Why Tyranno Races Are Now Serious Business—And Drawing Thousands

At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, held for the first time in 55 years, Tyrannosaurus made a sprint. The “Tyrano Race,” in which participants wear dinosaur costumes and dash at full speed, has been held at venues nationwide. In 2022, there were 25 locations across Japan; by last year, that number had surged to 294—more than ten times as many. On social media, the term “Tirakatsu” (Tyrano activity) emerged, and “Tirakatsu idols” even appeared to promote the races’ appeal.

We asked Sōrusu Terano, president of the Japan Tyrannosaurus Racing Association, why both participants and spectators get so enthusiastically involved.

Why People Race Seriously in Dinosaur Costumes

The “Tyrannosaurus Race” (hereafter, Tyrano Race) involves participants wearing dinosaur suits, desperately moving their short arms and legs while sprinting full speed along the course.

The event originated in the United States and was first held in Japan in 2022 in Daisen Town, Tottori Prefecture, before spreading nationwide. Initially held at 25 venues, the number of events expanded to 147 in 2023 and 294 in 2024. The term “Tirakatsu,” referring to Tyrano activities, became widely used, and even popular figures known as “Tirakatsu idols” emerged.

Amid this growth, the Japan Tyrannosaurus Racing Association was established in February 2024. The association set strict competition rules and registers official Japanese records for sanctioned races.

Sōrusu Terano, president of the association, became involved with the Tyrano Race in 2023 when he managed a local event.

“When we announced the event, we received many complaints like, ‘Many Tyranos that run with their hands and feet rolled up or their faces exposed—isn’t that cheating?’ Upon investigating, we found that rule violations were quite rampant,” he said.

If participants’ arms or legs are exposed from the costume, they can move more freely, naturally resulting in faster times.

“Many participants take this race seriously. That’s why we established the association—to hold fair races and develop the event as a proper sport,” said Sōrusu Terano.

Including the word “Competition” in the organization’s name reflects Terano’s vision: while the event is fun, he wants it to be firmly established as a legitimate competitive sport.

“‘I’m anonymous, so I can do anything’!? The Appeal of Anonymity”

Who participates in the Tyrano Race? According to Sōrusu Terano, the largest group of participants is adult female Tyranos, aged 40–50.

“Many people assume that most participants are juveniles (typically elementary school-aged children), but in reality, the proportion of young participants is low. It seems to be recognized more as an adult activity,” he explained.

While the main goal is simply to enjoy the race, many join to relieve stress or get some exercise, and surprisingly, about 70% of participants are repeaters.

Terano attributes the race’s appeal to the sense of anonymity it provides.

“Because your face is hidden in the Tyrano suit, it’s not embarrassing if you fall. Whether running or dancing, the fact that no one knows who you are is part of the fun.”

Wearing a Tyrano suit allows people to freely express their true selves, which they might not show in daily life. Terano even recalls being surprised when someone moving extremely agilely turned out to be an elderly participant once the suit came off.

On the other hand, many people attend just to watch, known as view-only participants.

“We often hear that people find watching Tyranos run very comforting. Radio calisthenics is also extremely popular. In our events, we structure it with radio calisthenics, the race, and dance—but many say they come just to watch the calisthenics,” Terano explained.

Whether it’s laughing at someone’s clumsy fall or being moved by children giving their all in the juvenile race, the Tyrano Race is engaging and entertaining for spectators as well.

A New Culture Born from a Unique Community

Within this sense of anonymity, a unique community and culture have emerged. On social media, new “Tyrano terms” are constantly being coined, and the official website even compiles them in a “Tyrano Glossary.” For example, phrases like “Tira-Touch,” referring to touching a Tyrano, have been created and steadily adopted by participants.

A phenomenon called “Tira-Travel” has also emerged, where trips are planned around participating in a Tyrano Race.

“It’s not sightseeing first; the style is to race in the Tyrano event and then explore the surrounding area,” Terano explained.

Additionally, official Tyrano-friendly stores that welcome customers wearing Tyrano suits are gradually increasing, showing that Tyrano culture is starting to permeate daily life.

What began as a race rooted in anonymity has now spawned its own terminology, travel trends, cultural practices, and even partnerships with stores.

From Race to Culture: Expanding the Possibilities of Tyrano

“Starting gradually in September in Hokkaido and Tohoku, the events pick up rapidly from October and continue almost every weekend across Japan until Golden Week. At the same time, the number of official races is steadily increasing,” Terano explained.

Recently, Tyrano races have also been incorporated into sports events.

“In fact, the sports industry has begun using Tyranos to energize audiences. Half-time events at baseball and basketball games, for example, are increasingly featuring Tyrano activities,” he said.

Alongside these developments, Terano is also focusing on the rise of “Fashionable Tyranos.” By customizing the Tyrano suits, people who cannot run due to injuries or health issues can still participate and enjoy the culture.

“Creatively dressed Tyranos—such as in nurse uniforms or wedding dresses—have emerged, mainly featuring women. We also launched an Instagram account called ‘Tyrano Collection.’

I think Japanese traditions could be even more fun with a Tyrano twist. For example, instead of the traditional lion dance at New Year’s, we could have a ‘Tira Dance.’ In fact, terms like ‘Tira-Bite,’ where people are bitten by Tyranos like in a lion dance, have already appeared.”

Running in a dinosaur costume offers a unique, extraordinary experience. If you’re interested, it might be a good idea to first check the official website for upcoming events near you.

■ Official website of the Japan Tyrannosaurus Racing Association: [link]