Harry Styles’ Surprise Run at Tokyo Marathon – Smiling and Thriving Amid Cheers

Smiling in response to the cheers of Harry!

The Tokyo Marathon 2025 was held on March 2, attracting approximately 38,000 runners from both Japan and abroad. Among them, the most talked-about participant was none other than a superstar who could be considered the most prestigious VIP in the event’s history—Harry Styles (31), a member of the UK’s iconic boy band One Direction.

“One Direction has been on hiatus since 2016, and Harry is currently pursuing a solo career. His debut solo single, Sign of the Times, released in 2017, topped the UK Singles Chart and was selected as one of the best songs of the year by Rolling Stone magazine. That same year, he also made his acting debut in the film Dunkirk.”

“In 2020, his single Watermelon Sugar became his first-ever U.S. number-one hit. Then, in 2022, his third studio album, Harry’s House, debuted at number one on the U.S. charts, making him the first UK solo artist to achieve three consecutive number-one debuts in the U.S.,” said a music journalist.

Harry is well known for his love of Japan, but few expected that such a superstar would be running alongside everyday participants through the streets of Tokyo.

“At the end of February, there were online posts saying, Harry is in Tokyo. Then, on the day of the Tokyo Marathon, videos of Harry running as a participant surfaced online. Soon after, international media outlets widely reported that Harry had completed the marathon,” the journalist continued.

By sheer coincidence, a photographer from our magazine also captured his presence at the event. Harry, wearing sunglasses and a white bandana, ran steadily with an unwavering expression, keeping his head slightly lowered. When foreign spectators recognized him and called out, Harry!, he responded with a peace sign and a smile, showing his composure.

According to the official marathon website, Harry finished in 6,010th place out of 26,706 full marathon participants, clocking an impressive time of 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 7 seconds. For reference, the average marathon time for men is around 4 hours and 30 minutes, and only the top 10% of runners manage to finish in under 3.5 hours.

It seems Harry’s incredible streak—both in music and in running—will continue strong this year.

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