Special Thanks / Photo By Kenji Muto a.k.a @muto_photo
Beneath a night sky heavy with heat, I find myself asking a question: what does it truly mean to be "serious"?
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Sanga Stadium in Kameoka, Kyoto, I hope you will take a good look at the cyclists—their intense gazes and their hard-fought efforts as they seemed to brush off the sweltering heat.
As always, I hope you enjoy this article to the very end, accompanied by the passionate photography of "Kenji-kun," a barista at Early Birds Breakfast—who happens to work under the same roof as us and has a knack for capturing the reality of sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN. It would make me so happy if it sparks even a little bit of interest in sfiDARE CRIT!
Where there are people, there is a race
My heart sways at his straightforward, slightly nervous expression.
His name is "Owen-kun." It was his first time competing in an sfiDARE CRIT race, and afterwards, he told me:
"Wow, seriously, that was so much fun!!" I managed to catch those words after a brief introduction.
"It was my first time racing, and it's just so exciting!"
"I definitely want to participate again."
These are the words I am most happy to hear.
It was a moment where I felt that his words were genuine.
Owen-kun, let’s race together again.
You don’t have to just race
Bike polo is also a fine form of bicycle sport.
While loving a race is wonderful, I feel there is also a certain grace in approaching cycling from a different perspective.
Bike polo has become a familiar fixture at sfiDARE CRIT events.
There is a beautiful scene in the interactions between friends, and the people gathered there were all smiles, fully focused on their bikes and mallets.
Come to think of it, "Kusakayan," who recently received some happy news, was also enjoying bike polo.
A few years ago, he was a peer who sweated it out on the race course just like us.
"Maybe I'm a bit full on racing for now," he said, which made me feel a little lonely, but I hope and expect that he might return someday.
Kusakayan, GURUREN is back now too, so bring your bike when you come from Osaka!
Enjoyment is number one
Perhaps the children are the most "serious" of all.
Standing on the top of the podium with a smile is "Mitsuki-chan," the regular kid of the sfiDARE CRIT world. (Sorry, I know your account is private, haha.)
Regardless, the way she happily rides through the course to the very end as always is truly moving.
Of course, they have smaller bodies than adults, and there is a range in their physical strength and speed, but the energy radiating from them—a boiling, pure, miniature seriousness—was heartwarming to see up close.
It made me think that I, too, want to keep running and enjoying it with all my might so as not to lose to these kids.
No words are needed for those who push through
This is the moment after he crossed the finish line in the final.
His name is "Yuki Ochiai" (also known as "Occhi"). I think he told the supporters around him that he was frustrated with his performance in this race.
To me, Occhi’s riding style is incredibly tough, and he is one of the people who gives me a goal to strive for: to one day be able to stick right to his back as we ride.
Representing sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN is "Nicolas Kono" (known as "Nicolas-kun").
You can tell he gave his all in the final.
His riding always shows a quiet fighting spirit; he is humble, yet he always faces the race with full intensity.
He’s a kind-hearted young man who occasionally drops by Circles as well.
His result this time was 5th place—just a little off the podium—but I'm sure he'll show us an even better result in the next one.
Twenty riders glided through the KYOTO NIGHT CRIT final.
The four Korean riders, who arrive in Japan with high spirits every race, clawed their way to the front and engaged in a fierce race against the Japanese riders.
The final was decided over 12 laps of the approximately 500m course.
It is a very simple race, but there, you can smell the sweat and hear the "screech" of tires rubbing against the asphalt.
This sensation of the race—not just for the riders, but for the spectators watching right in front of them—is the charm of sfiDARE CRIT, and it is an irresistible moment.
It might sound exaggerated, but I always write these articles with the wish that people all over the world could see it.
Truly, whether you are racing or watching, that feeling that gives you goosebumps.
I definitely want you to see the dynamism of these athletes running with all their heart and soul.
End with a smile
A smile is the most wonderful expression of all—a moment that can only be understood between humans.
The audience is there because they want to see this, and the riders pour themselves into the race because they want to respond to that.
When I head home, my feelings stir as I realize that things we often take for granted are not granted at all.
I’ve spent the last 10 years feeling these things, and I hope to never forget that sentiment.
I know I still fall short in many ways, but I hope to continue to cultivate a personality that faces everything—both myself and others—with seriousness, humility, and honesty.
And to never, ever forget the feeling of gratitude.
I will continue to believe in the great power of sfiDARE CRIT JAPAN.
Uno-chan
