Yokohama Marathon 2026 Event Support Guests and Guest Runners Announced! (First Round)
The first round of event support guests and guest runners for the "Yokohama Marathon 2026" has been decided. A star-studded lineup including judoka Natsumi Tsunoda, EXILE MAKIDAI, professional runner Sora Nobuzakura, former professional baseball player Alex Ramirez, former race walker Yuki Yamazaki, and ultra runner Tomomi Bito will energize the event. Runner entries are currently open.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 21:31 (10h 30m after Collected)
The "Yokohama Marathon 2026" will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The first round of luxurious event support guests and guest runners who will help make this event a success has been announced.
Our event support guests and guest runners will promote the charm of the event in various settings, cheering on runners at the starting line, along the course, and at related events, thereby enlivening the marathon.
Runner entries are currently being accepted! Please join us and enjoy a day of inspiration and excitement together.
"Yokohama Marathon" Official Website
### [Event Support Guests]
- Natsumi Tsunoda (Judoka)
She began her journey into judo in the second grade of elementary school, encouraged by her father to attend the Yachiyo Police Station dojo. During her junior and senior high school years, she competed in national tournaments, achieving an impressive 3rd place at the Inter-High School Championships in her second year of high school. In her third year at Tokyo Gakugei University, she won the All Japan Student Weight Category Championships in the 52kg class, establishing her reputation as a promising athlete. After changing her weight class to 48kg in 2019, she showed remarkable progress, achieving three consecutive victories at the World Championships in the 48kg class from 2021 to 2023. In these three years, she won all 15 matches by ippon, demonstrating overwhelming strength and proving her ability to the world. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won a gold medal at 31 years old, making her the oldest Japanese judoka to do so, and her signature Tomoe Nage (circle throw) and skillful use of joint locks are her hallmarks.
Beyond judo, she is active in various media, events, and judo classes, spreading the appeal of judo through diverse activities.
- EXILE MAKIDAI (Performer)
Debuted as EXILE in 2001.
In 2015, he retired as a performer from EXILE and fully committed to activities as part of the creative unit PKCZ®.
He is dedicated to regional revitalization through entertainment, appearing in cultural projects and music events primarily in his hometown, Kanagawa Prefecture, and continuously contributing to education and next-generation development.
In 2025, he was appointed as a special supporter for the 40th anniversary of Sakae Ward in Yokohama City.
In 2026, he obtained certification as a "Disaster Prevention Specialist" from the Japan Disaster Prevention Specialist Organization, a specified non-profit corporation.
As a parent raising two children, he engages with the local community and focuses on initiatives that enrich the "soil for nurturing the next generation."
- Sora Nobuzakura (Active Professional Runner from Yokohama)
An active professional marathon runner from Yokohama.
(Yokohama City Okazu Junior High School → Kawasaki City Tachibana High School → Panasonic → currently Yokohama City Athletics Association)
Full marathon personal best: 2 hours 24 minutes 34 seconds.
Finalist for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics representative selection (MGC).
After graduating from high school, she gained 5 years of corporate team experience and turned professional in 2025. After turning professional, she achieved 7th place in the Asian Championships 5000m and participated in the World Cross Country Championships, earning two national team selections.
She challenged her first marathon on March 8, 2026, and achieved MGC qualification.
Her goal is to compete against the world's runners at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Alex Ramirez (Former Professional Baseball Player, Former Yokohama DeNA BayStars Manager)
Born October 3, 1974, from Venezuela. After playing in MLB, he came to Japan in 2001. He won numerous titles, including two consecutive league MVP awards. He also became the first foreign player in NPB history to achieve 2,000 career hits, entering the Meikyukai (Golden Players Club). As a manager, he led the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to the Japan Series, leaving a brilliant legacy, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023.
In 2020, he established the general incorporated association VAMOS TOGETHER, aiming for a society where people with and without disabilities can live together.
In 2023, he was appointed as a Yokohama City Global Partnership Ambassador, contributing to promoting Yokohama's appeal both domestically and internationally.
### [Guest Runners]
- Yuki Yamazaki (Former Race Walker / Olympian)
A former Olympic representative race walker from Toyama Prefecture. Graduated from Juntendo University. He participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics and achieved 8th place at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. In 2006, he broke the Japanese record in the 50km race walk at the Japan National Athletics Championships with a time of 3 hours 43 minutes 38 seconds. He won the Japan National Championships 50km race walk a total of 8 times, including 7 consecutive victories. In 2007, he participated in the World Championships in Athletics in Osaka in the men's 50km race walk but, while disoriented, was mistakenly guided by an official and finished with insufficient laps, resulting in a DNF. In 2008, he achieved 7th place in the 50km race walk at the Beijing Olympics, the first Japanese to do so. In 2012, he participated in the London Olympics for the third consecutive time. He retired from active competition in March 2020 and served as a commentator for the Tokyo Olympics.
