YAMATHON VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play a critical role in making Tokyo Yamathon even more meaningful. At the same time, we also want our volunteer members to enjoy themselves through our activities. Please get involved and have fun with us!
*Some roles may require people with expertise in a particular area (for example, photographers, interpreters, etc.)
VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONStart / Finish Venue Tokyo TOKIA Bldg. Marunouchi 7:00 – 9:30
Duties
• Welcoming teams when they arrive and guide them to the venue
• Cheering teams when they leave the venue
• Answering questions from teams and participants
• Make teams and participants feel amazing
Requirements
• Need to be energetic: greeting, cheering, high-five, etc.
• Must arrive by 7:00 on day of event for briefing with venue guide leader
Duties
• Taking photos or videos of teams & volunteers, capturing the atmosphere of Yamathon
• Photos and videos to be used for promotion and social media
– Taking photos or videos of registrations, volunteers, teams
– Interviewing teams, volunteers, and VIP’s during registration period
– Photos/video and interviews: –
~ Teams from sponsoring companies
~ Teams in costumes
~ Volunteers
Requirements
• Must arrive at 7:00 for a briefing with leaders of the photography team
• Need to bring own camera, memory card(s), and if possible flash.
Start / Finish Venue
Tokyo TOKIA Bldg. Marunouchi + JR MEJIRO STATION
13:00 – 18:00 / 18:00 – 22:00
Duties
• Record the time as teams hit the finish line
• Collect all electronic sensor chips from half-yamathon teams
• Check photos from teams
• Calculate time/ranking and announce to teams
• Setting finishing times on the digital clock for official finishing photo
• Handing out water to teams
• Take photos at official sponsorboard using cellphones of teams
Requirements
• Need to be energetic: greeting, cheering, high-five, etc.
Duties
• Cheering teams as they are close to the finish line and at the finish line
Requirements
• Need to be energetic: greeting, cheering, high-five, etc.
Duties
• Take official finishing photos at sponsorboards
• Take official photos at the finish line
• Take photos of people around the venue
Requirements
• Must have a professional camera
• Camera must have flash equipment (if you don’t have a flash, please let us know – we can rent one)
• Interacting with teams and volunteers to get the right pose .
Duties
• Responsible for making sure all volunteers are enjoying themselves
• Responsible for changing volunteers when they are scheduled for breaks/would like to change roles
• Keeping venue clean
• Making sure volunteers have access to refreshments and snacks
Requirements
• Must have a talent for project management and enjoys leading others
Duties
• Working with media teams and social media team in Tokyo to update our social media platforms
– Updating social media platforms with photos and videos and information on rankings
Requirements
• Must have experience in content creation and copywritings.
VOLUNTEER STORIES
I joined Yamathon in 2016 for the very first time, as I was asked to help the event as a one-day volunteer (just a couple days before the event!!).
I had no idea about the event or what I was expected to do there, but I just jumped in and I thought I would just help the event only once. At the event, I helped tracking team goal records and worked closely with organisers all day, and I was so inspired and moved by not only the goals of the event, but also great passions and affectionate the organisers shared with me. Since then, I joined Yamathon as 1-day volunteer, organisers team, and as a participant every year.
I remember that we spent many weekends and worked 2 or 3am on weekdays for Yamathon when I was in an organisers team. Although we were extremely busy and exhausted, the team was always thoughtful, cared and encouraged each other and this gave us great bond and made us “family”.
I continuously join Yamathon because I really love and admire the people who are so dedicated and working unbelievably hard for this event. And Yamathon is a great opportunity to make someone happy while you enjoy meeting new people, building bond with your friends, and having fun.
In 2018, I joined the Yamathon as a volunteer. By joining as a staff, I experienced how hard it is to make the event exciting and also understood a little about how to work with adults in real society. I cheered and guided the finishing teams, announcing the rankings, and held the finish line tape.
I really enjoyed the tasks so much and worked so hard that others became worried and forced me to take breaks. Through volunteer work, I became aware of what I could do for the society, what skills I could use, and understood that the adult society doesn’t work as I expected. I also realized how great Yamathon was.
At the beginning, I was feeling negative about the whole event. I never understood why people enjoy walking around the Yamanote line. To me, they were just doing it to tire themselves out. However, I saw people in all teams showing happy faces when they finished walking.
I also felt really happy and great that I had waited for my friends who were participating to finish. When I my friends reached Tokyo Station, I walked with them to the finishing point. There. I had a strange sense of feeling that was almost like a dream, but I can’t express more. I think everyone who joined Yamathon shared the similar sense of happiness.