"Energize Japan through Running!" Japan Running Association Unveils New Leadership, Fully Commencing Collaborations for Health Promotion and Social Issue Resolution
The Japan Running Association held an unveiling ceremony for its new leadership on April 15, 2026, with former Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura appointed as the new chairman. The association aims to promote health and resolve social issues, fully commencing nationwide collaborations through running and walking.
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The Japan Running Association (hereinafter, the Japan Running Association) held an unveiling ceremony for its new leadership at Sabo Kaikan from 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Approximately 300 guests attended, including members of the Diet, officials from the Cabinet Office and various ministries, public organizations, and representatives from major corporations. The event introduced the new leadership, including the new chairman, Mr. Takeo Kawamura, and announced the policy to further promote initiatives for health promotion, child development support, regional revitalization, and social issue resolution through running and walking, under the philosophy of "Energize Japan through Running!".
【Announcing the New Leadership】
Towards Association Management that Gathers Knowledge from Various Fields This unveiling ceremony was held to widely announce the Japan Running Association's new chairman and vice-chairman structure and to share future activity policies. Mr. Takeo Kawamura (former Chief Cabinet Secretary, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) was appointed as the new chairman. The following seven individuals were appointed as vice-chairmen:
• Mr. Toshiaki Endo (Chairman, Japan Sport Association)
• Mr. Juichi Yamaguchi (Representative Director and President, Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings; Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, Nippon Television Holdings)
• Mr. Hitoshi Furukawa (Former President, National Institution for Youth Education)
• Mr. Yoshiro Matsumoto (President, Japan Medical Association)
• Mr. Yasuo Harada (Advisor, Higashi Nihon Construction Guarantee)
• Mr. Kazuhisa Hamaguchi (Specially Appointed Professor, Takushoku University Institute of Local Politics and Administration)
• Mr. Koichi Sekiguchi (Former Managing Director, Japan Association of Private Railways)
In addition, Mr. Masayuki Morii (Representative Director and President, Rakuten Baseball, Inc.) was appointed as Vice Chairman Proxy.
Under the new leadership, which brings together expertise from diverse fields such as politics, media, education, medicine, infrastructure, sports, and private management, the Japan Running Association will work to create human health and new social value through running and walking.
【Association Philosophy】
Challenging Health and Social Issue Resolution with the Slogan "Energize Japan through Running!" The Japan Running Association positions running and walking not merely as exercise, but as social initiatives that lead to the extension of healthy life expectancy, sound child development, revitalization of local communities, and promotion of corporate health management. Moving forward, in collaboration with national and local governments, public organizations, corporations, and educational institutions, the association aims to create new social value starting from "running" and "walking," which anyone can easily participate in.
【Main Contents of the Day】
Activity Introduction and Sharing Future Directions The day began with greetings from Chairman Takeo Kawamura, followed by Representative Director Wataru Kobayashi and Co-Representative Akira Kawabuchi, who announced future activity policies. During the event, a video of the children's event "Kakekko Attack," held in Yokohama Yamashita Pier in November 2025, was also screened. Guests included former Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, Minister of Justice Hiroshi Hiraguchi, members of the Diet, officials from the Cabinet Office and various ministries, public organizations, and representatives from major corporations. Mr. Daichi Kamino, known as "Yama no Kami" (God of the Mountains), also took the stage to speak about the potential of running and expectations for the next generation. The event concluded with a toast led by Chairman Hiroyuki Nose of Sapporo Breweries Ltd., sponsored by the company. During the social gathering, participants from corporations, government, and various organizations actively exchanged opinions on health promotion through running and walking, regional revitalization, and the potential for business collaboration. The phrase "Energize Japan through Running!" was repeatedly exchanged at the venue, raising momentum for future co-creation.
【Future Developments】
Accelerating Nationwide Expansion and Public-Private Partnerships The Japan Running Association will widely recruit member companies that support its philosophy and activities, sponsoring companies/organizations that will promote various projects together, and local governments/public organizations/educational institutions/various organizations that are working on health promotion for residents and solving regional issues.
【Event Outline】
Name: Japan Running Association New Leadership Unveiling Ceremony
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, starting at 17:00
Venue: Sabo Kaikan
Attendees: Approximately 300 people
【Association Overview】
Legal Name: Japan Running Association
Catchphrase: Energize Japan through Running!
