Japan hosts its 10th national poem boxing championships

London, Oct 8 (ANI): Japan is hosting its 10th national poem boxing championships where contestants will be seen sparring verbally without the boxing gloves.

Each contestant will be given three minutes to deliver a poem, and based on the originality and style, as well as the delivery of the piece, the panel of judges will award points, the Telegraph reported.

The verbal sparring will take place in a boxing ring, but unlike chess boxing where the contestants are required to alternate between a round of chess and boxing, the poets will not have to spar at any point.

Katsunori Kusunoki, from Kanto Gakuin University, said he created the event because he wanted young people to overcome their shyness and reluctance to participate.

The subject matter for the poems ranges from politics and philosophy to everyday situations, and contestants are allowed to use props, though those who score the highest rely on their words, voice and delivery.

The 16 final regional rounds are presently taking place ahead of the national final, which is to be held on October 16 at the Nikkei Hall in Tokyo.

In the final round of the tournament, the two contestants still standing will be required to improvise a poem incorporating a word thrown at them by the judges.

A new division has been added to the tournament this year, with eight teams of three amateur poets battling it out in the ring in a tag team format. (ANI)