Sitting work in the office is a complicated and boring activity. Outside the window, life is in full swing – people are rushing somewhere, relaxing, doing sports, or having fun. It really makes you want to leave your workplace and find an activity for the soul. The Japanese found a way out of the current situation and invented an entertaining competition: office chair races.
Not just simple rides around the floor of the building, but real races with dozens of participants and a racing track. Since 2009, the sound of quickly passing office chairs echoes through the sleepy streets of the Japanese town of Hanyu.
Office chair races
The competition has received the official name “Isu Grand Prix.” A special track with obstacles and road markings is created for the races. To participate, a team of office employees must be formed. And the winners receive a valuable prize – a 30-kilogram bag of rice.
The rules of the races are simple. An ordinary relay race, where each team member, trying to outpace opponents, reaches the finish line and passes the turn to the next player. Office chair races require the participant to keep their buttocks on the seat. The control of the “vehicle” is performed only with the legs. Riding is done backward, as otherwise, it is impossible to develop high speed. The competition lasts about two hours.
At first glance, the simple race requires significant physical effort for acceleration and maneuvering. Not to mention concentration and emergency braking on turns. Falling off the track due to inexperience is an easy thing. Therefore, office employees conduct training runs before the competitions and learn to control the movement of the chair at high speed. Furniture manufacturers interested in sales provide the “transport” to participants. And at the same time, they conduct advertising campaigns for their brand.