Photos from the Tokyo Marathon Walk on 19th of February, 2012

At the first meeting point at Tokyo Metro Government building at 8:30 AM with Mikyoung Jun Pearce(me), Yasuji, Aoki, and Motoya from left to right. Thank you for joining us!

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

15 minutes into our walk

Rebecca Woodford-Smith and Yasuji.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Meeting Point 2 at 9:45 Am with Aoki, Rebecca, Yasuji, Hiruko Hino, and Motoya

Unfortunately nobody joined us at meeting point 2.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

There was 15 Km race happening on the day of our walk around the Imperial Palace.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Mikyoung Jun Pearce and Aoki by the tree that survived the great earthquake in 1923 by the Imperial Palace. Enormous thank-you to the young Japanese man who explained the sign in front of the tree when we were scouting the area. 

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

In front of the front gate of the Imperial Palace

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

Just opposite of our meeting point 3, Hibiya Park, we saw so many women queuing up outside a hotel, and we still don't know why they were there.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Hata and his kids, Yuri (his son), and Rica (his daughter) met us at the meeting point 4, Hibiya Park, and we were delighted to have little ones with us for a while. They walked with us for 20 minutes or so, but Yuri did ask us an important question: "Why are you walking?" with Yuri, Hata, Rica, Rebecca, and Aoki

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

From left to right: Motoya, Yasuji, and Aoki

They walked with us from the starting point at 8:30 AM till 12 PM. Thank you so much for joining us! It gave us an enormous boost for the day.

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

From left to right: Mikyoung Jun Pearce, Haruhiko Sato, and Koshiro Saito

When Rebecca and I were scouting this route after the meeting point 4, Sengakuji station, we noticed this statue outside a tall building. We thought this was about a historical figure. On the day of the walk, Saito read the plaque and told us that according to the plaque, the man was a CEO of the company who carried his mother to her favourite entertainment place when there was no transportation available. Things looked so different when we had someone who could translate things for us. Thanks Koshiro!

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

Kenjiro Kumamoto at the meeting point 5

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Kuma and Mikyoung Jun Pearce in Ginza

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

From left to right: Koshiro Saito, Haruhiko Sato, and Kenjiro Kumamoto

Koshiro and Haruhiko are looking up online to find out when the emperor Meiji was throned as there were old photos of Tokyo around a construction site in Ginza. 

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

From left to right: Haruhiko Sato, Koshiro Saito, Rebecca Woodford-Smith, and Kenjiro Kumamoto at the meeting point 6, Hamacho park. Haruhiko and Koshiro left us after this point.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

In front of the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Wonderful Kuma is leaving us.

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Mikyoung Jun Pearce with her inseparable iPhone and the Tokyo Marathon Walk flag

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

The ultra-conservative nationalist van we saw about 5 times on the day

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

Katsumi Sasaki explaining the statue in Ginza to Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

Rebecca Woodford-Smith and Sasaki in front of our final meeting point, the Chirori statue before Sasaki left us

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Rebecca Woodford-Smith marching on to the finish point

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Rebecca in front of the only beautiful thing in Odaiba near Tokyo Big Sight

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Rebecca Woodford-Smith at the finish point, Tokyo Big Sight at 8:45 Pm

It only took us 12 hours and 15 minutes to walk 42.365 km of the Tokyo Marathon

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

We made it!

Mikyoung Jun Pearce at the finish point

Photograph by Rebecca Woodford-Smith

Rebecca and me in the bathroom at Kokusaitenjijoseimon station bathroom

Thank you so much for those who joined us for our journey!

Photograph by Mikyoung Jun Pearce

Join us for a Tokyo Marathon Walk

From 8:30 am on Sunday 19^th February 2012, we will walk the route of the Tokyo Marathon (which takes place a week later), and we would like to invite you to join us to walk and talk as we navigate our way across the 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kms) of the route.

We will start at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku, and finish at Tokyo Big Site. We will be at certain points along the route at specific times, so you can join us at any of these locations. Walk with us for the whole duration, or just parts of it; bring your friends, children and even your bikes!

Our intention is to facilitate a dialogue between each other and between us and other walkers through the action of walking. We hope to chart the transformation of our body and our perception of ourselves, the ‘other’, time, space and the city of Tokyo.

We would love for you to join us in this adventure, please spread the word. We will be updating the event soon with details of our meeting points, times and the route, so please have a look for more information. For more details about our project and work, have a look at our blogwww.tokyomarathonwalk2012.blogspot.com

Artists Mikyoung Jun Pearce (UK/Korea) and Rebecca Wooodford-Smith (UK)

The finish line

After a wonderful day of walking we reached the finish line - Tokyo Big Site - at 20.45.