Main Business Activities:
• Qualification certification business
• Running and walking event business
• Running and walking marketing business
• Health promotion business through running and walking
• Collaboration business with corporations, local governments, educational institutions, and various organizations
【Recruitment for Member Companies, Sponsorship, and Partnerships】
The Japan Running Association is seeking the following partners:
• Companies/organizations that can continuously participate in activities as member companies
• Companies/organizations that can sponsor "Kakekko Attack" and other events
• Local governments/public organizations/educational institutions/various organizations that can collaborate in fields such as health promotion, regional revitalization, sound child development, and sports promotion
【Contact Information】
Japan Running Association Secretariat
Contact Person: Tetsuro Tanioka
TEL: 03-6384-
Approximately 300 guests attended, including members of the Diet, officials from the Cabinet Office and various ministries, public organizations, and representatives from major corporations. The event introduced the new leadership, including the new chairman, Mr. Takeo Kawamura, and announced the policy to further promote initiatives for health promotion, child development support, regional revitalization, and social issue resolution through running and walking, under the philosophy of "Energize Japan through Running!".
【Announcing the New Leadership】
Towards Association Management that Gathers Knowledge from Various Fields This unveiling ceremony was held to widely announce the Japan Running Association's new chairman and vice-chairman structure and to share future activity policies. Mr. Takeo Kawamura (former Chief Cabinet Secretary, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) was appointed as the new chairman. The following seven individuals were appointed as vice-chairmen:
• Mr. Toshiaki Endo (Chairman, Japan Sport Association)
• Mr. Juichi Yamaguchi (Representative Director and President, Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings; Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, Nippon Television Holdings)
• Mr. Hitoshi Furukawa (Former President, National Institution for Youth Education)
• Mr. Yoshiro Matsumoto (President, Japan Medical Association)
• Mr. Yasuo Harada (Advisor, Higashi Nihon Construction Guarantee)
• Mr. Kazuhisa Hamaguchi (Specially Appointed Professor, Takushoku University Institute of Local Politics and Administration)
• Mr. Koichi Sekiguchi (Former Managing Director, Japan Association of Private Railways)
In addition, Mr. Masayuki Morii (Representative Director and President, Rakuten Baseball, Inc.) was appointed as Vice Chairman Proxy.
Under the new leadership, which brings together expertise from diverse fields such as politics, media, education, medicine, infrastructure, sports, and private management, the Japan Running Association will work to create human health and new social value through running and walking.
【Association Philosophy】
Challenging Health and Social Issue Resolution with the Slogan "Energize Japan through Running!" The Japan Running Association positions running and walking not merely as exercise, but as social initiatives that lead to the extension of healthy life expectancy, sound child development, revitalization of local communities, and promotion of corporate health management. Moving forward, in collaboration with national and local governments, public organizations, corporations, and educational institutions, the association aims to create new social value starting from "running" and "walking," which anyone can easily participate in.
【Main Contents of the Day】
Activity Introduction and Sharing Future Directions The day began with greetings from Chairman Takeo Kawamura, followed by Representative Director Wataru Kobayashi and Co-Representative Akira Kawabuchi, who announced future activity policies. During the event, a video of the children's event "Kakekko Attack," held in Yokohama Yamashita Pier in November 2025, was also screened. Guests included former Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, Minister of Justice Hiroshi Hiraguchi, members of the Diet, officials from the Cabinet Office and various ministries, public organizations, and representatives from major corporations. Mr. Daichi Kamino, known as "Yama no Kami" (God of the Mountains), also took the stage to speak about the potential of running and expectations for the next generation. The event concluded with a toast led by Chairman Hiroyuki Nose of Sapporo Breweries Ltd., sponsored by the company. During the social gathering, participants from corporations, government, and various organizations actively exchanged opinions on health promotion through running and walking, regional revitalization, and the potential for business collaboration. The phrase "Energize Japan through Running!" was repeatedly exchanged at the venue, raising momentum for future co-creation.
【Future Developments】
Accelerating Nationwide Expansion and Public-Private Partnerships The Japan Running Association will widely recruit member companies that support its philosophy and activities, sponsoring companies/organizations that will promote various projects together, and local governments/public organizations/educational institutions/various organizations that are working on health promotion for residents and solving regional issues.
【Event Outline】
Name: Japan Running Association New Leadership Unveiling Ceremony
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, starting at 17:00
Venue: Sabo Kaikan
Attendees: Approximately 300 people
【Association Overview】
Legal Name: Japan Running Association
Catchphrase: Energize Japan through Running!
Main Business Activities:
• Qualification certification business
• Running and walking event business
• Running and walking marketing business
• Health promotion business through running and walking
• Collaboration business with corporations, local governments, educational institutions, and various organizations
【Recruitment for Member Companies, Sponsorship, and Partnerships】
The Japan Running Association is seeking the following partners:
• Companies/organizations that can continuously participate in activities as member companies
• Companies/organizations that can sponsor "Kakekko Attack" and other events
• Local governments/public organizations/educational institutions/various organizations that can collaborate in fields such as health promotion, regional revitalization, sound child development, and sports promotion
【Contact Information】
Japan Running Association Secretariat
Contact Person: Tetsuro Tanioka
TEL: 03-6384-