However, Kanakuri is best known for disappearing during the marathon race in the 1912 Summer Olympics. The race was held at Sollentuna Municipality in unexpected 40 deg C heat, and over half of the runners in the event suffered from hyperthermia. Kanakuri, weakened by the long journey from Japan, and suffering from problems with the local food, lost consciousness midway through the race, and was cared for by a farming family. He returned to Japan without notifying race officials. Swedish authorities considered him missing for 50 years before discovering that he was living in Japan and had competed in intervening Olympic marathons.
In 1966, he was contacted by Swedish Television and offered the opportunity to complete his run. He accepted and completed the marathon in
54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 20.379 seconds, remarking, "It was a long trip. Along the way, I got married, had six children and 10 grandchildren."
