View source for Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon

{{Short description|Annual road competition in Marugame, Japan}}
{{Infobox athletics race
| bgcolour      = #095B9A
| image         = 丸亀競技場 メインスタンド.JPG
| imagesize     = 180px
| caption       = [[Marugame Stadium]] is the start and finishing point of the race
| date          = Early February
| location      = [[Marugame, Kagawa|Marugame]], [[Japan]] {{flagicon|JPN}}
| type          = [[Road running|Road]]
| distance      = [[Half marathon]]
| est           = 1947
| record        = '''Men''': 59:47 (2015)<br>{{flagicon|KEN}} [[Paul Kuira]]<br/>{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Zane Robertson]]<br>'''Women''': 1:07:26 (2006)<br>{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kayoko Fukushi]]
| sponsor       = [[Suzuki]]
| participants  = 943 (2020)
| homepage      = {{URL|https://www.km-half.com/english/|Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon}}
}}
The '''{{nihongo|Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon|香川丸亀ハーフマラソン|Kagawa Marugame Hāfu Marason}}''' is an annual [[road running]] competition which takes place in early February in [[Marugame]], [[Japan]]. It currently holds [[IAAF]] Silver Label Road Race status and the professional races attract over 1000 entries each year,<ref name=ARRS>Ota, Shigenobu (2009-02-02). [https://www.arrs.run/HP_MaruHM.htm Marugame Half Marathon]. [[Association of Road Racing Statisticians|ARRS]]. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref> and hosted by the [[Sankei Shimbun]], [[Sankei Sports]], [[Okayama Broadcasting]], [[BS Fuji]].

The race in Marugame was first held in 1947 as a full-length [[marathon]], known as the '''Kagawa Marathon'''. A companion 20&nbsp;km race began in 1949 in addition to the scheduled marathon. The course lengths were gradually reduced over time: the main race lasted as a full marathon until 1961 when a 35&nbsp;km race was held and the shorter race became a 10&nbsp;km competition. The main race was again shortened in 1971, being reduced to a 20&nbsp;km race. The competitions were known as the '''Kagawa Road Races''' until 1997, when the main race was slightly extended to the [[half marathon]] distance and the competition received its current moniker.<ref name=ARRS/>

Competitors in the professional races are largely Japanese athletes, supplemented by [[Africa]]n athletes based in the country. In addition, a small number of foreign athletes are invited to compete each year.<ref>Larner, Brett (2009-01-29). [http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2009/01/kagawa-marugame-international-half.html Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon - Preview]. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref><ref>Nakamura, Ken (2010-02-05). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=55484.html Can Mogusu and Yamauchi repeat at Marugame Half Marathon? – Preview]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref> The level of competition is strong: [[Kenya]]n runner [[Mekubo Mogusu]] recorded a sub-60&nbsp;minute time in 2007 for the men's course record (59:48), while the women's course record of 1:07:26, set by [[Kayoko Fukushi]] in 2006, is the [[List of Asian records in athletics|Asian record]] for the half marathon.<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2006-02-05). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=33379.html Fukushi sets Asian Half-Marathon record in Marugame]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref> The course is [[Association of International Marathons and Distance Races|AIMS]]-certified making performances at the course eligible for [[national records in athletics|national]] and [[list of world records in athletics|world record]]s.<ref>[http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/Directory.htm AIMS Race Directory]. [[Association of International Marathons and Distance Races|AIMS]]. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref>

The course of the half marathon is largely linear, beginning at the [[Marugame Stadium]] and heading eastwards before abruptly looping back to follow the same path back towards the finish point within the stadium.<ref>[http://www3.km-half.com/map/ Course Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713160952/http://www3.km-half.com/map/ |date=2011-07-13 }} {{in lang|ja}}. Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref>

==Past winners==
[[File:Iinoyama(sanukihuji).jpg|thumb|One of the many mountains that overlook the city of Marugame]]

