I get to agree with Thessel on some of the reasons he mentioned above (Lack of implants and tattoos namely) and I would add that Japanese FBBing is a good representation of bodybuilding as a sport, the essence of which I got to know first from TV and magazines in the late 80s/early 90s as a young chap - way before the advent of the world wide web.
No photo shooting or sessions businesses, no social media influencer drama just BBing mags/local TV reports featuring athletes's interviews and contest reports. You can still find this vibe in the YT links Thessel provided above and they are much to be appreciated.
Videos covering 2023 Nihon Physique (Miss Nihon):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AOk4UZ5gcI (summary, 4K)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@masaki1402/videos): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAipVdaejd4 (1st round), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a7yqVRtWAY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0FImzKilNw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stcfiLs9ltk (2nd round in 3 parts), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaUvqXJ8htY (3rd round), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOjtivGLIqE (line-up after free poses), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu7u6le5cso (only posedown), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tDYD-Bw2wc (posedown and award ceremony)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@FITLOVEJAPAN): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONrcZ_54szc (3rd round, 4K), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leike1kboEg (posedown and award ceremony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47j1KpzDxbQ (all free poses, 4K)
(free poses, first video by https://www.youtube.com/@masaki1402/videos, second by https://www.youtube.com/@FITLOVEJAPAN, 4K):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Ky3pt1wjc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G2PqrlRpng Harada Rika (原田 理香)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkTGsIQwtLY (Harada Rika's vlog, 7th place)
I want to highlight masaki's video of the 1st round, since the other channels covered this round briefly. (Which of the top 12 would be your favorite?)
(screenshot of award ceremony, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJGpVmK0I2Q)
Videos covering other major JBBF FBB/female physique tournaments 2023:
Nihon Class
livestream on ohen.tv is unavailable now (formerly https://ohen.tv/broadcast/304445), but you can access and download the data through https://ohentv-origin.multicdnet.com/mnt/ssd2.... The four parts featuring female physique are at 5:05:35-5:23:15, 5:51:40-6:33:10, 7:51:50-8:34:50 and 9:42:00-9:53:20.
(by https://www.youtube.com/@vitupofficial, only free poses): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFQrsrNWA3A (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgWpw3S4XD4 (-163 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8FYApRriRg (163+ cm)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@emisworkoutyoga717, additional/different music): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3li3-77ycY (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr8NA89Tcs8 (-163 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOEgT2wP2H4 (163+ cm)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@tokkoclub, additional/different music): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CezGCmab9dg (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbs1oTZXeI (-163 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjWA3Agwi3o (163+ cm)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@user-hk5hx8fp1m, different music for free poses): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phnlZqLBnd0 (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi2cNqeq2V4 (-163 cm and 163+ cm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXa7RrI64a8 (posedown -163 cm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1KS5omY5W8 (Yoshioka Misato's vlog, eliminated after 2nd round)
(screenshot of award ceremony -158 cm, ohen.tv livestream)
(screenshot of award ceremony -163 cm, ohen.tv livestream)
(screenshot of award ceremony 163+ cm, ohen.tv livestream)
Nihon Masters
livestream data https://ohentv-origin.multicdnet.com/mnt/ssd2.... The four parts featuring female physique are at 5:26:40-5:53:25, 6:44:50-7:05:10, 7:41:10-7:54:00 and 8:09:40-8:11:20.
(by https://www.youtube.com/@vitupofficial, only free poses): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Uua-CJ3cU (40+ years, 50+ years), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6UZsRPoQA (60+ years)
(screenshot of award ceremony 40+ years, ohen.tv livestream)
(screenshot of award ceremony 50+ years, ohen.tv livestream)
(screenshot of award ceremony 60+ years, ohen.tv livestream)
Japan Open
livestream data https://ohentv-origin.multicdnet.com/mnt/ssd2.... The five parts featuring female physique are at 5:42:40-5:56:05, 6:19:00-6:20:45, 6:44:15-7:00:50, 7:44:00-8:03:30 and 8:36:10-8:41:40. (Only 1280x720 resolution, some parts of the video missing!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arz5AAloyIY (free poses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OViyCv5T01s (Yoshioka Misato's vlog, 8th place)
(screenshot of award ceremony, ohen.tv livestream)
Nihon Challenge Cup
Does anyone have any videos of Gotou Takako? She was active in the early 90s and participated in Ms Nihon several times, if I recall correctly?
Is there some reason Japanese FBBs seem so much smaller than the rest of the world? I assume it’s some prohibition against gear, or against women having muscle mass at all, but it seems odd. I hasten to add that I mean no disrespect here.
