Interview Relay

Interview Relay 2nd Run: Stories of “Connections Between People” Born Through the Tokyo Marathon.

In this interview, we introduce a story of connection related to two remarkable athletes who both represented Japan in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, both securing impressive 6th-place finishes: Akira Akasaki and Yuka Akasaki (formerly Suzuki).
As one of the marathon world’s most celebrated “power couples,” they shared insights into how they first met, the unique bond they share as long-distance runners who truly understand one another, and the vital importance of human connection gained through Ekiden (long-distance relay races), and the Tokyo Marathon. We also delved into their future goals and shared dreams.

Important “Encounters” and “Connections” Through Ekiden

――To start, could you tell us what first inspired you to begin running?

Akira Akasaki: I believe it was around the second grade. My father was a recreational runner, and I remember going out for runs with him—that was the spark.

Yuka Akasaki: I actually wasn’t very good at running initially! But in elementary school, I started playing a lot of tag, and soon I found myself consistently placing in the top three in my grade’s autumn marathon. That piqued my interest in track and field. Later, placing in the Tohoku Regional Championships in junior high gave me the confidence to take up long-distance running seriously.

――Throughout your career and your experience with Ekiden, when have you felt the significance of “encounters” and “connections”?

Akira Akasaki: Lately, what I feel most strongly is that I never could have reached this level without the help of those around me. Especially during the difficult periods leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when things weren’t going my way—the team staff never gave up on me. They supported me until the very end. That made me truly happy. It strengthened my resolve that the best way to repay them is through my performance on the track.

Yuka Akasaki: My performance improved rapidly during my university years, reaching the national representative level. During that process, my director, coaches, nutritionists, and trainers dedicated an incredible amount of time to mentoring me. They watch every race until the very end and share in my joy. Such support is never something to take for granted. Those who push me forward, saying, “Your goal is our dream, too,” are the teammates and partners I want to cherish forever. Moving forward, I want to value every encounter—not just with my staff, but with family, friends, my hometown community, and even those I’ve never met who still cheer me on.

Akira Akasaki: Regarding the “connection” in Ekiden, my time running the major stages in university stands out. At the time, the team relied heavily on me and our international student-athletes. However, after seeing the results of the Izumo Ekiden and the All-Japan University Ekiden, our teammates realized, “We can’t just depend on these two.” When the entire team finally unified toward a single goal, I felt a powerful bond. I was running because I wanted to achieve results for our director, Takuro Yamashita, and to secure a “seed” (automatic qualification) for the Hakone Ekiden. Especially in my senior year, I truly felt that the mindset of “running for someone else” is what creates genuine human connections.

Yuka Akasaki: I also felt that bond deeply through Ekiden. It’s a sport you simply cannot win alone; it taught me the importance of how you engage with each teammate. Furthermore, we can only run because of the people who support us. My former team, Dai-ichi Life, had an incredibly passionate cheering squad—nearly 1,000 employees from across the country would come to the races. Even if we didn’t work together directly, they spent their time and money to come and cheer us on. Experiencing how that support becomes my strength was a major turning point in my career. I work hard because I want to see their smiles. Those “connections” and “encounters” are the source of my power today.

Akira Akasaki: For me as well, I now feel more strongly about “running for someone” rather than just “running for myself.” I couldn’t have made it this far alone. I am here today because the staff, managers, teammates, and family supported me. I learned how to run for those people through Ekiden, and that lesson lives on in everything I do now.

The Road to Paris: Where Their Journey Began

Standing together on the podium after securing their Olympic tickets at the MGC in Autumn 2023.

――How did the two of you first meet?

Akira Akasaki: You could say our journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was the catalyst. We both secured our spots on the national team following the results of the MGC (Marathon Grand Championship) held in the autumn of 2023. After that, the representative members went to Paris to run the actual course. I believe that was the first time we actually spoke to one another.

Yuka Akasaki: We might have passed each other at races before then, but we were on different teams and had absolutely no point of contact. It was almost strange how well we hit it off from that very first conversation. He was very easy to talk to, and being two years older than me, he acted like a dependable mentor right from the start.

――As fellow long-distance runners, are there specific areas where you find yourselves empathizing with or encouraging each other as a married couple?

Akira Akasaki: We both understand the intensity of each other’s training schedules. For instance, if one of us says, “I’m heading to a training camp for the next ten days starting tomorrow,” there is an instant, natural understanding. Also, when I hit a wall in my training process, having someone so close who truly understands makes it very easy to talk things through. That is a huge advantage for me. Marrying Yuka has been a massive positive for my competitive career.

Yuka Akasaki: To be honest, there are times when I feel a bit reluctant to head out for a run. In those moments, I’ll tell my husband, “Let’s go together!” and drag him out with me (laughs). Running together is fun and helps me maintain my motivation. Ultimately, our goal is to achieve great results as a couple and share that joy together. His presence is what gives me the strength to keep pushing.

The Deepening Bond of the Akasaki Couple through Marathon

The couple participating as guest runners at the TOKYO ROKUTAI FES 2025.

――Including those moments, are there specific times when you feel your bond as a couple is growing stronger?

Yuka Akasaki: It’s not something that happened all at once; I feel it has grown stronger gradually. Last year, when I ran the Osaka International Women’s Marathon, we went for about a 20km jog together that doubled as a bit of sightseeing. In that moment, I realized how much fun we can have by working hard together in athletics—traveling to races across the country and participating in events. It made me want to run in as many places as possible together while we’re both healthy and active.