===Early distances===
'''Key:'''
{{legend2|#F7BE81|Marathon|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#F3F781|35&nbsp;km|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#A9A9F5|20&nbsp;km|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Edition
!Year
!Men's winner
!Time ([[hour|h]]:[[minute|m]]:[[second|s]])
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|1st
|1947
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Toshio Fuke]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:47:30
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|2nd
|1948
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Toshio Fuke]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:39:54
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|3rd
|1949
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Giichi Noda]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:40:08
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|4th
|1950
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Toshio Fuke]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:39:21
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|5th
|1951
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Toshio Fuke]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:39:41
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|6th
|1952
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Giichi Noda]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:37:27
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|7th
|1953
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Fumio Kuramoto]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:49:16
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|8th
|1954
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Giichi Noda]]|JPN|1947}}
|'''2:35:08'''
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|align=center|—
|1955
|align=center|Not held
|align=center|—
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|9th
|1956
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Matsuichi Murakami]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:54:56
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|10th
|1957
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Hideaki Nagai (runner)|Hideaki Nagai]]|JPN|1947}}
|3:15:20
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|11th
|1958
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Muneyuki Maekawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|3:00:54
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|12th
|1959
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Takayoshi Yokoi]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:44:02
|-bgcolor=#F7BE81
|13th
|1960
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Takayoshi Yokoi]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:45:43
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|14th
|1961
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yukio Kimura]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:12:18
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|15th
|1962
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kazuo Tanisawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:09:13
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|16th
|1963
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yukio Kimura]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:09:53
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|17th
|1964
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Ryuji Kobayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:03:43
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|18th
|1965
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Sumio Kohama]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:01:47
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|19th
|1966
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Tsutomu Tsunei]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:02:02
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|20th
|1967
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kazuo Tanisawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|2:01:57
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|align=center|—
|1968
|align=center|Not held
|align=center|—
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|21st
|1969
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Iwao Hamamoto]]|JPN|1947}}
|'''1:55:15'''
|-bgcolor=#F3F781
|22nd
|1970
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Iwao Hamamoto]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:56:55
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|23rd
|1971
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Noboru Miyatake]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:05:59
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|24th
|1972
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yoshimitsu Nakamura]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:07:06
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|25th
|1973
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masatomo Seki]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:50
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|26th
|1974
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Hiroshi Yamaguchi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:03
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|27th
|1975
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masatomo Seki]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:44
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|28th
|1976
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masakazu Ichimura]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:07:42
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|29th
|1977
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:06:23
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|30th
|1978
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:26
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|31st
|1979
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:43
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|32nd
|1980
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:03:53
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|33rd
|1981
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:03:45
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|34th
|1982
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Sachi Utsunomiya]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:09
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|35th
|1983
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Toshihiko Sasaki]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:33
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|36th
|1984
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yasumasa Takagi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:57
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|37th
|1985
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Shoji Nakanishi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:05:33
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|38th
|1986
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:05:11
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|39th
|1987
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:45
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|40th
|1988
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Shoji Nakanishi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:19
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|41st
|1989
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:06:34
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|42nd
|1990
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:06:16
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|43rd
|1991
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Minoru Kishimoto]]|JPN|1947}}
|'''1:02:21'''
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|44th
|1992
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masahiro Takebayashi]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:30
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|45th
|1993
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Hiroshi Fujisawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:09
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|46th
|1994
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masayuki Arakawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:08:11
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|47th
|1995
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Masayuki Arakawa]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:05:36
|-bgcolor=#A9A9F5
|48th
|1996
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yoshihiro Hiramori]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:04:20
|}

