It's people who create the waves which define an era. Katushika Hokusai literally created masculine and feminine waves, on the ceilings of his celebrated festival floats. Then, 250 years later, the Obuse mini Marathon stirred up a bunch of waves -- those of the runners, those who came to cheer them on, among children, and among the outpouring of volunteers.

The roads
less-traveled

Strengthening
community

Town
beautification

Health
promotion

This marathon race is dubbed "mi-ni" (modest in scale, as well as Japanese for "come to see") because it's not really a competition of the fastest, but a chance to see the sights of Obuse and indulge our love for running. The course was designed to take runners down the embankments, paths and back roads of our town, and bring participants and volunteers together in a celebration of civic pride.
Obuse gets an average of 1.2 million visitors a year, or 100 times our population. But tourists tend to hew to the main roads. The marathon's 21.0975-kilometer course leads visitors around the town's lonely but scenic back roads. It's a chance to view Obuse as the locals see it.

Volunteers from our town of 12,000 made this project possible. It's a chance to strut our stuff before runners from around the country. An opportunity to run, cheer from the sidelines, and pitch in - and to make our community vibrant. It's people who make a new era.

Internships

An easy run down roads normally used by cars.
Via the embankments, paths and back roads that normally see little or no traffic at all, a chance to leisurely stroll and really take in the sights of Obuse. For one day, we are moving down a single route, a show of support for our town. And in showcasing our town to the outside, we ensure that it shines.

Watering flowers makes them grow. Similarly, in order to thrive, people need stimulation. When the body gets moving, the brain jumps into gear. A bit of a hurdle makes us leap higher.
Eat well, run well, sleep well. That's the kind of town we want to be.