Japanese athletes have competed in a wide variety of sports at the Olympics, including judo, gymnastics, swimming, and athletics.

The Tokyo Marathon, first held in 2007, has become one of the most popular marathons in the world, with over 30,000 runners participating each year.

The Hakone Ekiden, a long-distance relay race held annually between Tokyo and Hakone, is one of the most prestigious races in Japanese college athletics.