Oldschool Acrobatics

One of my top TV programmes, and I do admit that there are quite a few of them, is "What is this? Rare Sceneries of Japan". In this case, "sceneries" are not just view of mountains and lakes, but also include a spring which produces perfectly carbonated soda water, a school where they eat Konbu (one of Japan's many seaweed products) to prevent tooth decay, and this:

"When did you start doing the steel bars?"

"When I was about 50 or so." He is now 80 years old!

"There wasn't any reason to it"

"I just thought `lets try something` "

Ok, so let's see how many turns Mr Ikeguchi (I think that's his name, but let's just call him Henry from now) can do. He lifts himself up on this rusty bar, and starts spinning around like a crack-crazed acrobat, in a circus:

...11

...22...

...35! Even the kid watching him is surprised.

"So, what's the most you've done?"

"40"

So, if you move to where this guy lives (Chiba, not far from Tokyo), maybe you too could enjoy the rare signt of Henry going for some age-defying acrobatics. Should it go into the list of top strange sights in Japan?

Fortunately, as with most Japanese programming, a pannel of semi-famous people is at hand to provide instant analysis, and vote on whether it should be included in the list of rare sights in Japan - surely this is a no-brainer for inclusion. All pannelists must agree in order for the rare sight candidate to gain admission to the list.

However, not all three pannalists agree! It is apparently not a rare sight in Japan!

"It's not unique" (!)

And this reminds me a little of the market. Don't count your chickens until they are hatched.