A deep dive into Japan’s secret sporting world

While Japan is famous for globally recognized sports like baseball and martial arts, it also boasts unique traditional and modern activities rarely seen outside the country. Here are some of them: (Unsplash.)

Bo-taoshi: Bo-taoshi is an intense team sport played mainly at Japanese military academies. Teams of dozens of players try to protect their own pole while simultaneously attempting to topple the opposing team’s pole. (wikimedia commons)

Gateball: Invented in post-war Japan, gateball resembles croquet and is especially popular among elderly players. It’s played on a rectangular field where teams use mallets to hit balls through gates. (wikimedia commons)

Karuta: Competitive karuta is a fast-paced memory sport based on classical poetry from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. Players must quickly grab the correct card after hearing the opening lines of a poem. (wikimedia commons)

Kemari: Kemari is an ancient Japanese sport dating back more than 1,000 years to the Heian period. Players stand in a circle and try to keep a ball in the air using only their feet, working cooperatively rather than competitively. (wikimedia commons)

Sport Chanbara: Inspired by samurai sword fights seen in films, Sport Chanbara uses padded swords and protective gear. Players score points by striking opponents in fast paced matches. (wikimedia commons)

Yabusame: Yabusame is a traditional sport where archers shoot arrows at targets while riding horses at full speed. It originated as a samurai training practice and is still performed at cultural festivals.