The Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon is a cornerstone of Japan’s winter racing calendar. Held each February in the coastal city of Marugame, the race boasts World Athletics Elite Label status—making it the first half marathon in Japan to earn this distinction. The fast, flat, AIMS-certified course begins and ends at Marugame Stadium, following a linear out-and-back route through the streets of Sanuki. Known for its deep domestic field and strong contingent of Japan-based African athletes, the race routinely produces world-class performances. Mekubo Mogusu’s 59:48 men’s course record and Kayoko Fukushi’s 1:07:26—an Asian record—testify to the race’s elite standard. Organized with precision and backed by strong local support.