Akihiro Matsuda (Japan) -parkrun in every place I call home!

This week I’m thrilled to welcome my very first parkrun Japan guest — Akihiro Matsuda — whose beautiful mantra is:

“parkrun exists in every place I call home.”

Akihiro’s parkrun story spans Singapore and Japan, and it’s packed with warmth, community-building and quietly brilliant leadership. We begin with his early parkrun days at East Coast Park parkrun (Singapore), and follow his journey back to Japan where he helped bring parkrun to life close to home — launching Gongendo 2gou Kouen parkrun (GGD2) and building an event culture based on belonging, friendship, and shared responsibility.

We also chat about Akihiro’s recent experience supporting the launch of a brand-new event in Toyama — Fuganunga Kansuikouen parkrun (FKK) — and two powerful “connection moments” that show just how deeply parkrun can weave into our personal history and sense of place.

And there’s a standout section where Akihiro shares his simple, memorable view of “parkrun and happiness” — and how Saturday mornings can help unlock the feel-good chemistry that keeps us coming back.

In this episode we cover:

•  Why “home” can be a feeling — and how parkrun helps create it 
•  Starting and growing a new parkrun event community in Japan 
•  The leadership “secret” behind GGD2’s success (including shared leadership and junior Run Directors) 
•  The magic of new event launches — and what they reveal about community 
•  A wonderfully practical happiness model you’ll want to share 

If you’ve ever travelled, moved, started again, or simply needed a place to belong… this one will land.

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Transcript

Speaker 0:00

The parkrun connected everything quietly. Uh there Singapore. Toyama. All of the place I call home. The place I call home has parkrun. So when we talk about happiness, people often mention three hormones. From achievement and success. And toching. From love, friendship, connection, serotonin. From well-being, uh health and good habit. Parkrun has the perfect balance. It gives you a healthy weekly routine. That's telotomy, right? And it gives you friendship and belonging, that's toasty. And yes, still get milestone and personal desk.

Speaker 1 0:51

Hi there, and a very warm welcome back to the Parkrunners Podcast. I'm Catherine Stenson, I'm your host, and today I'm really excited to be joined by our first parkrun Japan guest on the podcast. His name is Akihiro Matsuda, and he has a very simple philosophy in that parkrun exists in every place he calls home. We're going to talk about how parkrun has helped him when life changed, when he lived abroad in Singapore, and now that he's back in Japan, he has some great stories to share from there too. If English is not your first language, don't worry. Minosan Konichiwa and let's get started. Hello Aki.

Speaker 1:42

Hi, thanks for having me here. I'm happy to be here. My name is Akihiro Matsuda, but just call me Aki for short. I'm joining from Satte City in Saitama, Japan. It's far from Tokyo. Actually, 60 kilometers from center of Tokyo.

Speaker 1 1:57

Wonderful. So Aki is joining us from Satte City, just outside Tokyo. And it's an absolute privilege to have you here because I know how much parkrun means to you and what a big part it plays in your life. But can you take us back to your first ever park run, Aki? Where did that happen?

Speaker 2:20

Okay, thank you. For me, uh okay. It started in Singapore at East Coast parkrun on February 1st, 2020, right before COVID lockdown, one week before the COVID lockdown. So it was only one-time experience for me, the parkrun

Speaker 2:39

in Singapore.

Speaker 1 2:44

Alright, so you started park run just as COVID lockdown hit. So you did one park run and then you had to pause because of COVID. So when did you do your second park run, Aki?

Speaker 3:02

Right after I came back to Japan 2020. May. After that, I sometimes joined uh Watalase Yu Switch parkrun , uh nearest parkrun from my house at that time.

Speaker 1 3:22

Wonderful. And can you tell me a little bit about how you felt when you did your very first park run in Singapore? What was it instantly something that you enjoyed or did it take a while?

Speaker 3:36

Uh I just uh participated one time and I I didn't know about parkrun in detail. Just just just my friend brought me to there and I just joined and I just ran and just took some some some someone around there. At that time, that's it.

Speaker 1 3:56

And I know that you've gone on to set up and launch a very a brand new parkrun in Japan. So can you tell our listeners the name of that parkrun and how you went about launching a brand new parkrun?