===Half marathon===
'''Key:''' {{legend2|#A9F5A9|'''Course record'''|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Edition
!Year
!Men's winner
!Time ([[hour|h]]:[[minute|m]]:[[second|s]])
!Women's winner
!Time ([[hour|h]]:[[minute|m]]:[[second|s]])
|-
|49th
|1997
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yoshihiro Hiramori]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:09:01
|align=center|Not held
|align=center|—
|-
|50th
|1998
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yoshihiro Hiramori]]|JPN|1947}}
|1:09:00
|align=center|Not held
|align=center|—
|-
|51st
|1999
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Daisuke Matsubara]]|JPN}}
|1:08:02
|align=center|Not held
|align=center|—
|-
|52nd
|2000
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kazuhito Yokota]]|JPN}}
|1:02:59
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Rie Ueno]]|JPN}}
|1:09:57
|-
|53rd
|2001
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Hidemori Noguchi]]|JPN}}
|1:02:28
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Ikumi Nagayama]]|JPN}}
|1:09:28
|-
|54th
|2002
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Laban Kagika]]|KEN}}
|1:01:43
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Mari Ozaki]]|JPN}}
|1:09:33
|-
|55th
|2003
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Zakayo Ngatho]]|KEN}}
|1:00:21
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yasuko Hashimoto]]|JPN}}
|1:09:32
|-
|56th
|2004
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Pharis Kimani]]|KEN}}
|1:01:55
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Yasuko Hashimoto]]|JPN}}
|1:10:46
|-
|57th
|2005
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Laban Kagika]]|KEN}}
|1:01:36
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Takako Kotorida]]|JPN}}
|1:09:34
|-
|58th
|2006
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Takayuki Matsumiya]]|JPN}}
|1:02:13
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kayoko Fukushi]]|JPN}}
|1:07:26 [[List of Asian records in athletics|AR]]
|-
|59th
|2007
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Mekubo Mogusu]]|KEN}}
|59:48
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kayoko Fukushi]]|JPN}}
|1:08:00
|-
|60th
|2008
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Harun Mbugua]]|KEN}}
|1:01:35
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Philes Ongori]]|KEN}}
|1:07:57
|-
|61st
|2009
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Mekubo Mogusu]]|KEN}}
|1:00:37
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Mara Yamauchi]]|GBR}}
|1:08:29
|-
|62nd
|2010<ref>Nakamura, Ken & Yamada, Tatsuya (2010-02-07). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=55492.html Gitau and Chapple pull off upsets at Marugame Half]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Daniel Gitau]]|KEN}}
|1:01:08
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Nikki Chapple]]|AUS}}
|1:08:37
|-
|63rd
|2011<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2011-02-06). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=59232.html Ndungu and Fukushi take victories at Marugame Half Marathon]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2011-02-06.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Samuel Ndungu]]|KEN}}
|1:00:55
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Kayoko Fukushi]]|JPN}}
|1:09:00
|-
|64th
|2012<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2012-02-05). [http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/LRR12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=63494 Convincing wins for Kisorio and Gelana in Marugame]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2012-02-12.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Mathew Kisorio]]|KEN}}
|1:00:02
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Tiki Gelana]]|ETH}}
|1:08:48
|-
|65th
|2013<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2013-02-03). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/gelana-under-pressure-but-retains-marugame-ha Gelana under pressure but retains Marugame Half Marathon title]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2013-02-11.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Collis Birmingham]]|AUS}}
|1:00:56
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Tiki Gelana]]|ETH}}
|1:08:53
|-
|66th
|2014<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2014-02-02). [http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-label-road-races/news/martin-mathathi-marugame-half-marathon-iaaf-s1 Mathathi and Makikawa win in Marugame]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2014-02-02.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Martin Mathathi]]|KEN}}
|1:00:11
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Eri Makikawa]]|JPN}}
|1:10:27
|-
|67th
|2015<ref>Nakamura, Ken (2015-02-02). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/paul-kuira-marugame-half-marathon Course record for Kuira at Marugame Half Marathon]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2014-02-02.</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Paul Kuira]]|KEN}}
{{flagathlete|[[Zane Robertson]]|NZ}}
|59:47
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Eloise Wellings]]|AUS}}
|1:10:41
|-
|68th
|2016
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Goitom Kifle]]|ERI}}
|1:00:49
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Eunice Kirwa]]|BHR}}
|1:08:06
|-
|69th
|2017<ref>{{in lang|ja}}, [[Sankei Shimbun]], [http://www.sankei.com/west/news/170205/wst1702050039-n1.html 産経ニュース sankei.com 2017-02-05]</ref>
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Callum Hawkins]]|GBR}}
|1:00:00
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Eunice Kirwa]]|BHR}}
|1:08:07
|-
|70th
|2018
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Edward Waweru]]|KEN}}
|1:00:31
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Betsy Saina]]|KEN}}
|1:09:17
|-
|71st
|2019
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Abdi Nageeye]]|NED}}
|1:00:24
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Betsy Saina]]|KEN}}
|1:07:49
|-
|72nd
|2020
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Brett Robinson (runner)|Brett Robinson]]|AUS}}
|59:57
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Helalia Johannes]]|NAM}}
|1:08:10
|-
|colspan=6 align-text=center|''Editions 73rd (2021) and 74th (2022) were not held due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in Japan]]''
|-
|75th
|2023
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Alexander Mutiso]]|KEN}}
|bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''59:17'''
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Pauline Kaveke Kamulu|Pauline Kamulu]]|KEN}}
|1:07:22
|-
|76th
|2024
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Richard Etir]]|KEN}}
|59:32
|align=left|{{flagathlete|[[Dolphine Omare]]|KEN}}
|bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''1:06:07'''
|}

==Statistics==
*''Note: All statistics apply to international half marathon only''
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Winners by country===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Country
!Men's race
!Women's race
!Total
|-
|align=left|{{KEN}} || 14 || 3 || 17
|-
|align=left|{{JPN}} || 6 || 10 || 16
|-
|align=left|{{AUS}} || 2 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left|{{GBR2}} || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left|{{ERI}} || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left|{{BHR}} || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left|{{SCT}} || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left|{{NAM}} || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left|{{NED}} || 1 || 0 || 1
|}
{{col-2}}

===Multiple winners===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Athlete
!Country
!Wins
!Years
|-
|[[Yoshihiro Hiramori]]
|{{JPN}}
|2
|1997, 1998
|-
|[[Laban Kagika]]
|{{KEN}}
|2
|2002, 2005
|-
|[[Yasuko Hashimoto]]
|{{JPN}}
|2
|2003, 2004
|-
|[[Kayoko Fukushi]]
|{{JPN}}
|2
|2006, 2007, 2011
|-
|[[Mekubo Mogusu]]
|{{KEN}}
|2
|2007, 2009
|-
|[[Eunice Kirwa]]
|{{BHR}}
|2
|2016, 2017
|-
|[[Betsy Saina]]
|{{KEN}}
|2
|2018, 2019
|}
{{col-end}}

==See also==
* [[Tokyo Marathon]]
* [[Osaka International Ladies Marathon]] ([[Osaka Women's Marathon]])
* [[Sankei Shimbun]] - daily newspaper in Japan
* [[Okayama Broadcasting]].
* [[Fujisankei Communications Group]] -  Sankei Shimbun and [[Fuji Television]], the largest [[media conglomerate]] in Japan

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.km-half.com/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{IAAF Silver Label}}
{{Marathons in Japan}}
{{Fuji Television Networks}}

[[Category:Half marathons]]
[[Category:Road running competitions in Japan]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1947]]
[[Category:Fujisankei Communications Group]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Kagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Marugame, Kagawa]]