LY Communications

• Six other programs will also be underway, including a program that lets supporters give runners “42 Messages of Support” and a program that allows runners to join the “LINE Challenge Team 2019” to connect with each other.
• LINE aims to achieve “A marathon that closes the distance between supporters and runners more than ever before, and that everyone can enjoy.”

LINE Corporation (“LINE”; Location: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer: Takeshi Idezawa) and its Fukuoka-based subsidiary, LINE Fukuoka Corporation (“LINE Fukuoka”; Location: Hakata Ward, Fukuoka; Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer: Noritaka Ochiai), are pleased to announce that for the third consecutive year, LINE has been chosen as the Official Communication Partner of FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019 (which will take place on November 10, 2019).
Continuing from 2017 and 2018, LINE will carry out four plans aimed at creating “A marathon that closes the distance between supporters and runners more than ever before, and that everyone can enjoy.” Among these is the “THANKS CARD” feature, which allows runners to create and send message cards that include their race completion time on LINE, and is the first such attempt in Japanese marathon history. In addition, three other programs designed to ensure that the marathon goes smoothly will be launched. In total, the LINE Group will carry out seven programs at FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019.

Programs aimed at achieving “A marathon that closes the distance between supporters and runners more than ever before, and that everyone can enjoy”
1. “Thanks Card”: A first in marathon history, runners can express their gratitude to their supporters with this feature.
2. A gift from supporters to runners: “42 Messages of Support”
3. Connecting runners with each other: “LINE Challenge Team 2019” (LINEチャレンジチーム2019)
4. From LINE Fukuoka’s staff: “Roadside Support/LINE FRIENDS Character Cakes Distribution”

Programs for “Getting necessary information to those who need it, and carrying out the marathon smoothly”
5. “Traffic Control Information Broadcast through the ‘FUKUOKA MARATHON’ (福岡マラソン) LINE Official Account and LINE’s Smart Channel” (from race administrators to members of the public)
6. “Race Day Schedule and Related Information Broadcast through the ‘FUKUOKA MARATHON’ LINE Official Account” (from race administrators to race participants)
7. “Coupons Distributed through the ‘FUKUOKA MARATHON’ LINE Official Account and Smart channels” (from local businesses to runners/supporters)

• Program Background
The theme of the FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019 is “Run the city, Run the sea, Run toward the future,” and the LINE group mission is “Closing the distance – Bringing people, information, and services closer together.” By creating and strengthening bonds between runners and supporters as well as organizing a smooth race through the distribution of accurate information, we are working together with FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019 to create a race that is loved by both participants and citizens.

• Programs to create “A marathon that closes the distance between supporters and runners more than ever before, and that everyone can enjoy”

1. Runners can express their gratitude to their supporters with the “THANKS CARD” feature
LINE offers a platform that makes developing Web apps created in LINE chat rooms possible called “LINE Front-end Framework” (LIFF). The “THANKS CARD” feature to be released on the “FUKUOKA MARATHON” LINE Official Account utilizes LIFF, letting runners create a message that includes their race finishing time and send it via LINE. Runners will be able to tell their supporters things that they normally cannot, things they have been waiting to say, or things that they feel they can say because they have just completed their race.

[Availability]
12 pm on November 10 – 12 am on November 12, 2019

2. A gift from supporters to runners: “42 Messages of Support”
From October 1-15, we used features like “Surveys” on LINE Official Account to invite people all over the country to send messages of support for FUKUOKA MARATHON runners. We received 576 warm messages from the respondents, 42 of which have been chosen to be displayed along the sidelines at 1-kilometer intervals on the day of the race. We hope these messages will encourage the 14,000 runners.

3. Connecting runners with each other: “LINE Challenge Team 2019” (LINEチャレンジチーム2019)
We all feel uncertainty and doubt when trying something new. “LINE Challenge Team 2019” is seeking members (particularly new runners or those attempting their first full marathon) so that they can make new friends to talk with and approach the race with confidence. We believe this will generate communication among runners through a LINE group chat. At the same time, the “LINE Runners Team” (LINEランナーチーム) will provide support to the Challenge Team through group practice sessions and public lectures so that runners can complete the race safely.

4.From LINE Fukuoka’s staff: “Roadside Support/LINE FRIENDS Character Cakes Distribution”
LINE Fukuoka staff members will be participating as volunteers on race day, offering LINE FRIENDS character cakes as fuel for support and cheering from the sidelines of the course.

– Location: Aid Station #11
– Sideline cheering: Near the 35 kilometer mark (Futamigaura)

• Programs for “Getting necessary information to those who need it and the smooth operation of the marathon”

5.”Traffic Control Information Broadcast through the ‘FUKUOKA MARATHON’ (福岡マラソン) LINE Official Account and LINE’s Smart Channel” (from race administrators to members of the public)
On the day of the race, special traffic regulations will be implemented in the cities of Fukuoka and Itoshima. The Fukuoka Marathon Executive Committee will hang posters and distribute flyers to inform residents before the race. In order to reinforce these efforts, information about the traffic restrictions will be sent to LINE users in the race areas through the LINE’s Smart Channel and the “FUKUOKA MARATHON” LINE Official Account on November 9 (the day before the race).

6.”Race Day Schedule and Related Information Broadcast through the “FUKUOKA MARATHON” LINE Official Account” (from race administrators to race participants)
Using the “Rich menu” feature, we have made functional improvements to the “FUKUOKA MARATHON” LINE Official Account, which has been utilized in every FUKUOKA MARATHON since 2017. These improvements include a feature that easily lets people check the movements of runners with LINE.

7.”Coupons Distributed through the ‘FUKUOKA MARATHON’ LINE Official Account and Smart channels” (from local businesses to runners/supporters)
Race day presents a big chance for local businesses and facilities to have the 14,000 runners and over 250,000 spectators visit their locations. Coupons created by the Fukuoka Marathon Executive Committee for stores and facilities along the race course will be sent to LINE users through the “FUKUOKA MARATHON” LINE Official Account and LINE’s Smart Channel.

The LINE Group will continue making its mission of “Closing the Distance” a reality through cutting-edge technology and the power of people.

[APPENDIX]
• FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019 overview
– Date: Sunday, November 10, 2019 *Races will take place rain or shine.
– Start time: 8:10 am (Wheelchair race); 8:20 am (Marathon and Fun run)
– Course distance: 42.195 km (Marathon); 5.2 km (Fun run/Wheelchair race)
– Participants: 14,020 total (Marathon: 12,000; Wheelchair race: 20; Fun run: 2,000) – Spectators: Approximately 250,000

• FUKUOKA MARATHON 2019 Official Homepage