On July 28-29 the 35th annual Toriningen Kontesuto (Birdman Rally) was held in Shiga Prefecture on Lake Biwa and featured 37 contestants. It will be broadcast under the same name on Nippon TV on Monday (7 p.m.).
Each individual or team builds a flying machine from scratch. The contraption can have no motors or electronics, and can only use human power for propulsion. Contestants launch their machines from the end of a long, high pier and attempt to fly over the lake. Most human-birds simply fall into the water below, but the machine that flies the longest before touching the water is the winner.
One of this year's contestants is Yoshimoto Kogyo, the venerable talent agency celebrating its 100th anniversary. Comedian Kanpei Hazama will pilot the company's entry.