Japanese film as history: keirin velodromes

Fresh off the popularity of keirin bicycle racing 競輪 / ケイリン at the 2016 Rio Olympics, I thought I’d compile a list of Japanese films that include scenes at a keirin velodrome / racetrack.

(1) The Perfect Game (1958) 『完全な遊戯』 （かんぜんなゆうぎ）, a.k.a. “The Tragedy of Today“

See also letterboxd, teaforone, and movie.walkerplus

(2) The End of Summer (1961) 小早川家の秋

(3) I Hate but Love (1962) 『憎いあンちくしょう』

Only the entrance of the Korakuen Velodrome is visible; this frame has been matched to aerial photo from 1961-1964:

See also:

Interesting. The Tokyo Dome sits on the site of a former velodrome: Korakuen Velodrome 後楽園競輪場

1984/87 and 1988/90: pic.twitter.com/XiUUvn9xrg

— the tokyo files (@thetokyofiles) August 24, 2016

(4) Kikujiro (1999) 菊次郎の夏 Kikujirō no Natsu

Footage of Kagetsu-en Velodrome 花月園競輪場 prior to its closure in 2010 (map).

(Extra) See also:

Negishi (map)

Abandoned Negishi Racecourse 根岸競馬場 grandstand, Yokohama.https://t.co/lVeJO1g6dR pic.twitter.com/tsfpZIXjuG

— the tokyo files (@thetokyofiles) December 7, 2015