Thank you to all who joined us and for your support. We will update the blog with photos and writing soon.

A photo of Mikyoung and Rebecca

Here is a photo of us for you. Come and join us on our Tokyo Marathon Walk on 19th of February.

Mikyoung Jun Pearce (Left) and Rebecca Woodford-Smith (Right)

Tokyo Marathon Walk Meeting Points 19th February 2012

2012年2月19日 東京マラソンウォーク・ミーティングポイント

Start Meeting Point 1 8:30 AM		By Adam and Eve Statue at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Plaza. Shinjuku Station, West Gate. Follow signs to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. 東京都庁・都民広場 「アダムとエヴァ」像前
Meeting Point 2 Arrive at 9:30 AM Depart at 9:35 AM		British Council Building on Sotobori Street. ブリティッシュカウンシル （飯田橋駅西口より徒歩6分）
Meeting Point 3 Arrive at 11:05 AM Depart at 11:15 AM		Hibiya Park Entrance (opposite the Imperial Hotel) next to ‘Hibiya Kaden’ Flower Shop. Hibiya Metro Station, Exit A14. 日比谷公園・日比谷門 （日比谷花壇・日比谷駅A14出口前)
Meeting Point 4 Arrive at 12:15 PM Depart at 12:25 PM		Opposite Sengakuji Station, Exit A2. 泉岳寺交差点付近 （泉岳寺駅A2出口正面）
Meeting Point 5 Arrive at 13:45 PM Depart at 13:55 PM		Tokyo Star Bank, next to Uchisaiwaicho Station, Exit A1. 東京スター銀行日比谷支店ファイナンシャル・ラウンジ前 （内幸町駅出口A1前）
Meeting Point 6 Arrive at 15:25 PM Depart at 15:35 PM		In front of the Stone Boy at Hamacho Park. Next to Meijiza Theatre and by Hamacho Station. 浜町公園小便小僧モニュメント前 （浜町駅直結）
Meeting Point 7 Arrive at 16:55 PM Depart at 17:05 PM		MUFG Bank by Asakusabashi Station, Exit A6. 三菱東京UFJ銀行浅草橋支店前 （浅草橋駅A6出口前）
Meeting Point 8 Arrive at 18:25 PM Depart at 18:35 PM		Chirori Statue, off the pavement in a plaza near Higashi-Ginza Station, Exit 5. 築地川銀座公園名犬チロリ記念碑前 （東銀座駅5番出口より徒歩1分)
Finish Meeting Point 9 Arrive at 20:30 PM or later		Tokyo Big Sight 東京ビッグサイト

We will do our best to keep to the above schedule, but please be aware of possible delays on the day. If we are not at the meeting point at the assigned time, please call us on 080-3278-6486.

上記スケジュールに沿って進行できるよう最善を尽くしますが、時には遅れてしまうこともあることをご了承下さい。もしミーティングポイントで予定時刻に出会えなかった時にはこちらの携帯番号までご連絡下さい：080-3278-6486

We will be carrying small flags so you can identify us.

当日は小さな旗を持っていますので、すぐに見つけていただけると思います。

Please take a look at www.tokyo42195.org for the detail of the Tokyo Marathon Route.

東京マラソンのルート詳細については、東京マラソン公式サイト www.tokyo42195.org を御確認下さい。

Please note that there are no specific cafe/restaurant stops.

カフェやレストランでの休憩は予定しておりませんので、予めご了承ください。

Site/Memory Mapping Project: Tokyo Marathon Walk サイト/メモリ•マッピング•プロジェクト：東京マラソン•ウォーク

Site/Memory Mapping Project: Tokyo Marathon Walk

サイト/メモリ•マッピング•プロジェクト：東京マラソン•ウォーク

From 8:30 am on Sunday 19th February 2012, we will walk the route of the Tokyo Marathon (which takes place a week later), and we would like to invite you to join us to walk and talk as we navigate our way across the 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kms) of the route.

We will start at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku, and finish at Tokyo Big Site. We will be at certain points along the route at specific times, so you can join us at any of these locations. Walk with us for the whole duration, or just parts of it; bring your friends, children and even your bikes!

Our intention is to facilitate a dialogue between each other and between us and other walkers through the action of walking. We hope to chart the transformation of our body and our perception of ourselves, the ‘other’, time, space and the city of Tokyo.

