Rilakkuma was disqualified just 15 minutes into space

On November 3rd, Rilakkuma, the sloth bear from the beloved character company San-X, participated in the 3rd Tokyo Space-Out Contest at Shibuya Miyashita Park, but received a red card for a final violation (moving) after just 15 minutes.

What is the space race?

The first session was held in South Korea in 2014 space race (Xiadu Crane Conference) is a completely idle competitive sport. Participants sit for 90 minutes, staring into the distance, while heart rate monitors and audience members vote to determine who can achieve the purest state of mental blankness.

The Japanese version invites contestants to sit on the grass of Miyashita Park in the afternoon sun, escape digital overload and rediscover the lost art of trance. This is both a mindfulness conference and a gathering for those who tend to be a little absurdist.

Rilakkuma meets the challenge

In this year’s competition, Rilakkuma, the ultimate symbol of relaxation, competes. If anyone was born for this event, it’s Rilakkuma; the brown cartoon bear’s identity is inextricably linked to slow days of napping and eating pancakes. Before the game started, Rililakkuma also demonstrated the correct “wandering” posture on the stage.

But once the game started, things went unexpectedly off script. Fifteen minutes into the game, Rilakkuma turned around, threw away a pillow, and was basically unable to stay perfectly still – a shocking result for the master of calm. The referee had no choice but to show the red card and escort the bear off the field.

Despite his early exit, Rilakkuma returned for the ceremony and presented the winner with a Rilakkuma gift set. Disqualified or not, Japan’s most relaxed bear reminds everyone that in today’s busy world, a little “doing nothing” goes a long way.

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Updated on November 10, 2025