Many people think of jump rope as being nothing more than kids' play.
But rope skipping is beginning to achieve recognition as a serious sport in Japan. In addition to releasing a line of jump ropes for everyone from small children to serious competitors, a major toy manufacturer has organized jump-rope classes all across Japan and is sponsoring tournaments, fueling the boom. Bandai released the J Rope, a jump rope with roller bearings to make swinging easier, in fall 1999. With the aim of increasing the sales of its products, Bandai has held jump-rope classes all over Japan and has begun sponsoring competitions aimed at elementary school students. Between September 1999 and March 2001, Bandai held about 250 classes, which teach various techniques and tricks, attracting approximately 100,000 young participants.