On a snowy day in the quiet city of Kumamoto, dozens of Japanese office employees in security helmets and sneakers crouch low on their office chairs, eyes mounted on the beginning line, able to launch.
A horn sounds and they’re off, utilizing each muscle in their legs, kicking the bottom to propel themselves backwards. People cheer in the background because the riders zoom by means of the streets and swerve round tight corners.
This is an office chair race – a rising sport in Japan the place groups of three compete to complete as many laps round a circuit as attainable in two hours, overlaying upwards of 20 kilometers as they go.
Tsuyoshi Tahara based the inaugural race in 2010 in Kyotanabe metropolis, Kyoto prefecture – impressed by a childhood trainer who as soon as scolded him for taking part in with an office chair.
Since then, the sport has gone nationwide. Every 12 months, the competitors takes place in 10 cities, together with Tokyo, Kyoto and Shizuoka – with even main companies like Toyota sending groups to take part
Office chair racer speeds by means of the streets of Japan
“The biggest appeal is that anyone can participate. There are people working hard in offices all over the world, and we want them to step out of the office,” Tahara stated.
The coveted prize? 90 kilograms (virtually 200 kilos) of rice – which Tahara chosen for its ubiquity throughout Japan, and ease of sharing. But there are some regional variations; first prize in Tokyo, for instance, is 5 kilograms (11 kilos) of tuna.
The uncommon occasion permits rivals to briefly return to their childhoods, and revel in doing issues they aren’t usually allowed to, stated Tahara – a balm for Japan’s grueling work tradition.
“People in Japan may work too much, but they can still become fully dedicated to something silly like this and enjoy it even as they grow older,” he stated.
Like most office employees, Yasunori Miura spends lengthy hours sitting at his desk. But in his spare time, he takes an office chair out for coaching.
“A common workout for me is doing 40 or 50 runs of 200 meters using a gym chair,” he stated.
Miura trains 4 occasions every week on a heavier office chair to “put more load” on his legs, and strength-trains twice every week in the fitness center.
“Since we keep looping around the same course, you constantly run into other teams and racers,” he added.
“You have to overtake them, which requires both technique and physical strength.”
Racers should put on a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and gloves. They are additionally required to make use of solely non‑personalized, commercially out there chairs. Because these chairs are usually not designed for road racing, Miura stated, a number of the weaker fashions crack throughout the race.
Each route has its personal degree of problem. For instance, Miura stated the Shizuoka observe is so bumpy that chair wheels are inclined to catch on the bottom.
Miura stated the profitable groups often cowl about 20 to 25 kilometers (12 to fifteen miles), which implies every member covers about 8 kilometers (about 5 miles).
“You can’t win even if one person trains a lot and is very fast,” he stated. “All three members have to be strong, so we make sure we train together as a team.”
He initially participated as a digital camera operator, till he noticed his teammates on the rostrum and wished to be up there too.
“It may look funny, but once you try it, you realize how serious and demanding it really is,” he stated.
The chair-racing phenomenon shares many options that could be acquainted to followers of Formula One. The races round Japan, just like the automotive races, are often called Grands Prix.
Their promoting and web site are dotted with photos evoking velocity, corresponding to black-and-white checkered flags and sparks flying from chair wheels.
Tahara hopes to take it one step additional – and sooner or later deliver the office chair race to a circuit course in Monaco, the place the world’s wealthy and well-known collect annually to look at F1 drivers race by means of town streets.
Like F1, Tahara defined, racers should return to the pit to alter gamers.
And like F1, the automobile issues. Miura prefers lighter chairs with a small backrest; Tahara highlighted the advantages of chairs with adjustable seat heights, giant wheels and shorter stems. Pointing to his personal purple chair, Tahara joked: “It might be like a Ferrari — even the color reflects that — and it runs very fast.”
Police officers, firefighters and even members of Japan’s army drive have competed in occasions.
“It can move you, create empathy, and help you make friends around the world. People of all ages can join, and there is a kind of fun you may have never experienced before, so we hope many will participate,” he stated.