A London culture-and-sport talk on 17 August explores Japan’s professional keirin circuit. The Guardian’s Japan and Korea correspondent Justin McCurry joins Reynolds Technology director Jim McCafferty to look beyond the Olympic sprint and explore the industry, rituals and social history around the sport.
From post-war rebuilding to a national racing culture
Keirin was introduced in Japan in 1948 to raise money for rebuilding infrastructure after the Second World War. The Japan Society describes a year-round professional circuit of about 2,400 riders, culminating in December’s Keirin Grand Prix. Gambling is central to the domestic sport: it is one of only four sports on which betting is legal in Japan, with races run at indoor and outdoor velodromes around the country.
A pacemaker leads nine riders before leaving with roughly a lap and a half remaining, opening a sprint in which competitors can approach 70kph. Keirin joined the Olympic track programme in 2000, but this discussion focuses on the larger Japanese culture behind that international event.
Speakers and context
McCurry is the author of War On Wheels: Inside Keirin and Japan’s Cycling Subculture, published in English in 2021 and Japanese in 2023. McCafferty joined bicycle-tubing manufacturer Reynolds Technology as a director in 2024 after a career in Asia-Pacific equity research. Their conversation connects elite racing with gambling, bicycle engineering and wider cultural, social and economic dynamics in Japan.
Tickets and planning
The talk starts at 18:45. Entry is free and booking is essential; the organiser requests a suggested £5 donation from non-members. Each attendee’s full name and email address must be entered when booking. Alcohol will be served, so under-18s must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
A map is available on the official event page. For ticket terms, ID, security, access or travel questions, contact events@japansociety.org.uk or 020 3075 1996.
Cover image
This AI-generated cover is an illustrative mood piece, not an image of the event.