Visitors

[TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS] Announces First Round of Event Programs

The “World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (WCH Tokyo 25),” the world’s pinnacle of athletic sports championships, will take place at the Japan National Stadium for 9 days from Saturday, September 13, through Sunday, September 21. During the Championships, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will hold “TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS,” a series of events to bring additional excitement to WCH Tokyo 25, with considerations for heat countermeasures.

The Stage Area will feature a variety of programs, namely talk shows by Mr. Suguru Osako and other star athletes, as well as an exclusive live performance by Little Glee Monster.

The Park Area creates a vibrant atmosphere around the Championships site with sport-experiencing programs such as “DigSports,” where AI measures your athletic abilities and suggests suitable types of sport to you, and greetings from “Riku One,” the mascot of WCH Tokyo 25.

“TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS” Overview

Date/Time: September 13 (Sat.) thru 21 (Sun.), 2025

Stage Area: 13:00 ~ Around 18:00

Park Area: 12:00 ~ Around 19:00
*Time subject to change, depending on competition schedule on each day

Locations:
- Japan National Stadium
(10-1, Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0013)
- Meiji Park (Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0013 and other premises)

Admission: Free of charge
Organized by: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government

*Details of the events are updated regularly on the “TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS” special website. Please check back for the latest information.
[URL] https://www.tokyofwd2025event.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

Go to Special website!

Athlete Talk Shows
(Stage Area)

During the Championships, eight people, including star athletes in a variety of sports, mainly track and field, will appear on a special stage set right outside the National Stadium, offering ample athletes’ points of view of the highlights of the Championships, such as aspects of interest, outstanding athletes, and promising Japanese athletes.

Mr. Suguru Osako x Mr. Harry Sugiyama talk show
Appearance: September 13 (Sat.) 16:40~17:10

Mr. Suguru Osako (Pro runner)

Mr. Osako competed in three Olympic Games in a row, as well as twice in the WAC. A Japanese national record holder in 3000 and 5000m runs, he achieved a triple crown at the Japan Collegiate Ekiden Championships while at Waseda University. After graduation, he joined Nissin Foods Group before turning into a professional runner. He renewed the then-Japanese national records twice at the 2018 Chicago Marathon and the 2020 Tokyo Marathon. He came in 6th at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics’ men’s marathon.

Mr. Harry Sugiyama (Talent)

With his outstanding language skills spanning four languages - Japanese, English, Chinese, and French - Mr. Harry Sugiyama leads a multifaceted career as a show host, reporter, model, and actor, to name a few. He was appointed the “Ambassador for the Food is GREAT campaign in Japan” by the British Embassy in 2013, followed by the “Tokyo Tourism Ambassador” in 2023. He is the show host of “Run-Smart Club” on NHK BS, while holding a sub-three-hour record himself.

Ms. Chisato Fukushima (100m Japanese record holder) x Mr. Harry Sugiyama (Talent)

[Appearance] September 14 (Sun.) 13:20~13:50
[Profile] A leading figure of Japan’s sprint athletics, Ms. Fukushima has competed in the WAC 4 times and the Olympics 3 times.

Mr. So Takei (Former Japanese decathlon champion, King of Beasts)

[Appearance] September 16 (Tue.) 17:55~18:25
[Profile] A former Japanese decathlon champion, the “King of Beasts” takes a wide range of genres as his stage.

Mr. Yukifumi Murakami (World Athletics Javelin Throw Bronze Medalist)
x
Mr. Kenshi Sugiya (Former professional baseball player)

Appearance: September 20 (Sat.) 17:00~17:30

Mr. Naoki Tsukahara (Beijing Olympics men's 4x100m relay silver medalist)
x
Mr. Kosuke Hagino (Former competitive swimmer, Rio Olympic gold medalist)

Appearance: September 21 (Sun.) 17:30~18:00

Artist Live Show & Dance Performance
(Stage Area)

Little Glee Monster, a group that enjoys support from a wide range of fans with their gorgeous harmony and overwhelming singing ability will take the expansive open-air stage for exciting performances, adding to the enthusiasm of WCH Tokyo 25.

Little Glee Monster (Female vocal group)

[Appearance] September 15 (Mon./Holiday) 16:50~17:20 [Profile] Little Glee Monster is a female vocal group formed under the theme of “leaving lasting traces on people’s hearts with their finely-honed singing voice.” After releasing their latest album Ambitious in March 2025, they drew approximately 40,000 fans to their nationwide tour from April through July. A two-day stint at Makuhari Messe Event Hall is set for November 8 and 9.

Other performers include the professional acrobatic performing unit “BLUE TOKYO,” as well as kids' dancing teams.

*Numbered tickets (admission free of charge) are required to watch Little Glee Monster’s performance. Ticket handout location and schedule will be announced on the “TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS” special website as soon as confirmed.
[URL] https://www.tokyofwd2025event.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

*Other on-stage programs are subject to restricted admission, depending on the number of visitors.

Experiencing the Appeal of Sports
(Park Area)

DigSports, Soft javelin throw, Molkky, Deaf sports: Sports experiences for everyone to enjoy.

DigSports

The sensors and AI measure the athletic ability of each person and suggest the sports suited to the individual based on their strong points. Enjoy a new sensation in sports combined with digital technology!

Let's Molkky

Hit the Target! Soft Javelin Throw

Experiencing Deaf Sports

Riku One Greetings
(Park Area)

“Riku One,” the mascot of WCH Tokyo 25, makes appearances in the Park Area. Other attractions include photo-shooting spots themed on track and field, as well as content to feel the appeal of Tokyo.

Riku One (Mascot of WCH Tokyo 25)

[Profile]
- The name combines “riku,” the Japanese word for athletics, with the concept of ‘one’ — symbolising first place, a single second, a single step, a single throw, a single jump, and the ‘all for one’ spirit of athletics. It also reflects the unity of the stadium and represents the sound of a dog's bark, ‘one’ or ‘wan’ in Japanese.
- Riku One is big fan of Tokyo’s festivals, this mascot is especially excited to have the World Athletics Championships return to their beloved home city after 34 years.

*The event schedule will be announced on the special website for “TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS” as soon as it is decided.

★ Heat countermeasures for visitors
The Park Area (within the Meiji Park premises) will have two cooling spots (rest stations). Each spot will offer benches, air coolers, water servers to replenish your bottle, etc. Heat relief products are also available.

Stage Event Timetables

*Additional stage event programs will be announced in late August.

For Inquiries
[Contact for coverage, etc.] “TOKYO FORWARD 2025 for WCH” PR Bureau (c/o Fullhouse)
Representatives: Iwata, Niwayama, Nagasawa
E-mail: tokyoforward2025@fullhouse.jp
[Contact for this project] International Sports Projects Division, Office for Sports Promotion, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Email: S1180908@section.metro.tokyo.jp