The 34-year-old was looking to better compatriot Dennis Kimetto's mark of 2 hours 02min 57sec and reclaim the world record holder title he lost in 2014.

However, he did manage to set a new Japanese marathon record around the capital's new course design and crossed the line in 2:03:58.

"Today I was really feeling good and the course was very nice," Kipsang said.

"I really enjoyed it and I was going for a world record but I think it was a little bit windy and that's why I couldn't run that time."

Kipsang started strongly and was on course for the world record at the 10 kilometres, 15km and halfway point.

At the 30km mark, only compatriot Dickson Chumba was still with Kipsang and 10km later, he was on his own but had slightly drifted from the world record pace.

Gideon Kipketer passed Chumba on the final few kilometres to finish second in a time of 2:05:51.

Chumba managed to hold onto third place for Kenyan clean sweep in 2:06.25.

In the women’s race there was another Kenyan victor, with Sarah Chepchirchir coming home in an impressive time of 2:19:47.

Chepchirchir, running in just her third career marathon and first major race, made a push after 30km and cruised to victory in a personal best.

She was too strong for the Ethiopian pair of Birhane Dibaba and Amane Gobena, who took second and third in 2:21:19 and 2:23:09, respectively.

Earlier, veteran South African athlete Ernst van Dyk, who finished second in Tokyo last year, had settled for ninth position in the men's wheelchair contest in 1:30:15.

Sho Watanabe gave Japan a home win, securing victory in 1:28:01 in the men's race, while Amanda McGrory of the United States won the women's wheelchair race in 1:43:27.