Kobe Marathon 2026: the song that comes before the starting gun
By AthRecs Editorial · 2 min read
Before Kobe’s runners get a chance to find their pace, there will be a moment of silence and a song. It is part of the city’s remembrance of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, and a reason to pay attention before the starting gun.
Rotich is back, with two former wins across the road
Defending men’s winner Elisha Rotich returns with a 2:04:21 personal best from Paris. Fellow Kenyan Barnaba Kipkoech won in Kobe in 2023 and 2024, and Eritrea’s Goittom Kifle brings a 2:05:28 best. The women’s invited runners include Toronto winner Antonina Kwambai, Uganda’s Annet Chemengich Chelangat and Australia’s Tara Palm, who ran 2:31:58 in Osaka this year. The Japanese MGC Challenge offers domestic runners a separate selection pathway to chase.
Why the city sings first
After the silence, the organisers plan to play and sing Shiawase Hakoberu Youni, a song associated with Kobe’s recovery. The organisers describe gratitude and friendship as the race’s theme. That makes the ceremony part of the day in its own right, whether you’re waiting for the leaders or watching somebody set out on a first marathon.
From City Hall to the harbour
The marathon starts near City Hall at 09:00 local time, turns near the Okura coast in Akashi and finishes in Kobe Harborland. The relay has its own handover near the turn. A family tracking two relay runners will want both names, and a separate reference for anyone doing the whole distance.
Official information and image credits
Sources: https://kobe-marathon.net/2026/upload/invited_2026.pdf · https://kobe-marathon.net/2026/global/upload/km2026_participation_en.pdf · https://www.kobe-marathon.net/2026/global/race/concept/ · https://www.kobe-marathon.net/2026/faq/ · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2012_Kobe_Marathon_03n.jpg · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/
Quick answers
What time does Kobe Marathon 2026 start?
The marathon starts at 09:00 Japan Standard Time on Sunday 15 November, midnight GMT.
Why does Kobe Marathon hold a pre-race ceremony?
The ceremony remembers the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. It includes a moment of silence and a song linked to the city’s recovery.