Later this month, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will feature a made-in-Japan sport that few people apart from enthusiasts have even heard of ¡ª keirin.
It¡¯s a type of race held on a steeply banked track, with nine cyclists covering around 2 kilometers at a mind-blowing pace. And although it¡¯s one of four state-sanctioned sports in Japan where gambling is permitted ¡ª along with powerboat, motorcycle and horse racing ¡ª it has struggled to retain interest here beyond core fans.
The War on Wheels: Inside the Keirin and Japan¡¯s Cycling Subculture, by Justin McCurry288 pagesPEGASUS BOOKS
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