With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.

FUKUOKA--The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival will make its long-awaited return after three years, scheduled to be held in its usual form from July 1 to 15. It will feature "kakiyama" floats racing ...