Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was among those in attendance ©Getty Images

A 1,000 kilometres road relay between Tokyo and the areas of north-east Japan hit by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 featured more than 1,700 participants aiming to raise money for charity.

The "Road to Tomorrow" relay featured Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi and Paralympic long jumper Atsushi Yamamoto among thousands of others.

Takahasi and Yamamoto joined around 200 runners on the final 1.6km leg which finished at the Komazawa Olympic Park in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic host city.

The relay was held to support those in the prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba, which were badly affected by the 2011 disaster.

Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi was among the participants at the road relay ©Getty Images
Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi was among the participants at the road relay ©Getty Images

It started in Aomori on July 24, exactly one year before the start of the 2020 Olympics, and lasted two weeks, featuring 1,700 runners and cyclists.

Takahashi, who won the women's marathon at the Sydney 2000 Games, said: "I want to keep cheering for people in disaster-hit areas."

"It's important to keep reconstruction in mind until it's accomplished," added Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

"I hope the spirit of this relay will be carried on in the Torch Relay."