• Otsuka Group, a total health care company and supplier of functional beverages, foods, and pharmaceuticals, will be the first corporate group sponsor to provide both hydration and nutritional support for the Tokyo Marathon, Asia's largest metropolitan marathon. Otsuka products will provide support for runners to complete Tokyo Marathon 2015 safely, to be run on Sunday, February 22, 2015.
• Supplementation of fluids and nutrition before, during, and after the run is vital to avoid dehydration and depletion of nutrition and enable runners to safely complete the punishing full-marathon distance.
• Based on proprietary sports nutrition research, Otsuka will provide BCAA (Amino Value) before the start; fluids and electrolytes (POCARI SWEAT) during the race; and balanced nutrition including protein and sugars (Calorie Mate) after the finish line, ensuring 36,000 runners from around the world access to liquids and nutrition for the entire distance of the marathon.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; President: Tatsuo Higuchi) has announced participation as an official sponsor of Tokyo Marathon 2015 (to be run on February 22, 2015). Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been an official sponsor of Asia's largest metropolitan marathon for nine consecutive years, since the first running of this popular race.

This year, Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd, its parent company, will also participate as an official sponsor, making it possible to provide Calorie Mate nutritional supplement in addition to Amino Value and POCARI SWEAT beverages. Based on proprietary sports nutrition research, Otsuka will supply beverages and nutritional products at aid stations before, during, and after the race, enabling runners to avoid dehydration and depletion of nutrition and safely complete the full marathon distance. This will be the first time a single corporate group has provided both hydration and nutritional support for the Tokyo Marathon, an event that attracts approximately 36,000 runners from around the world.

Doctor Fumihiro Yamasawa, Medical Director of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, commented on the support program, "To complete the full distance, a marathon runner must be conscious of his or her physical changes and nutrition levels. 'When, where and what' to replenish is vital, and measures taken immediately after the race are extremely important too. At the Tokyo Marathon, we hope to maximize this opportunity to promote proper replenishment of fluids and nutrition. "