Office Chair Racing

Office chair racing is a recreational activity held in multiple countries, aimed at promoting urban vitality and relieving stress for white-collar workers, with Japanese events being particularly well-known.

Origin and Basic Rules

Office chair racing, also known as the Office Chair Speed Racing Competition, has been held in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. Japanese "office chair racing" competitions come in various forms, among which Tanahara Tsuyoshi founded the Japanese F1-style office chair racing competition in 2009, with the rule that the person who completes the most laps within two hours wins.

Event in Saitama Prefecture, Japan

The "Office Chair Racing" competition held in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, takes place on a commercial street in the center of Hasuda City. The surrounding area of the venue is closed off, and staff specially laid out a dedicated track approximately 200 meters long one week in advance. About 170 participants are divided into 56 teams, with 3 people per team. Participants need to sit on office chairs and take turns running for a full 2 hours. The competition is divided into two rounds. First, the 56 teams compete in the preliminary round, and the winning 28 teams then compete for the Chair Gold Award. For teams participating in the Chair Gold Award, the 3 players sit on office chairs and use their feet to kick the ground and move backward, taking turns to run for a full 2 hours. In the end, the team from Kyoto won the championship by running about 25 kilometers within 2 hours, and the prize was 90 kilograms of locally produced rice from Yamagata Prefecture.

Event in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Kyotango City in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, hosts an annual traditional and distinctive office chair racing competition. At the event site, players sit on ordinary rolling office chairs and rely solely on kicking the ground with their feet to provide power as they race against each other on a closed track. This form of competition is simple and straightforward, testing the players' physical strength, endurance, and coordination. Players need to complete the race as quickly as possible within a limited time, showcasing a unique competitive charm.