LOOK: The Eccentric Costumes Of Tokyo Marathon Runners

It would be easy to confuse the Tokyo marathon for a Halloween parade.
Runners cross Tokyo city as they compete in the Tokyo Marathon on February 28, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
Runners cross Tokyo city as they compete in the Tokyo Marathon on February 28, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ballerinas, Disney princesses, superheroes, and cartoon characters in running shoes were among the 36,000 runners who rolled through Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday Feb. 28.

The Tokyo marathon is one of six World Marathon Majors, but it's the only one where it has become traditional for people to run in costume.

The marathon serves as a selection race for Japan’s wheelchair and men marathon representatives for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Around 1.7 million people cheered on the runners in what was the race's 10th anniversary.

Tokyo’s metropolitan police tested out high-tech security measures during the race last weekend, including a facial recognition system for the runners, in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa
Kaori Sasagawa

This post first appeared on HuffPost Japan. It has been translated into English and edited for clarity.

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