Speaker 4:16

So uh uh the my the name of our parkrun is Gongendo Nigo Kouen parkrun, so long, right? So honestly, at first I wasn't planning to launch a weekly park run myself. After returning to Japan in 2020, uh May, I was running uh a few runners community already at that time. So the number of members of those communities was more than 300. And I held group running events almost every week. So I felt like maybe that's enough. But then in 2020, October, a new park opened near my house. And I went there with my grandkids. When I saw it, I was really moved. The brand new park itself was so beautiful and neat, and running course was perfectly fit for the parkrun. I remember thinking almost I like I received the message from God. This is the place. Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 1 5:15

You felt inspired by this new park and thought it's perfect for a park run.

Speaker 5:22

So I began building a chimber. I applied a preliminary approval from the headquarters, starting started gathering team. This part was not hard because I had so many learners' friends already, like, and learned everything I could. We did six trial events and visited more than 10 parkruns across across Japan to learn from others before the launch. Then on May 13, 2020, we finally launched the with 65 participants and 16 volunteers, and it worked. Maybe 65 is not not not a large number, right? But in Japan, 65 for the number of launch is quite large enough, especially for the parkrun in a rural area like us.

Speaker 1 6:21

I hope I've got that right, Aki. Um but what are your proudest achievements and in um the park run that you have set up?

Speaker 6:33

Uh it grows so much. Now our event team has grown over 100 members, including 14 juniors, and we often have over 15 high-based heroes. The largest number of finishers of our parkrun is 138 something. Usually we only three to five events have over 500 finishers in Japan, and all of them are in mega cities, and that's not all.

Speaker 1 7:00

You have achieved something really extraordinary in parkrun Japan terms because in your small rural community you have succeeded in building a big audience of not just finishers but also volunteers. Can you tell us a bit about your strategy for building your volunteer team?

Speaker 7:28

Okay. The number of hi-viz hero we co-volunteer like that is always over 50, which is always double compared to the second largest Japan in Japan. But I limit I always remember the early days when only six or seven of us were doing everything. And uh and the secret of the gloss is that simple. Uh I want people to go home thinking. So I want to come back next week and uh I want to bring someone to cherish with me next time. If we can create that feeling, even for just one person, community start glow naturally, right? It becomes a habit and then becomes a place. I set three ambitions for our event as a leader. Those are not objectives, but just ambitions. Which means we will not be able to achieve forever.

Speaker 1 8:27

Yes.

Speaker 8:27

It just shows a direction for our SIP. It's like a pluralist. The three ambitions. Can I explain three of them?

Speaker 1 8:36

Yes, please. Go ahead and tell us your three ambitions.

Speaker 8:41

Okay. The first one is to make participants be volunteers. Do you know what I mean? Uh to make all participants be volunteers. This is the first ambition. The second one is to become a popular event for family participants. The third one is to become an international event with many tourist park runners. I'd like to explain in detail for only the first one, because there's no need to uh to explain for second or so, right? So the first one, we want to make an event where everyone gathers, prepare together, have fun together, clean up together, and then everyone leaves with a smile on their face, saying, See you next week. That kind of parkrun we I would like to.

Speaker 1 9:28

It sounds to me like you are very well on your way and have established a very happy, friendly, inclusive parkrun at Gongendo Niko Kouen. So, congratulations on achieving those ambitions to make all participants feel welcome, to become a popular event for families and local community, and also to build your appeal to an international audience because we know there are a lot of parkrun tourists who enjoy visiting Japan.

Speaker 10:09

Yeah, but yeah, but but the sour one is the hardest for us. Actually, we have only 14 tourist parkrunners so far in these almost three years. Only 14, because it's as I told you, uh the Sate City is far from Tokyo. Oh, it takes two hours from Tokyo. So the hardest one is uh international park run.

Speaker 1 10:35

So if anybody is listening, I'm just going to give sorry. I would like to give a little promotion to Gongendo Niko Ko and Park Run because you would welcome any international visitors who are listening who are planning a trip to Japan. Please include this parkrun and go and say hi to our fabulous event director, Akihiro Matsuda. Aki, can you can you talk to us about how how you make first-time park runners feel welcome and and safe when they when they show up at your park run?

Speaker 11:28

Okay. We always welcome the first comer. Uh we we we assigned m three of three to six people for the first w first time welcome. And they asked the question, well how do they find us? What what what would you expect this parkrun? Something like that. And show the smile and the make conversation and we call the name of the participant during the parkrun.

