Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon

The Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (formerly known as the Beppu Marathon) was founded in 1952 by Yasuo Ikenaka, a native of Chūzu city in Oita prefecture and former coach for the Japanese Olympic team, with the aim of hosting a national competition in the local area to pave the way for the Olympics. Initially, the marathon started in front of Beppu station and had a 35 km course that looped back through Shiraki in Oita city. In the following year's second marathon, it became a full marathon. Along with the "Biwa Lake Mainichi Marathon" (formerly the Mainichi Marathon), which started in 1970, and the "Fukuoka International Marathon" (formerly the Asahi Marathon), which began in 1971, the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon became known as one of Japan's three major classic races.