Girls’ Keirin Anime Boosts Popularity as Top Athletes Discuss the Charm of Stunning Battles

The evolution of “bicycle racing,” a sport that originated in Japan, continues unabated.

It has attracted a great deal of attention as an athletic sport, as evidenced by its recognition as an official event of the Paris Olympics in 2000 under the name “keirin. The popularity of the sport continues to grow, and according to an announcement by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), ticket sales for 2010 topped the 1 trillion yen mark.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), ticket sales in 2010 exceeded the 1 trillion yen mark. In bicycle racing, it is the last lap of the bank that decides the outcome of the race. The game of how to take advantage of the wind and who will break out on top is played out at breakneck speed. It is the same in the world of women’s “girls’ keirin” as well as men’s competition. More and more people are getting hooked on the gap between the girls and the heat as they aim for the finish line, which is hard to imagine from their usual adorable faces.

(Sports journalist) In fact, “Girls Keirin” is now attracting more and more attention. In fact, attention to “girls’ keirin” is now increasing, as evidenced by the TV anime “Rinkai! was broadcast in April of this year, and its popularity is also on the rise.

Therefore, FRIDAY Digital spotlighted the three most notable athletes who are supporting the continuing evolution of “girls’ keirin. We take a closer look at the appeal of the sport through the true faces of these women.

Yuma Takagi (Yuma, 25)

The first one to be introduced is Yuma Takagi, who has a 5-year career.’ He made his debut at Ito Bicycle Racetrack (Shizuoka Prefecture) in July 19. Takagi, who played basketball in elementary and junior high school and soccer in high school at a prestigious sports school, entered the world of “girls’ keirin” for an unexpected reason.

In the fall of her junior year of high school, I heard from a newspaper reporter that there was a career called ‘girls’ keirin,’ and I immediately went to Hiratsuka Bicycle Racetrack to watch. As soon as I saw it, I thought, “This is so cool!　I thought, ‘This is my destiny. The speed of the dead heat before the finish line, I wanted to do that too.

Takagi has already won the championship three times. He has already won the championship three times, and is training hard every day to achieve his grand dream.

I originally wanted to make a career out of sports,” he says. Now, my goal is to compete in G1 races. For men, prize money in one race can exceed 100 million yen, but for ‘girls’ it’s a little over 20 million yen a year. But to do that, I have to win the qualification for the highest category of races. Right now, I’m doing my best to always be in the top ranks in the daily races.

On his off-days, he spends his time driving, which he describes as his hobby. He is also particular about his car, an Alpine A110S.

He holds two to three races a month, each of which lasts three days, but from the day before the race, he must stay in a certain dormitory for a total of four days. All communication devices, such as cell phones, are checked in, and only Walkmans and DVD players without Bluetooth are allowed in the lodgings.

Of course it is important to practice during the off-days in order to achieve good results in races, but sometimes you need a change of scenery. I like to drive around in my car and go shopping. I really like the countryside, so in the future, I would like to work hard at Girls to save money and spend my time at a café or something like that in a place rich in nature.

Takagi has appeared in a car magazine with her car. Her lovely looks are filled with a passionate fighting spirit as she aims to become the queen of the world.

Hiumi Shiota, player (Hiumi, 25)

Next, let us introduce Shiota, who made his debut at Matsudo Bicycle Racecourse (Chiba Prefecture) in April 2010. In high school, he competed in track and field events such as pole vaulting, and he continued to pursue track and field at Juntendo University. She once took a job examination at a general company, but decided to pursue a career in “girls’ keirin.

While job hunting at the university, I thought, ‘I’ve been doing track and field all my life, and I wish I could earn money and make a career out of sports. Then, a friend told me about bicycle racing, so I took the test as a commemoration, and to my surprise, I passed. I was so surprised and happy that I immediately changed my direction.

In most cases, athletics is done while working as a company employee. But in bicycle racing, you are a sole proprietor. I can concentrate on what I like to do. The fact that it is a professional profession is also appealing.

As for the unique appeal of “girls’ keirin,” she explains, “I buy the tickets.

I have a strong desire to meet the expectations of the people who buy my tickets. There are a lot of cute girls in Girls, so I’d be happy if you could find your own ‘guess. I think you will be interested in racing, and I think it will become even more fun.

Shiota replied with a smile on her face. In her smile, we could see her strong belief that she has chosen “girls’ keirin as a career” and is determined to live up to the expectations of her fans.

Mina Nakamura (23)

Nakamura made his debut at the Hiroshima Bicycle Racetrack in May 2008. He is currently active as a bicycle racer, but when he was a child, he wanted to be a boat racer.

When I was in elementary school, my father used to take me to watch boat races, and I was fascinated by them. When I was in my third year of high school, I applied to a boat racing school, but I couldn’t enter because of my eyesight. So I entered a bicycle race training school. In bicycle racing, your body is your capital. Depending on your strength, you can continue racing for a long time. I now consider it to be my calling.

In the races, you can see fierce battles in which girls who are usually known as cute or gentle fight for their lives. Whether they are extremely cute or gentle, many of them change their personalities once they get on the bike, so I want people to see the gap between them and the rest of us.

The three riders always had a smile on their faces during the interview. In the end, he said, “Recently, there have been many talk events in which the riders participate. We want people to learn about the appeal of bicycle racing by talking with us. I want as many people as possible to come and watch the races, regardless of whether they buy a ticket or not.

It might be fun to come and see the “beautiful and splendid battle.