The race was originally scheduled to take place on March 7, but has been postponed by seven months.

Marathon-related events will still be held in March 2021, organisers say, including a virtual marathon open to runners across the globe and some events in the Japanese capital.

It is hoped that the 2022 edition of the Tokyo Marathon will be held on March 6, returning to its usual spot on the calendar.

The 2020 Tokyo Marathon, held on March 1, was open to elite runners only as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate.

Those who has been registered to run in this year's mass-participation race will be able to defer their entry to 2021, assuming it is deemed safe for a mass-participation race to be staged in October next year.

"In preparation for the next event, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation is carefully reviewing plans that will adhere to the situation surrounding COVID-19," organisers said. 

"We would like to thank everyone in advance for the great support and understanding as we continue to work diligently to deliver a safe and secure event."

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors.

It was the only of the World Marathon Majors to go ahead on the planned route this year - the London Marathon was staged last weekend on a loop course, while races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago and New York were all cancelled.

Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese won this year's men's Tokyo Marathon, with Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter setting a new course record to win the women's race.

The date shift means the 2021 Tokyo Marathon will be staged after the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, which were pushed back by a year in response to the coronavirus crisis.

The Olympic marathon and race walks will take place in Sapporo rather than Tokyo, however, due to concerns over heat.