Watch This Video of Competitive Pillow Fighting in Japan
We’ve got a video for you to check out from a league of pillow fighters in Japan who are competing to win a pillow fight championship. It looks very similar to dodgeball. But it also looks surprisingly slow-moving and low stakes. Here’s a description of how the game works from Grapee:
The game starts with all five players 'sleeping' under kakebuton comforters then leaping to their feet when the whistle is blown, as they grab a pillow and begin the match. A cross between chess and dodgeball, the purpose of the game, carried out in 2-minute sets, is to protect each team's 大将 taishō (meaning "General") from being whacked and trying to whack the other team's taishō as well. One player on each side can use a kakebuton to shield incoming pillows. There's even a special rule where one player can call out: "The teacher's coming!" which allows them to snatch the other team's pillows. The official uniform is a yukata and the game is played on a tatami mat field.
I thought I’d see a lot of crazy competition and people getting out of control. But it’s pretty chill. Check it out below, and let us know if you’d join a pillow fighting league in your area.