Hiroaki Tanaka, Ph.D. and Professor at Fukuoka University, Japan, was the founder and director of its Institute for Physical Activity. Born in 1947, he was a forever-young author of numerous books on slow jogging and healthy lifestyle. His surprisingly efficient training method, a result of many years of research, helped him complete a marathon in 2:38:50 at the age of 50. Known as Japan’s running guru, the legendary scientist inspired runners all throughout his country, from elite long-distance runners to the elderly and those suffering from lifestyle diseases, to slow down and jog with a smile for a health body and mind. He passed away in 2018.

Noriko Sato was born in 1980 in Fukuoka, Japan. She graduated from Exercise Physiology at Sports Science, Fukuoka University. Noriko has been running all her life and ran her first marathon at 22. Back then she participated in Prof. Tanaka’s seminar and first learnt about Slow Jogging. It has become the base of her training. Now Noriko works as a certified instructor and promotes Slow Jogging as a board member of Japan Slow Jogging Association. She is not only a great athlete herself, but also a Guinness World Record holder for the fastest marathon run by a married couple with the aggregate time of 5 h 28 min 23 sec ran with her husband, Kenta Sato in Tokyo Marathon 2014. In 2019 she had her first child and now enjoys a busy life of a working slow-jogging mum. Her marathon personal best is 2:38:50 (Tokyo Marathon, 2014).

Magdalena Jackowska, research assistant at the Fukuoka University Institute for Physical Activity, certified slow jogging instructor and head of International Slow Jogging Association. Originally from Poland, Magda (often called Maggie) has lived in Japan for the last 13 years. Co-author of slow jogging books, slow-jogger and island-lover. She has slow-jogged her way through marathons and ultra-marathons all over the world – currently trying to juggle her work and passion with being a mum of two young boys. After the passing of Prof Tanaka in 2018 Magda tries to keep his great work alive though Slow Jogging workshops, YouTube channel and Facebook.