Boat Race Tsu, a municipal-run kyōtei (boat race) course in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, is facing difficulties due to plunging sales after it began holding races without audiences to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
The roaring sound of motorboats and live commentary for fans are now heard over empty seats usually filled with boat racing fans, as the contests are broadcast online.
The boat racing course — authorized as a municipal-run gambling venue in 1947 as the first of its kind in the nation — has been making profits in recent years helped by an increase in online sales of betting tickets and sales of betting tickets for races held at other boat racing courses in Japan, providing a new source of revenue for the city.