Japan powerboat racing revs up bid to shed shadowy reputation

The "profits" from the gambling involved in boat racing goes to The Nippon Foundation. A private, non-profit grant making organization established 10 years after boat racing first started in 1962. Basically use the profits to promote maritime development and humanitarian work. Now don't get me wrong but back in 1952... practically no visible gambling happened in the whole country without certain groups being involved. And then low and behold, 10 years later, after various groups around the country also started their own racing venues a centralized "non-profit" organization pops up. When they write "shadowy" in the headline, they mean it. Today they practically have sequester each racer to try to prevent race fixing... can you imagine how bad it got by 1962. I'd be willing to bet they had to create this organization to try to bring back trust into the sport because everyone knew it was fixed. And the funny thing is... the Japanese Govt. went along with it, they allowed the establishment of the "non-profit" organization. I'd love to see a detailed book keeping of how things are run today.

How many weeks in a year do they have to spend locked away?

why what is so bad about sports betting?

It's much fun to watch, very dynamic and unique, and maybe to find only here in Japan. Betting also looks very easy and usually everyone could make a fortune, but with a closer look it's not. The problem I have with it, is that the racers often change their starting positions. So one could very easily win , martingaling tracks 1, 2, 4 for example, but then you lose anyway, because suddenly racer 5 starts on track 2 for example. Or let's say, racer 6 has his birthday and they all let him start on track 1, or he has no birthday but is a famous older senpai. Things like these are the betting handicaps here. Anyway, it's also fun without much betting, and I recommend to everyone interested to take the opportunity on some days every year, when there's an open door event where they show you almost everything inside the premises and you can even put your safety equipment like helmet and vest on and turn some impressive rounds yourself, of course a little bit slower and in special tandem boats where you sit behind a professional racer. That is promised very, very unforgettable in many aspects.

I've only been once a few years ago to the course in mu prefecture - about 20kms away.

I was invited by friends and I must admit it was a fun day.

There was the racing - high-powered and exciting up close, a little like speedway - and also there was a festive spirit with food stalls, bar and other entertainment.

The Racing organization have worked hard to clean up the image and promote "family" type days. with events and activities for all.

I did ask my knowledgeable friend about the betting and rigging and he said yes it does happen sometimes - this was as I said years ago.

I thought in one race when a young driver leading the pack went insanely wide on a turn and most of the others passed him on the inside.

It was the only blemish in the race, but it certainly affected the outcome. Looked too suspicious to me to make such an error.

But had a good day - much better than expected.

I'd recommend for people who like motor sports to go once to soak it all up - but go to a big course with lots of things available.

Shadowy reputation? Well when your founder Ryoichi Sasakawa, is a convicted war criminal, with links to some dubious characters including gangsters, the Moonies and various anti communist groups, what do you expect.

And by anti communist, I mean full on fascist who flew from Japan to meet Mussolini. Escaped the noose after the war as the US thought he could be useful. Now famous for his "peace activities" and foundation.

On a side note, the London School of Economics will not accept Sasakawa funded students due to its founders "shadowy" past.

Same as keirin.

Mr Kipling, you forgot to mention he also had a connection with the LDP. Many years ago when I first came to Japan, Japanese people would say that the Prime Minister had to consult with the triumvirate of Kishi, Sasakawa and Tanaka, who, although he had left the LDP after the Lockheed scandal, still controlled it through the Tanaka faction, by far the largest and strongest faction in the LDP. That is the same Ryoichi Sasakawa as ran the boat racing and The Nippon Foundation.