Back in the 1970s, bowling hit in Japan and hit big. I remember back then there were two different bowling alleys located next door to each other in Fukuoka, and still lanes needed to be reserved weeks in advance. It seemed like everyone was bowling and like bowling shows were a mainstay of TV programming back then. I’ll never forget the excitement of seeing Ritsuko Nakayama rolling a perfect game in front of the TV cameras.

At least part of the excitement in those days (for the guys anyway) was generated by the short, tight skirts Nakayama and the other women bowlers wore. Whenever they extended and dipped to release the ball, their skirts would ride up their thighs. All of the action would be captured by multiple TV cameras that were strategically positioned for maximum exposure.

Despite all of this, bowling followed the senko hanabi pattern of so many other booms in Japan (as mentioned by Ampontan a few days ago) – burning with white-hot intensity for what ended up being a few short moments, only to sputter and finally die in a disappointing finale. One week everyone was bowling. . . The following week no one was.

Now we get word that some of the movers and shakers during the 1970s boom, including Ritsuko Nakayama herself, have formed what they call the P League (Pretty, Power, Passion, Performance, Perfect) in an attempt to re-ignite the bowling senko hanabi of old. They are trying to do this the best way they know how – by presenting a bevy of bowling beauties dressed in a way that flashes more than a little skin and creates the possibility that if you want really close, maybe, just maybe. . . In fact, a report on the P League that I saw on TV today showed an original new “bowling outfit” that was designed for a bowler named Sanae Mori. The skirt was very short and seemed to be shaped to enhance “uplift” with the slightest breeze. They showed Mori roll a few in the report, and it appeared as if the skirt was designed specifically to eliminate the “maybe” factor” entirely by giving the spectator a clear shot with virtually every shot.

Will this tawdry appeal to baser instincts work? Only time will tell. I will admit, however, that I was glued to the tube throughout the entire P League news report. And here I am telling you about it. . .

You can catch the P League on BS Nippon TV every Sunday, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.