Sports

May 12 2009 2 Comments

Japanese merchandise mauling?

Europe’s smaller and less affluent football teams arguably have good reason to feel frustration at being continually shafted by the mindbogglingly rich and marvellously marketed mega clubs that largely dominate the continent’s domestic leagues. And, with the ever-increasing popularity of the game in Japan, clubs like Manchester United may well be able to sneak in through the back door and gently ease their way into the country’s massively lucrative merchandise market, muscling out the major players that currently control most of the market.

A move that, considering the gains that the game has made among Japan’s younger generation, could well leave the current gods of such goods, Disney, up shit creek.

So to speak.

Jan 05 2009 4 Comments

Japanese bikes and boobs

With its positively preposterous pace and velodrome verve, keirin can be quite a spectacle; however, in Japan, with betting by far the main focus of its followers, a lot of the sport’s allure simply passes by without much appreciation.

This then is perhaps the reason why the powers that be have opted to put a bit of pizzazz back into proceedings, by having special events that boldly boast the gamble of girls on bikes.

And not only girls, but girls baring their boobs.

Or at least a bit of them.

Nov 24 2008 1 Comment

Tokyo racecourse relief

As Japan is now once again officially in recession, it could result in Tokyoites attempting to stoically tighten their brazenly branded belts, or instead see them simply head straight to the track, have a bet, and boldly say balls to it.

Especially as Tokyo Racecourse’s terrifically towering homage to the horses packs a panic parrying amount of pomp,

pink,

as well as pomp and pink.

Those pinkest of shoes only outshone by the ostentatiousness of that TV, which, covering a size comparable to three tennis courts, makes it the biggest box in the world.

A breathtaking beast that can only be countered, at least in the colour stakes, by the silliness of the stadium staff’s suits.

Decadent displays, as well as downturns, that this fantastically featured fella has presumably seen more than his fair share of,

although it goes without saying that his wealth of winners may still be wanting.

Nov 15 2008 10 Comments

Japanese wrestling ring

Without its traditions, sumo would simply not be sumo, but at the same time the sport’s archaic rules and ridiculous rituals of retribution are undoubtedly a big factor in the huge difficulties it’s facing recruiting fresh rikishi. A sorry state of affairs that, along with an ongoing match rigging scandal, has left sumo with dwindling support and a decidedly slim chance of coming up with a Japanese grand champion any time soon.

Other forms of combat, however, are comparatively healthy, with K-1 in particular pulling in the punters and participants. And even regular wrestling is well respected, with wrestlers eager to pull their fingers out, enter the ring and rough it out with their rivals.

Or even — although thankfully it wouldn’t be welcome in sumo — enter their rival’s ring.

(image via the FG Forums)

Oct 07 2008 10 Comments

Tokyo’s riverside Robin Hoods?

Along the length of Tokyo’s relatively green rivers, baseball is still by far the most popular pastime, with soccer and cycling left to slug it out for second spot.

However, that’s not to say there aren’t a lot of other hobbies happening over the holidays, with ambling about with one’s arse hanging out waddling in at number forty-one, and archery firing in a little further behind.