This is a story of triumph, creativity, and hundreds of busted desk chairs.
In 2010, Tsuyoshi Tahara of Kyotanabe, Japan, was trying to save his struggling photography studio. Tahara's business and the other small businesses on his block were struggling to compete with high-end malls and new supermarkets popping up in their city.
So Tahara thought big and came up with the perfect way to bring shoppers back: a race with rolling office chairs.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Yep, you read that right.
Now in its sixth year, the ISU-1 Chair Grand Prix has spread to 12 prefectures in Japan and has brought along with it fanfare, delight, and lots of happy shoppers.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to be competitive at this year's race in Kyotanabe which was held on March 26.
1. Round up your bravest friends.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
You can only have a team of three, so a pre-race showcase of strength and daring may be required.
2. Secure the appropriate attire for office chair racing.
What might that be? you ask. Well, you're definitely going to want a helmet. And probably some knee pads.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
And some stretchy pants can't hurt, right? Aerodynamics and whatnot.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Since you are in an office chair, you can go full business casual and throw on a necktie.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Or dress like some sort of baked good. I'm not here to judge.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
3. Get limbered up.
The race is two hours long and is a test of endurance and chair-durability in equal measure.
Gotta get loose! Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
4. Prepare your chair.
Your chair is not allowed to have any modifications but you can grease up and adjust any existing piece you want.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Extra decorations are A-OK, too.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Prior to the race, each chair-iot is given a proper once-over to check for any funny business.
Other than the incredibly funny business of grown people racing furniture. Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
5. Pump up the crowd.
Fans line the streets to support the courageous competitors ... and to watch strangers fall off office furniture.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
There are even a few cheerleaders on the course to provide extra encouragement.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
6. Go big or roll home.
Though it's all in good fun, this is not a competition for the faint of heart.
There are thrills!
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Spills!
Don't worry, this competitor wasn't seriously injured. Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
And hairpin turns!
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
7. Finish strong!
Check the scores.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Revel in the thrill of victory.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Or the agony of the seat.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
Be sure to stick around to watch the winning team take home their grand prize: 90 kilograms (just over 198 pounds) of rice.
This year's winners were a trio of triathletes. Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
For business owners and fans alike, the ISU-1 Grand Prix is a story of perseverance and creativity.
Guests return to oft-forgotten storefronts and regular folks get to feel like pro athletes for one wild and wonderful day. There is no better (or funnier) combination.
Photo by Trevor Williams/Getty Images.
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."