We would love for you to join us in this adventure, please spread the word. We will be updating the event soon with details of our meeting points, times and the route, so please have a look for more information. For more details about our project and work, have a look at our blog www.tokyomarathonwalk2012.blogspot.com

Artists Mikyoung Jun Pearce (UK/Korea) and Rebecca Wooodford-Smith (Wales, UK)

２０１２年２月１９日、午前８時半から、私たちは東京マラソン（このプロジェクトの一週間後に行われる）のルートを歩くというプロジェクトを企画しました。そこで私たちはこの２６マイル３８５ヤード（４２，１９５キロメートル）の道のりをナビゲートしながら、あなたと共に歩き、共に話したく、このプロジェクトにご招待したいと思います。

私たちは新宿の東京都庁ビルから出発し、東京ビッグサイトまで歩く予定です。その間、私たちは決まった時間ごとにこのルートのいくつかのポイントにいることになるので、あなたは、どこの場所からでも私たちと合流できます。私たちと全ルート、あるいはその一部の短い距離だけでもいっしょに歩きませんか。よかったらあなたのお友達や子供たちも誘ってください。自転車での参加もＯＫです。

私たちはこの歩くという行為を通して、お互い同士、そして私たちと他の歩行者との対話を育み、また、私たちの身体や自己知覚の変容、「他なるもの」、時間、空間、そして東京の街を体験しマッピングしたいと思います。

あなたがこの冒険に私たちとともに参加していただければとてもうれしいです。どうかこのプロジェクトを他の方にも伝えて下さい。私たちのこのイベントはミーティングポイントの詳細、時間とルートを含め、すぐにアップデートされますので、どうかさらに情報をチェックしてください。

私たちのプロジェクトと活動の詳細は下記のブログを参照してください。

www.tokyomarathonwalk2012.blogspot.com

Artists Mikyoung Jun Pearce (UK/Korea) and Rebecca Wooodford-Smith (UK)

Why Walk?

Over the duration of a day we intend to walk the route of the Tokyo marathon, which starts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and finishes at Tokyo Big Sight, and covers 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km). Before the event we will invite people to join us for all, or for parts, of the walk, as well as inviting people we meet during the walk to join us.

Our intention is to facilitate a dialogue between each other and between us and other walkers through the act of walking. We hope to chart the transformation of our body and our perception of ourselves, the ‘other’, time, space and the city of Tokyo.

We will walk the ‘official’ marathon route, carefully selected by the organisers to present Tokyo’s key tourist sites and its sites of power. Through focusing on the small details – such as the fleeting moments of human contact or dialogues we might have - whilst moving at our own walking pace, we will experience the route in a different way to the marathon runner speeding through the city.

We are interested in questions such as: what does it mean for a body to exist in the city and in its visible and invisible structures? What happens to the experiential consciousness of the walker moving through the city? If a marathon is an event that ‘recalls the glory of ancient Greece’, what can we say about the contemporary (‘globalised’) body running through the cities’ architectural monuments of power? What drives such an act of endurance in someone? How can we facilitate genuine dialogue and exchange with strangers? Can we feel at ‘home’ somewhere – such as Tokyo – where we are constantly experiencing the sense of being a foreigner-tourist or a sense of isolation?

We are interested in memory and the body in relation to space and time, and in seeing what the action of walking allows in terms of what stories, experiences or confessions we tell, and what others tell us. Is it possible for us to subvert or make an intervention into space and place through small actions and gestures? Viewing the body as a tiny part of the complex city environment, we will ask how we can map a space that is alien to us.

We will research the marathon route before the event in order to allow the site to speak to us and to gather traces, histories, and ghosts, and perform small actions and gestures in the site. We will then attempt to recall the traces, histories, and gestures that we found in the site during the marathon-walk itself. During the walk we will leave traces behind – such as rice for the birds, or simply by greeting those we meet along the way. We will document the walk, our encounters and the dialogue, and develop an ongoing work that maps the memory of the site and the body in the site.

Rebecca Woodford-Smith (performer/writer) often explores notions of history and finding ways of using the body to give form to memory in her work. She collaborates with Gekidan Kaitaisha (Tokyo) (2004 – present), and she co-founded Memopia Theatre (2007). She is pursuing a practice-based doctoral enquiry into contemporary performance making and composition (Middlesex University). http://rebeccawoodfordsmith.weebly.com/index.html

Visual/performance artist Mikyoung Jun Pearce has collaborated with Gekidan Kaitaisha since 2004, and currently lectures at Kaywon School of Art, South Korea. Her work progresses from a seemingly random collection of thoughts, images and footage taken from everyday life, from which she builds connections and associations, bridging the cracks that litter contemporary living.