Makuranage – the “Pillowing” Championship in Japan

A total of about 300 members divided into 32 groups arrived in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan on February 25 and 26, 2023 to compete in the national “makuranage” championships. the Japanese variation of the pillow fight in which the fighters throw pillows.

Pillow tossing has been a rite of passage for children in Japan during late-night school trips, to the point of becoming a highly competitive sport. The championships were held for the first time in three years at a civic sports center in Ito and the matches on February 26 were broadcast live on YouTube (https://youtube.com/live/08a1KVe9cI4?feature=share) at cooperation. with a popular sports game developer, to make it look like a video game.

The city began holding the annual competition in 2013 after a local high school student came up with the idea. The event had to be canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic, however this year the organizer decided to hold the event as COVID-19 cases have decreased. The Ito Municipal Government requested the cooperation of the developer of the popular video game “Super Dodge Ball” and produced a video explaining the rules of the pillow fight.

Each team has eight members. The two opposing teams throw pillows at each other on a court the size of 40 tatami mats. Players must hit their opponents to “put them to sleep” in a three-set match lasting two minutes each set. A team wins by hitting more opposing players with pillows or by putting the opponents’ “taisho” or captain to sleep. The preliminary league and the final tournament will be organized in the championships.

Makuranage stances include the “attacker”, who throws pillows, the “libero”, who protects against attacks with a futon-like duvet, and the “supporter”, who provides the attacker with pillows. According to the city government’s tourism division, “strategy and cooperation (among team members) are the keys to victory.”

“Makuranage requires strategy and teamwork like other sports, and there are winners and losers, but it also has a humorous side”