Akira Akasaki: Running together is so much fun that, for me, it feels less like “going to practice” and more like just going out to play (laughs). I try to keep a line between my professional life and my private life, but when we’re jogging, we’re constantly talking and sometimes laughing so hard that people around us probably think we’re being too noisy! In those moments, I feel like we’re being completely ourselves, with nothing to hide. While we’re running, our conversations are just everyday small talk—things like, “I want to try that cafe,” or “That bread smells amazing!” It’s the kind of stuff you’d talk about even if you were just walking.

Yuka Akasaki: I think we probably stand out quite a bit to the people around us (laughs).

Akira Akasaki: Reflecting on our life as a couple, I know there are cases where one person retires after two athletes get married. However, we have chosen to move forward together both as professional competitors and as husband and wife.

The Power of Support and the Magic of Connection at the Tokyo Marathon

Akira Akasaki competing in the Tokyo Marathon 2025.

――What are your impressions of the Tokyo Marathon, and what kind of “connections” have you experienced specifically through this event?

Akira Akasaki: In my mind, it is “The Number One Marathon in Japan.” With runners from around the world participating, it is the largest event on my calendar. I always felt that if you are a marathon runner, this is the one race you must experience at least once.

Having actually run the Tokyo Marathon 2025, I felt that the roadside cheers were the loudest and the number of runners was the largest of any race I’ve ever entered. It was truly the voices of the supporters that carried me to the finish line. The reaction on social media was also immense, making me realize just how many people were rooting for me. I now see it as my mission to run in a way that honors that support.

Additionally, I took on the Tokyo Marathon 2025 with the goal of breaking the Japanese national record. Although I didn’t achieve it this time, I am deeply grateful to the staff who supported me throughout the preparation and training process.

Yuka Akasaki: I participated in the Tokyo Marathon Family Run. Watching the families—some children sprinting from the start, others jogging at their own pace, and children in wheelchairs—all enjoying themselves together made me reflect on my own reasons for running. It reminded me what a wonderful event this is.

As athletes, we got to welcome the children at the finish line with high-fives and a “You did it!” In those moments, I was reminded that sports have the power to connect people across all kinds of barriers. The Tokyo Marathon allows people to transcend national borders. We went through a period of uncertainty during the pandemic, but seeing everyone back together made me feel that this race is a place where people truly connect face-to-face.

――After your Family Run at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, Yuka-san, did you head out to cheer for Akira-san?

Yuka Akasaki participating in the Tokyo Marathon Family Run 2025.

Yuka Akasaki: Yes! I cheered for him at the 34 km mark and again with less than 2 km to go.

Akira Akasaki: That’s right. It was just as I was hitting the cobblestone section.

Yuka Akasaki: Watching him, I could tell he was really pushing through the pain. He had been maintaining a national-record pace until that point, but it was a warm day and the pollen was quite intense—he looked like he was struggling. Still, seeing him give his absolute all after so much preparation was incredibly inspiring for me.

Akira Akasaki: Regarding my challenge at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, Yuka told me, “That was a great run.” That same evening, we talked about how we’re going to keep working hard together for our next marathons. She had even arranged a celebratory dinner.

Yuka Akasaki: We went out to eat, but since it was a race where he had aimed for the national record, I had made sure to book a nice place in advance. I practically had to drag my exhausted husband along, saying, “Come on, let’s go eat!” (laughs).

Akira Akasaki: The Tokyo Marathon was actually the first time my wife ever cheered for me during a race. Conversely, I’d like to think I was able to offer her some support, however small, during her Osaka International Women’s Marathon. Although we were not yet married at that time, these races felt special, as if we were not running alone—we were working hard together.

Our Dream: Winning Medals as a Couple, and Participating in Marathons Across All 47 Prefectures

After securing their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the MGC held alongside the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon 2023, Akira and Yuka continue to run toward a shared future.

――What are your future goals and dreams, both as individuals and as a couple?

Akira Akasaki: Individually, I am determined to break the Japanese national record. As a couple, we have two goals. First, we want to compete in the same race and break the Guinness World Record for the “fastest aggregate marathon time for a married couple in a single race,” currently held by Kengo Suzuki and Mao Ichiyama.
The second goal—which might be for after we retire—is to run a marathon in all 47 prefectures of Japan together. If we can achieve that, I think I’ll be able to look back on my career with no regrets.

Yuka Akasaki: Winning medals or placing at the Olympics and World Championships, as well as breaking the Japanese record, are goals for me personally and for us as a couple. As for running in all 47 prefectures, it would be wonderful to travel around the country and enjoy ourselves after we retire. Through that journey, I want to share the message that “running is even more fun when we do it together.”

――Finally, do you have a message for the runners, volunteers, and supporters who are aiming for the Tokyo Marathon?

Akira Akasaki: I truly feel that we are only able to run safely in public spaces because of the volunteers and everyone who cheers us on. The experience of running through the very heart of Tokyo is rare and special, so I would be delighted if everyone could run the Tokyo Marathon at least once in their lives. To the runners working hard right now: please don’t forget to enjoy the journey toward your goal as you prepare for race day.

Yuka Akasaki: I also hope everyone runs with a sense of “enjoyment” in their hearts. Furthermore, it is only with the support of volunteers, the police, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and many other organizations involved in traffic management that we have been able to operate on public roads for so long. I believe that running with a sense of gratitude toward those who support us gives you even more strength. It feels a bit bold to speak on behalf of all runners, but I want to tell everyone involved in the Tokyo Marathon: we are running with hearts full of gratitude.