Speaker 1 12:09

That is lovely. And I'm sure that makes us feel very friendly and very welcoming.

Speaker 12:16

And uh, you know, uh the we and we don't have any uh so many international tourists. So if if the tourists come to us, visit us, we welcome them as uh as if they are the VIP.

Speaker 1 12:32

You know, do that I mean Aki, I know you told me that you recently joined the launch of I think it's called Fuganunga Kanisiku Poen. What did you feel on that day? Can you talk about that experience?

Speaker 12:54

I lived there for only two years, but I love Toyama so much, so much that I even become Toyama Hometown Ambassador. Even though I moved away from uh about 15 years ago, I still have so many friends there. So when Fugang Kansi Koen Parkland launched on uh June 28th, 2025, I thought, okay, I'm going. I have to be there. So before the launch, I supported most mostly by spreading the words, and especially among running friends and uh other friends in local community. And the launch was a big success, so I felt really proud and grateful.

Speaker 1 13:35

So it sounds like you have had a lot of experiences living in different cities, both in Japan and Singapore, and the connecting theme for you in those cities is parkrun. So it's it's really part of your life. Actually, I I met the people from Hojo Can you tell me about your most emotional park run moment?

Speaker 14:13

Alright. Uh when I went to Toyama uh Fugansiko and Parkland, I met the people from Nala City, uh he from Heizo Kyuseki Leko and Parkland. The Nala is my birthplace. And and I visited Nala again. So so the Parkland connected everything quietly. Uh Saitama Sate, Singapore, Toyama, Nala, all of the place I call home. The the co my the place I call home has parkrun.

Speaker 1 14:54

I mean that is very um lovely and it's certainly been the theme of you know your story because parkrun has played a very huge part in in your life. You connect parkrun with happiness, Aki. Can you explain what you mean by that and how this connects to the three happiness hormones?

Speaker 15:21

Okay, sure, I love sharing this. So when we talk about happiness, people often mention three hormones dopamine from achievement and success and oxoshin from love, friendship, connection. Serotonin from well being, uh health and good habit. Dopamine feels amazing, but it's short lived. So sometimes people keep chasing the next higher result. Oxtoshin keep like community. Serotonin is steady and calm, like good feeling after the an easy run. And here's my point, Parkland has the perfect balance. It keeps you a healthy, weekly routines, that's selotonin, right? And it gives you friendship and belonging, that's okistosin. And yes, still get milestone and personal best, that's dopamine. But the best thing is none of them dominate too much. It has so it is it has to be balanced. Parkrun has the best balance for these three hormones, and that's why Parkrun feels sustainable and welcoming and happy. That's my thought.

Speaker 1 16:32

What a beautiful philosophy and um message that is, because you're saying that Parkrun helps us feel connected, supported in the community, and happier because we come together to exercise, which in itself makes us feel better. So that's a I have not heard it explained like that before, Aki, but I think a lot of our listeners will will connect very well with that um story. So if somebody listening was feeling lonely or stressed, what would you say parkrun could do for them?

Speaker 17:16

Okay, uh I'd say you don't need to be fast. You don't need to be even a runner. You can walk, jog, run, volunteer, whatever, fit your day. Just come once because there's a very good chance you'll live thinking, wow, I didn't expect to feel this ill welcome. And who knows, it might become uh become one of your hot homes too.

Speaker 1 17:47

That's that's a nice message, Aki. But in in Japan, when I was researching for our conversation and podcast today, I discovered that lots of people do like to run, but many, many people do long distance marathon running, including yourself.

Speaker 18:10

Yeah.

Speaker 1 18:12

How does park run fit into a culture and a community where most people have typically enjoyed long distance running?

Speaker 18:26

Sorry, uh I I I missed your last question.

Speaker 1 18:33

Okay. I'm just curious as to how park run fits into Japanese culture because I understand that a lot of Japanese people very much enjoy running clubs and long distance running.

