review of JAPAN'S OFFICIAL POETRY BOXING COMPETITION

Japan Reading Boxing Association's Annual Poetry Boxing Competition 
Inno Hall near Toranomon Station in Tokyo 

At the sound of the bell, the bow-tie-clad referee in the ring steps forward, shouts 'Fight-o!', then steps back and lets the 'poetry boxer' into the spotlight to recite her or his poem. Japan Reading Boxing Association's Annual Poetry Boxing Competition at Inno Hall near Toranomon station in Tokyo is underway. Sixteen contestants--champions of varying ages--from teens to 40s, and from various prefectures throughout the country--compete for the title of 2006 Poetry Boxing Champion of Japan. For the next three hours, there's barely a lull in the buzz and energy on stage and in the audience. Pairs of NHK cameramen in the hall are busily filming for a TV program of the event (to be aired on NHK sometime in the near future).The crowd, five hundred strong, listens intently, even actively--some children giggle and let out cries of glee in response to certain poets' performances. The performers' costumes are eye-catching: one young man in top hat, tails, and white gloves; a tall woman in nurse whites; a slim marathon runner in shorts and tank top; a Nepalese beauty in a bright red saree; a girl in a classic high school blue uniform; a short-haired woman clad in swirling, multi-colored robes. Altogether quite a spectacle. And the poetry? The contestants recite in Japanese at a brisk pace, the winners advancing from the first round of sixteen, to the quarterfinals, to the semi-finals, through to the finals. As the final round comes to a close, the two finalists--Nepal's Mahatto Laritto Maya, and Japan's Kimura Yumi--are quickly given four envelopes with four different topics from which to choose. They must perform extemporaneously on stage. The audience is enthralled. The winner? Kimura Yumi. The seven judges--among them manga artist and TV personality Ebisu-san, as well as British-born radio deejay Peter Barakan--file dutifully on stage for final comments and the awards ceremony. For excitement and spectacle, it was well worth the price of admission. Next year's competition will be held in October. 

--Alan Botsford