The Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex), one of the biggest and most formidable carnivorous dinosaurs, is characterized by its size, pointed teeth, and powerful jaws. In recent times, an unusual trend that involves dinosaur costume racing has become very popular. Having begun in the United States, the T-rex costume race trend has now caught up in Japan as well.
These unconventional, comedic races, where individuals wear inflatable T. rex costumes, have become a viral sensation. One of such races, which took place in March of this year in Japan, went viral in a matter of seconds. The clip, initially shared by USA Today and then shared across social media in a mass scale, shows over 500 participants competing in the T-rex race at Funabashi, Japan.
Reactions on Social Media
The caption on the video was, “May the best T. rex win! Hundreds of people dressed as Tyrannosauruses raced in Japan.”
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The popularity of the video was obvious because comments were filled with reactions from viewers. One user simply commented, “Love this,” while another added, “Hilarious.”
A third said, “I love how the heads fall backwards, making them look extra desperate,” and another user posted, “Either I’m going to Japan, or I’m hoping to have a race like this here in Curitiba-Parana-Brazil.” Another comment read, “Made me laugh so hard.”
When was T-Rex Costume Race Started?
In accord with Oddity Central, the inaugural T-rex costume race was held in 2019 at the Auburn-based Emerald Downs racetrack in Washington State. The online popularity of this event inspired Japan’s first Tyrannosaurus Race Daisen in April 2022 in Daisen, Tottori Prefecture.
Success was followed by more of the same events around Japan, and more than 40 of these events were organized throughout the country. The first race attracted major attention at a time when Japan was under total lockdowns. Its popularity gave rise to a countrywide fad, causing a boom in the sales of inflatable dinosaur suits.