Speaker 18:53

So yeah, the the the people, the learners in Japan tend to be how shall I say, disprint runner. Right? But actually we have the the fast runner or long distance learner in our parkrun, but this they the first time they came to they joined our parkrun by themselves, only one person. But we create uh some kind of familiar feeling and we have so many families, so they bring their family together to our parkrun with wife, your w uh with their kids, and they finally realized the the different feeling uh comes to their how should I say uh emotional part so the parkrun can bring them such kind of feeling the the long distance learner or discipline learner uh has become gradually changing into the to the to the parkrun culture runners Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 1 20:26

That's a very interesting observation that Parkrun is finding its own way of um finding a place in Japanese life and culture as being inclusive for families as well as distance runners because there's something for everyone in Parkrun. Um Aki, that's um that's a very interesting take on um Japanese Japanese culture. So what message would you like to share with listeners around the world about parkrun and parkrun in Japan?

Speaker 21:09

The the parkrun in Japan is uh still still developing. And the number of the parkrun is only 50. And uh the most of the park not large, not small uh not large enough.

Speaker 1 21:26

So this is a super easy quick fire round. Do you prefer to run, walk or volunteer?

Speaker 21:33

Everything. Everything.

unknown 21:35

Yeah.

Speaker 21:36

I prefer everything. Yeah, all the parts.

Speaker 1 21:39

What's your favorite park run and why?

Speaker 21:42

My favorite park run. Uh it's it's it's Gongen Doningo Kuen parkrun. Because it's my home. Yeah, because it's my home. And uh it's the I believe it's the best parkrun in the world. Wonderful.

Speaker 1 21:57

I'd love to try it one day, Aki. Maybe, maybe that will be possible.

Speaker 22:01

Yes, please.

Speaker 1 22:03

What's your favorite parkrun treat after you run?

Speaker 22:07

Park run tourist?

Speaker 1 22:09

Yeah. Do you have like breakfast or a special treat after you park run?

Speaker 22:14

Uh we usually have uh uh after cafe. We call it it uh happy cafe. The you usually after cafe is they go to the cafe uh around the park, right? But we are very isolated park. There is no cafe around us. So we we we every week we do happy cafe and it's it's a snack potluck cafe. Everyone brings some snack from their home and eat together, chat together, make a conversation during the the cafe. After j right after the cup pot line. So maybe 80% of the participants uh stay at the end of the event. So we create the two lines to welcome the uh the uh tailwalkers. Make a clap and cheer up by 80% of the participants, which means 80 people.

Speaker 1 23:19

All enjoying coffee together.

Speaker 23:20

No, no, no.

Speaker 1 23:21

So you bring you bring your own snack.

Speaker 23:23

Yes, bring your own snack and bring your own drink.

Speaker 1 23:26

Fantastic! Very, very creative solution to not having a cafe in your own park. And finally, Aki, a word that you think describes the Japanese park run community.

Speaker 23:42

It depends on the event. The the type of the event are very vary. The the the some of the some of them are occupied by the by the long distance and the disciplined runners. But like us, we have have runner first runners, joggers, walkers, children, elder people, the with baby, with dog. So our parkrun is very diverse. My parkrun is very diverse, but the type of the parkrun in Japan is very very different. Depends on the policy of the event director.

Speaker 1 24:33

I see, so diverse definitely describes the Japanese parkrun community and um you've certainly made it sound like a very, very welcoming um group as well, especially at Gongendo Niko Koen Parkrun. So I hope after people who have listened to this this episode will feel motivated to want to come and visit Japan Parkrun, especially your one, Aki, Gongendo Niko Koen. And I want to say thank you so much for joining today. I know it's very difficult when you are speaking in a second language, but you've done really great, Aki. And I'm very indebted to you for sharing your story about how Parkrun exists in every place you call home.

Speaker 25:34

Thank you. Thank you.

Speaker 1 25:36

Thank you for today.

Speaker 25:38

Aligato.

Speaker 1 25:40

Aligato.

Speaker 25:41

Just a big thank you, Catherine, for having me.

Speaker 1 25:44

It's been my pleasure, Aki. And I'm grateful for Darren Pead, a um previous guest and Parkrun tourist who introduced us. So thank you, Darren.

Speaker 25:56

Yes, thank you, Darren.

Speaker 1 25:57

Thanks for joining us on the Parkrunners podcast. I'm Catherine Stenson and I love sharing stories from our amazing Parkrun community. So if today's conversation has inspired you, why not share it with a friend? Or better still, bring them along to