previously awarded the most to its top finishers at $150,000, excluding bonuses and this year’s remaining majors (Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York) could still rework their own prizes and surpass Tokyo.
Organizers also revealed that the general field will be boosted to 40,000 participants, the largest in its history, while a new para athlete division has been created.
This will be the second field increase in two years after the March race was raised to 39,000 and allowing a thousand additional people into the event.
Meanwhile, the new para division is a direct response to surging demand and takes the place of the existing 10.7km race.
A new visual identity for next year’s race, composed by artist Takahiro Yasuda, with the theme of showcasing the journeys of each person ultimately converging on a single goal was also introduced on Monday.
Yasuda’s piece, titled “The Day We Unite,” is a abstract reinterpretation of the race’s logo that uses multicolored lines to “symbolize the diverse values and objectives of those who participate in the marathon.”
It features a mass of colorful dots that represent the individual journeys of the race participants and how each of those stories converge in once of the biggest days of the year in Tokyo
“Everyone has their own body, and their own heart,” a note accompanying the piece read. “They shine a light on themselves, taking care of their minds and bodies, keeping them under control and sometimes letting them soar. Everyone is the main character in their own life. When people take a good look at themselves, they also see what surrounds them. This way of looking at the world leads people to think of others, to cheer them on, to offer their support. To shine a light on them.”
