Watermelon Road Race

The Watermelon Road Race took place in Tomisato City, Chiba Prefecture in Tokyo on Sunday after a four-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The race is usually held at the peak of the watermelon harvest season every year to promote the local delicacy.

About 5,800 people from across Japan took part in the 1.5- or 10-kilometer events. Runners were offered slices of watermelon instead of water at stations along the courses to get hydrated. Some participants wore headgear or hand-made costumes featuring watermelon themes.