Is there some reason Japanese FBBs seem so much smaller than the rest of the world? I assume it’s some prohibition against gear, or against women having muscle mass at all, but it seems odd. I hasten to add that I mean no disrespect here.
I think it's just the culture. in Japan they like their women pale and petite. so bodybuilding is less popular. but since there are a lot of people obsessed with Japan because they make good anime and video games. they still have a fan base even if they are not as good at this particular thing than other less popular countries. like South Korea or Brazil or Hungary. those countries are better when it comes to female bodybuilding but they don't have much going on when it comes to other things. so most people don't care. it's similar with American stuff. America is good at a lot of things but bad at others. but even the bad things from America get popular in the rest of the world. like the politics and food because they are more iconic. Not because they are good
Does anyone have any videos of Gotou Takako? She was active in the early 90s and participated in Ms Nihon several times, if I recall correctly?
I found two short videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw-6htL022A and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=804zRpejqK0) and one appearance in a Miss Nihon tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tDHARVGoCs (1989)
(entry number 15, resolution 320x240)
Is there some reason Japanese FBBs seem so much smaller than the rest of the world? I assume it’s some prohibition against gear, or against women having muscle mass at all, but it seems odd. I hasten to add that I mean no disrespect here.
Might be a mix of both and a result of a trend towards older bodybuilder in Japan (with less bodyfat). There is an incident hinting towards (at least) less use of doping:
The case of Nakajima Chiharu (中島 千春), disqualified after Nihon Class 2022 for doping. She won two tournaments (Miss Tokyo and Nihon Class -163 cm - the latter lost afterwards). Look at the screenshots of the two tournaments:
(top three of Miss Tokyo, screenshot from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxg3Wm44dyo)
(top three of Nihon Class 163 cm, screenshot from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jZShYv7fmo)
Quite a size difference. The runners-up are top-level bodybuilders in Japan (Ogishima Junko won the Nihon Physique 2023 and Sakamori Kaori got 5th place of Nihon Phyisque 2023). And Nakajima Chiharu's wins weren't even close (at least 5 of 7 judges put her on 1st place in each round).
So bodybuilders of her size could easily win tournaments of the JBBF. They don't have a disadvantage. (And why should - for example - a third-place finisher refrain from reaching her natural maximum in order to improve her result?)
The case of Nakajima Chiharu (中島 千春), disqualified after Nihon Class 2022 for doping. She won two tournaments (Miss Tokyo and Nihon Class -163 cm - the latter lost afterwards).
Thanks for the clarifications about her case. Given my limited linguistic expertise in Japanese, I was wondering what was the fuss about her while stumbling into videos with regards to her.
Videos covering JBBF FBB/female physique block tournaments 2023:
West Japan (Nishinihon)
(screenshot of award ceremony from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8twTc4wb0o)
Tokyo
(by https://www.youtube.com/@masaki1402, original audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG-L5bxY3d8 (1st round), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNG1zGGAt6g (2nd round), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ToY7zEgEwA (Miyashita Akina, 宮下 明菜), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrg5xtEPB_g (Ogishima Junko, 荻島 順子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ngT44JGsQ (Hayashi Chisa, 林 智砂), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFn9hKlnshY (Kanda Haruko, 神田 治子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pS4Yai-CXA (Fukasaku Yasuko, 深作 靖子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-a-nF0j5lY (Kataishi Kaori, 片石 かおり), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1oDDcpyK4 (Ben’ya Tomoko, 辨谷 知子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu357ZF5Pmw (Ishiwata Miyako, 石渡 美弥子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_hrqJ3j76k (Urushima Miki, 漆島 美紀), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILXrJZpr1vA (Niinuma Takayo, 新沼 隆代), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzhHMdqqOQw (Takahashi Noriko, 高橋 典子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G6Tl_R7aAA (Kabasawa Sachiko, 椛澤 幸子), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRubna0jS44 (posedown and award ceremony)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@jbbf101, different music instead of original audio, summary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fODBdyoLnA (1st round and 2nd round), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACT2F_VWrNY (free poses, posedown and award ceremony)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0gCK34QDJw (2nd round, original audio)
(screenshot of award ceremony from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRubna0jS44)
Tokyo Novice
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Tokyo Class
(by https://www.youtube.com/@jbbf101, different music instead of original audio, summary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6zyxQot_M (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzbZygH0YdE (158+ cm)
(by https://www.youtube.com/@vitupofficial, original audio, free poses, 4K): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5b4Rnzvj4 (-158 cm), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oyoo7M8_kY (158+ cm)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhspuUzHS0A (Ben'ya Tomoko's vlog, 3rd place in -158 cm class, 4K)
(screenshot of award ceremony -158 cm)
(screenshot of award ceremony 158+ cm)
Kanto Class
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Tokai
(screenshot of award ceremony, 3 of 8 contestants out of the picture)
Kansai
(screenshot of posedown, entry number 44 won the tournament)
Videos covering JBBF FBB/female physique prefectural tournaments 2023:
Hokkaido Open
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Kitaku Open:
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Kanagawa Open
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Shizuoka
Aichi
(screenshot of award ceremony)
Kyoto
(screenshot of posedown)
Osaka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c_7sC8CELQ (different music instead of original audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQg-MtKcfyY (Akasaka Yûko's vlog, 2nd place)
(screenshot of award ceremony from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQg-MtKcfyY)
Is there some reason Japanese FBBs seem so much smaller than the rest of the world? I assume it’s some prohibition against gear, or against women having muscle mass at all, but it seems odd. I hasten to add that I mean no disrespect here.
