If you need to relieve your stress in a socially accepted “destructive” fashion, this contest is perfect for you. A shopping mall in Japan recently hosted the 12th World Chabudai-Gaeshi (tea table-flipping) Tournament. Chabudai Gaeshi is a Japanese phrase that means “flip the chabudai (short-legged table)”
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The mechanics are simple:
Participants express the insides of their hearts while sending a plastic fish flying as far as they can.
They are then judged based on the distance traveled by the fish and overall performance. The contestant kneels in front of a small table that has some items on it, including a plastic fish on a plate. A woman sitting next to the participant gently places her hand on the contestant’s shoulder and says “Stop”.
The participant then shouts a phrase of frustration, wish, or anger while vigorously flipping the tiny table that sends the plastic fish flying through the air
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The farther the fish flies, the higher the score you get. The participant is then judged based on the distance the fish travels and his overall performance.
Participants can scream whatever that is on their mind, from wanting a pay raise to frustrations in life. At the event last year, 37 participants were heard yelling statements such as, “I want a job offer!” and “I deserve a raise!”. One man, who was frustrated with women, even yelled “What’s wrong
with me?”
The winner in the competition was Shinhya Chiba, a member of the Iwate Big Bulls Japanese basketball team. He sent his fish flying 8.29 meters (27.2 feet) from his position, while he shouted: “Go Big Bulls!”
The contestant must then shout phrases of anger, hope, or passion, before or while flipping the tea table, which holds a plate that contains a plastic Pacific saury.
