Keirin, meaning “racing wheels”, is a track cycling event that originated in Japan in 1948 and gained Olympic status at the 2000 Sydney games. The sport was born from the aftermath of the second world war, when Japan’s economy was at an all time low and the country was recovering from the ravages of battle.

In order to help regenerate local economies and to circulate money the government built numerous Keirin racing velodromes around the country. The government also licensed the sport for gambling as a means of enticing more money out of it’s citizens to contribute towards Japan’s post-war reconstruction.

Image source: Flickr

Read more »

The February 2010 edition of the “Gekkan J-News Review”, a monthly wrap of five entertaining articles, events or observations related to Japan that piqued my interest. Not always mainstream and sometimes obscure yet invariably intriguing.

Murder exposes world of hired marriage wreckers

A murder case in Tokyo exposed Japan’s custom of hiring marriage wreckers. Businesses that specialise in breaking up relationships are known as “wakaresaseya” (“splitter upper”) where undercover operatives are paid to seduce people into an affair in order to provide divorce grounds. Read more.

Winter Hike in Nikko National Park by Mike’s Blender

A lonesome hiker escapes the bustling Tokyo megapolis to embark on a winter adventure. Trekking through deep snow along Lake Chuzenji and Lake Yunoko in the Nikko National Park he searches for solitude with Mount Nantai providing the backdrop. Read more.

Japan Plans to Ignore Any Ban on Bluefin Tuna

Japan opposes plans to list the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which is highly prized in sushi and sashimi, as a most-endangered species and to ban its international trade. Japan consumes about 80 percent of the bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean. Read more.

33 Must See Japanese Scenes by Muza-chan

A mega-list of thirty three recommended “must see” unique scenes that can be found only in Japan that ranges from traditional festivals, traditional theater, religion, pop culture, architecture, transport, food, clothing, martial arts and games. Read more.

« January 2010 Gekkan J-News Review

In a recent guest post on jamaipanese.com I discussed Tokyo’s contribution to the Olympic Movement when they played host in 1964 to the Games of the XVIII Olympiad. As an accompaniment to that article, this post explores Australia’s participation at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Australia sent a squad of 243 athletes to Tokyo securing 18 medals (6 gold, 2 silver and 10 bronze) finishing 8th overall. Fencer Ivan Lund was Australia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, however, a new tradition was added to the Games finale making champion swimmer Dawn Fraser the first person to carry the nation’s flag at a closing ceremony.

Dawn Fraser was unquestionably the star of the Australian team when she won gold in the 100m freestyle becoming the first swimmer to win a gold medal in the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games. She also set a world record with a time of 59.5 seconds that was not broken until 1972.

Fraser’s appearance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was, however, marred with controversy. Amongst a number of misdemeanours, the Australian Swimming Union basically ended her career when they suspended her for 10 years after she stole an Olympic flag from a flagpole outside Emperor Hirohito’s imperial palace. She was arrested but released without charge. The Emperor subsequently gave her the flag as a souvenir.

Read more »