From what I know…
1) Actual laws and social attitudes towards illegal drugs are pretty strict and negative in Japan. If you’re obviously juicing, some will see it as a moral failing. This is more obvious for women, but you can also see that MBB’s are generally smaller as well. Especially compared to South Korea, where gear must be easy to obtain.
2) bodybuilding is a subjective sport, the winner is determined by who the judges choose. They can choose a bigger girl or a smaller girl. Japanese bodybuilding judges seem to prefer this OG early 1980s Corey Everson look. And the female competitors for that.
It’s a bummer on one hand, because I love huge muscles as much as the next person. But it is surely healthier for the female competitors overall. You don’t hear about Japanese women bodybuilders chopping dead at age 32, like we unfortunately keep seeing over here.
Everyone has a type. Only some are offended by that fact...
Agreed. And they are my type for sure.
Japanese women are beautiful, their language sounds wonderful, the food a great, and their pop culture is cool. What’s not to like?
i got nothing against Japanese women but they are just like women from every other country and bodybuilding is not very popular over there compared to other countries. i think people just watch too much anime and think they can become like issei from highschool dxd if they go to japan. people used to do the same thing with America thinking it was all like a Hollywood movie. and at least if you are a fan of fbbs the us is one of the top countries .while japan is mediocre when it comes to this particular interest. i do think that if i went to japan i would have a slightly easier time dating than in my own country .but that is just because i stand out i will get the same effect in any Asian country but there are few fbbs in japan compared to south korea.
i got nothing against Japanese women but they are just like women from every other country and bodybuilding is not very popular over there compared to other countries. i think people just watch too much anime and think they can become like issei from highschool dxd if they go to japan. people used to do the same thing with America thinking it was all like a Hollywood movie. and at least if you are a fan of fbbs the us is one of the top countries .while japan is mediocre when it comes to this particular interest. i do think that if i went to japan i would have a slightly easier time dating than in my own country .but that is just because i stand out i will get the same effect in any Asian country but there are few fbbs in japan compared to south korea.
IDK dude, there are people across the world and all cultures who like Japanese women because of their look, culture, language, etc.
Stands to reason that some of the guys who like girls with muscle will specifically like Japanese girls with muscle. No sense in trying to rationalize it -- we like what we like.
I want to share the sources, youtube channels and instagram profiles I found while working on the statistics thread (https://www.girlswithmuscle.com/forum/thread/...). Most of them in Japanese.
(1) Tournament data, champions lists
JBBF tournament data (for every month since April 2018): https://www.jbbf.jp/contests/?hold_time_month... (example for last month)
Muscle Gate tournament data: results (https://www.thinkgroup.co.jp/musclegate/#work) and entry lists (https://www.thinkgroup.co.jp/musclegate/#entry). (Older files can be found in this folder https://www.thinkgroup.co.jp/musclegate/pdf/)
JBBF tournament data, sorted by national level and prefectures (not all prefectures included!): http://bodybuilding-fitness.jp/
JBBF tournament data, athlete names only (most of the time only top 6/top 3), sorted by year, national level/blocks: http://www.sky.icn-tv.ne.jp/~mura/bb-contest-...
(2) Youtube (etc) channels with tournament videos
older channels without new videos:
(3) Image sources, blogs
https://bbgallery.jp/ (focus on male bodybuilding though, sorted by tournament 2011 to 2019)
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/k6gp (many blog entries for the same tournament)
Instagram profiles of Japanese fans of female muscle:
(4) Instagram profiles, youtube channels of Japanese FBBs (highlighted the four athletes with more than 10.000 instagram followers):