Sports

With its state-of-the-art bicycles and equally visionary venues, professional track cycling, at least as an Olympic event, is an exciting spectacle full of tactical prowess and tremendous power. But on a weekday morning in Tokyo, where betting rather than any kind of beauty is the overriding reason for being there, it’s a very different story indeed.

One where, with space in plentiful supply,

punters prefer to pick their bets in private.

Which not only keeps them away from prying eyes, but also allows for a quick nap after a couple of early morning cans.

And even in the surprisingly bustling throng of the betting area,

it’s a noticeably solitary affair, with little or no communication among the faithful.

In fact, there’s not even any blokey banter, which is especially odd considering there are no ladies present.

Their total absence laughably resulting in the ladies lavatories actually being locked up.

All of which, toilet issues aside, can be simply too much for some.

Photos, especially the first one, for A.E.S.

Despite having a swing not all that dissimilar to an inebriated octopus playing golf for the first time whilst also participating in a spot of tentacle porn, being a member of Koganei Country Club, the most expensive and exclusive golf club in the world, Watanabe-san is sadly still under the impression that not only is he devastatingly handsome and supremely intelligent, but he also has the swing of a young Jack Nicklaus.

Or maybe it was Jack Nicholson.

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.

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.

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)