Despite the brutal traffic and jostling crowds that will accompany Sunday's inaugural Tokyo Marathon 2007, Takaaki Hirai sees the event as an occasion for celebration and remembrance.
"I used to run marathons way back when I was in college. I look forward to seeing the hustle of the runners," said the 73-year-old Tokyo native.
As chairman of Asakusa's Kokusai Dori "Beat Street" storekeepers union, Hirai, who owns a pet shop in the district, will be dealing with some of the 100,000 spectators expected to pack the area and cheer the runners on Sunday.