The 2025 Tokyo Marathon gave more credence to a trend that has been emerging recently: the age of Ethiopian marathon dominance.

Ethiopians Sutume Kebede and Tadese Takele took top honours in the Japanese capital this morning, with Kebede successfully defending her title in the boldest of manners and Takele winning his first World Marathon Major at just 22 years of age.

This Sunday, Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto will look to defend his title against a slew of East Africans hoping to use the streets of Japan as a springboard to launch their return to form over the marathon.

The most notable of those planning their redemption arc is 5000m and 10,000m world record holder Joshua Cheptegei, who will line up for his second career marathon and the first since officially announcing his retirement from the track.

The 2025 Tokyo Marathon will open the World Marathon Majors calendar for the year on March 2^nd, when the streets of the Japanese capital welcome back their three most recent winners, a marathon World Champion, and history’s fastest debutant.