World vs Japan

How the gap between the Japanese record and the world record has changed over time.

Men · Current Gap
+5:25
World1:59:30Sabastian Sawe
Japan2:04:55Suguru Osako
Women · Current Gap
+9:03
World2:09:56Ruth Chepngetich
Japan2:18:59Honami Maeda

Record progressions

World and Japan record progressions.

Men

Current
WR1:59:30Sabastian Sawe· 2026
JPN2:04:55Suguru Osako· 2025

Women

Current
WR2:09:56Ruth Chepngetich· 2024
JPN2:18:59Honami Maeda· 2024

The gap over time

How the gap between the world and Japan records has moved.

Men

+5:25Current
WR1:59:30Sabastian Sawe· 2026
JPN2:04:55Suguru Osako· 2025

Women

+9:03Current
WR2:09:56Ruth Chepngetich· 2024
JPN2:18:59Honami Maeda· 2024

What this chart shows

The closer the line gets to zero, the closer Japan is to the world record; when it rises, the world record is pulling away. The gap is plotted at every record change — world or national — so the line always reflects the gap at that moment.