Japanese long-distance star Suguru Osako,lastmonthat the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon posted 1:01:44, finishing 6 th overall and first among Japanese, laying a solid foundation for the Valencia Marathon in early December.
Recently, Suguru Osako spoke to the media, formally discussing for the first time how he feels about switching sponsors and the important role running plays in his life.
At the interview he wore a white T-shirt printed with “李宁（LI-NING）” under a gray hoodie. Valencia will be his first major race since joining the Chinese sports brand Li-Ning, so it has attracted extra attention.
Why choose Li-Ning?
"It's simple, because the shoes perform very well. They offer both spring and cushioning. Now that I wear Li-Ning, some people say they look a lot like Nike. In fact, 12 years ago when I wore Nike I was also criticized and compared to other brands. Later, when I became a professional runner and moved my training base to the United States, some said 'American-style training is definitely no good.' But those voices are gone now, and I think the American training system is very advanced. Facing new challenges, criticism is unavoidable."
Suguru Osako has worked with Chinese brands quite a bit. Not only did he collaborate with the high-performance GPS sports watch brand COROS —which develops and manufactures in China—to launch a signature model, he also serves as an ambassador for the China-origin bone-conduction headphone brand Shokz .
"I'm not deliberately choosing Chinese brands; I feel China is starting to produce truly excellent products. At the same time, I want to put more effort into nurturing the next generation, and they've been very proactive in enhancing my value and IP. Innovative teams can build great products, and there are passionate people willing to convey that value. With good people and good products, I wanted to try jumping in."
Suguru Osako is a professional runner active on the world stage, who has twice broken the Japanese record, including 2020 Tokyo Marathon. His determined, independent personality and extraordinary running ability have attracted many supporters, and make people wonder whether he still has greater potential.
However, after 2021 the Tokyo Olympics, where he finished sixth, he announced his retirement. Looking back, he said he had no regrets:“As an athlete, the Olympics were my main goal. I decided to retire then because I felt it was an important milestone in my life. However, when I saw older teammates still training hard, I was deeply moved and felt a strong desire to return to competition, so 6 months later I was back on the track. It wasn't that I was tired of running; in fact, I kept running during retirement, which allowed me to reconnect with nature.”
“More importantly, I began to truly enjoy the marathon—this enjoyment far outweighs the way I used to run just to chase results. I can look at running from a more objective perspective and feel the‘day-to-day accumulation’ it brings, so I have no regrets about the decision I made.”
As a professional runner, running has become a way of life for Suguru Osako. He emphasizes that running stimulates his brain and brings him inspiration and good ideas.
"Hmm...Running can help prevent dementia. It's said to also spark inspiration. I often go for a run alone when I'm thinking. I'm not an expert, so I can't provide definitive evidence, but running does stimulate my brain. I've also heard some companies do brainstorming while hiking. Personally, I like to run in the morning; in the fresh air I can sort out the day's tasks."
To avoid bringing negative emotions home, he also suggests people try taking up running:“That way you can be alone; even just walking is fine. For example, try getting off two stops earlier on your way home from work. It helps increase blood flow to the brain, spurs new ideas, and helps you find solutions. I've experienced it myself. I run long in both time and distance, and I feel my thinking has become sharper.”
In the athletics world, Suguru Osako is often seen as an "outlier." But he has never been constrained by preconceived impressions or brand frameworks, continually carving his own path.
We look forward to him shining again at the Valencia Marathon in December 2025.
What result do you expect him to achieve?