- Tomomi Bito (Ultra Runner / World Record Holder)
The first Japanese woman to complete the "World Marathon Challenge" (running 7 continents in 7 days).
Our event support guests and guest runners will promote the charm of the event in various settings, cheering on runners at the starting line, along the course, and at related events, thereby enlivening the marathon.
Runner entries are currently being accepted! Please join us and enjoy a day of inspiration and excitement together.
"Yokohama Marathon" Official Website
### [Event Support Guests]
- Natsumi Tsunoda (Judoka)
She began her journey into judo in the second grade of elementary school, encouraged by her father to attend the Yachiyo Police Station dojo. During her junior and senior high school years, she competed in national tournaments, achieving an impressive 3rd place at the Inter-High School Championships in her second year of high school. In her third year at Tokyo Gakugei University, she won the All Japan Student Weight Category Championships in the 52kg class, establishing her reputation as a promising athlete. After changing her weight class to 48kg in 2019, she showed remarkable progress, achieving three consecutive victories at the World Championships in the 48kg class from 2021 to 2023. In these three years, she won all 15 matches by ippon, demonstrating overwhelming strength and proving her ability to the world. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won a gold medal at 31 years old, making her the oldest Japanese judoka to do so, and her signature Tomoe Nage (circle throw) and skillful use of joint locks are her hallmarks.
Beyond judo, she is active in various media, events, and judo classes, spreading the appeal of judo through diverse activities.
- EXILE MAKIDAI (Performer)
Debuted as EXILE in 2001.
In 2015, he retired as a performer from EXILE and fully committed to activities as part of the creative unit PKCZ®.
He is dedicated to regional revitalization through entertainment, appearing in cultural projects and music events primarily in his hometown, Kanagawa Prefecture, and continuously contributing to education and next-generation development.
In 2025, he was appointed as a special supporter for the 40th anniversary of Sakae Ward in Yokohama City.
In 2026, he obtained certification as a "Disaster Prevention Specialist" from the Japan Disaster Prevention Specialist Organization, a specified non-profit corporation.
As a parent raising two children, he engages with the local community and focuses on initiatives that enrich the "soil for nurturing the next generation."
- Sora Nobuzakura (Active Professional Runner from Yokohama)
An active professional marathon runner from Yokohama.
(Yokohama City Okazu Junior High School → Kawasaki City Tachibana High School → Panasonic → currently Yokohama City Athletics Association)
Full marathon personal best: 2 hours 24 minutes 34 seconds.
Finalist for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics representative selection (MGC).
After graduating from high school, she gained 5 years of corporate team experience and turned professional in 2025. After turning professional, she achieved 7th place in the Asian Championships 5000m and participated in the World Cross Country Championships, earning two national team selections.
She challenged her first marathon on March 8, 2026, and achieved MGC qualification.
Her goal is to compete against the world's runners at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Alex Ramirez (Former Professional Baseball Player, Former Yokohama DeNA BayStars Manager)
Born October 3, 1974, from Venezuela. After playing in MLB, he came to Japan in 2001. He won numerous titles, including two consecutive league MVP awards. He also became the first foreign player in NPB history to achieve 2,000 career hits, entering the Meikyukai (Golden Players Club). As a manager, he led the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to the Japan Series, leaving a brilliant legacy, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023.
In 2020, he established the general incorporated association VAMOS TOGETHER, aiming for a society where people with and without disabilities can live together.
In 2023, he was appointed as a Yokohama City Global Partnership Ambassador, contributing to promoting Yokohama's appeal both domestically and internationally.
### [Guest Runners]
- Yuki Yamazaki (Former Race Walker / Olympian)
A former Olympic representative race walker from Toyama Prefecture. Graduated from Juntendo University. He participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics and achieved 8th place at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. In 2006, he broke the Japanese record in the 50km race walk at the Japan National Athletics Championships with a time of 3 hours 43 minutes 38 seconds. He won the Japan National Championships 50km race walk a total of 8 times, including 7 consecutive victories. In 2007, he participated in the World Championships in Athletics in Osaka in the men's 50km race walk but, while disoriented, was mistakenly guided by an official and finished with insufficient laps, resulting in a DNF. In 2008, he achieved 7th place in the 50km race walk at the Beijing Olympics, the first Japanese to do so. In 2012, he participated in the London Olympics for the third consecutive time. He retired from active competition in March 2020 and served as a commentator for the Tokyo Olympics.
- Tomomi Bito (Ultra Runner / World Record Holder)
The first Japanese woman to complete the "World Marathon Challenge" (running 7 continents in 7 days).