On March 29, Kyotanabe City in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, hosted a unique speed competition in which participants had to wear helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, and gloves, and use unmodified, commonly available office chairs. Throughout the race, they sat and used their feet to push themselves forward. The race involved teams of three competing in relays, with the goal of completing as many laps as possible within two hours to win.
This office chair racing competition, first held in Kyotanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture, in 2010, quickly gained national popularity. It is now held annually in 10 cities including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Shizuoka, with even local police officers, firefighters, and large corporations sending teams to participate. According to reports, the winning prizes differ slightly by city—Kyotanabe awards 90 kilograms of rice to the champions.
Since these chairs are not designed for street racing, some of the more fragile chairs may crack during the race. Additionally, each track varies in difficulty; for example, the Shizuoka track is uneven, making it easy for chair wheels to get stuck.
A multi-time champion shared that lower-strength office chairs may break during the competition, sending people flying. He prefers lightweight office chairs with smaller backrests.
The event's founder, Tsuyoshi Tahara, said he was inspired by childhood experiences of being scolded by teachers for playing with office chairs. He said this event allows participants to briefly revisit their childhood and enjoy things they normally wouldn’t be allowed to do, while also relieving Japan’s high-pressure work culture. “Japanese people might work too much, but even as adults, they can throw themselves wholeheartedly into something that seems silly and truly enjoy it.”