Patorun | Munakata, Japan

In January 2013, in Munakata, southern Japan, four university students came together to protect their community. A year earlier, a female friend had been a victim of an assault at a nearby train station, and the group had witnessed first-hand how devastating such a situation can be. Wanting to help prevent such incidents happening in the future, the friends began patrolling the streets of Fukuoka with like-minded volunteers on foot. Operating mostly after dark, the group patrol created a reassuring visible presence, allowing those out alone at night to feel safe.  

Then, the idea struck – what if they created a running club, where participants could not only enjoy exercising together, but also increase safety for those in the neighborhood as they ran? Soon after, Patorun was born. In this heart-warming interview, the organization’s Representative Director, Yuhei Tachibana, shares their extraordinary story.

[It all started because] I saw a group of people running. This sparked the idea of Patorun. We were already operating walking patrols at the time, but it was hard to keep our volunteers motivated. The running club not only brings safety to our streets, it enriches the lives of our volunteers. They discover a role within the community, which leads to better wellbeing, too.

Patorun has become a hub for local people to connect with society [through running]. We believe that connection is important for the future; that we should all be more invested in what’s happening around us. 

Our role is to help people; to increase safety and prevent accidents by looking at our surroundings [from a community perspective]. Aside from preventing assault, Patorun members have helped to locate missing persons. Elderly people or those with dementia go missing sometimes. We [regularly] receive thanks from family members for our work and have been decorated [honored] by the local police department. Our contribution towards solving these issues is one of our great accomplishments at Patorun.

Patorun now has roughly 3,000 members across Japan. They come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging in age – from elementary grade through to their 80s. Members in their 40s and 50s make up the largest ratio. Around 60% of our members are runners themselves – but most people are motivated individuals who are looking to try something new [through running]. 

We started off in Fukuoka, but now Patorun has active members in 44 prefectures across Japan. Many of these people find value in what we do and want to contribute something – perhaps for their own health, to eliminate crime and help society, or simply to connect with others. I believe the key to Patorun’s continuing success is that we have fun.

To join one of our runs, people first need to become a Patorun member. We advertise our work through the media, such as local newspapers and social networks. We put a lot of effort into advertising so people can find out about us. We also offer a Member+ scheme where people can support our work through donations. There are about thirty registered members that offer contributions in this way. We have also established a partner system to invite [local] companies to contribute to Patorun’s activities.

Some women find that Patorun increases their sense of security. We also have people with illnesses and disabilities joining us on runs. [Our activities also give] children a sense of safety. As it is common in Japanese culture to walk to school, roads near schools can also see crime or accidents. We have helped secure the safety of children by suggesting safer school routes to local governments.

In January 2023, we marked ten years since our launch. To commemorate this achievement, we held a celebratory ceremony. Seeing our members who find value in Patorun come together from across the country was amazing, and I felt truly happy that we had continued this project. This year, we hope to spread the message of our work. Perhaps Patorun’s vision, despite originating in Japan, can be shared across the world.