Ringside is a very unique local bar oriented a short jaunt from my own abode in my town. Both of the times I’ve been here have been in September each year, and I’ve quite enjoyed myself each time. The picture above is of myself (on the right) and some friends, with the bar’s owner. :)

It’s a fairly local setup run by an enterprising family that also owns the ice cream shop next door.  The atmosphere is fairly casual, with bar-goers usually imbibing the standard beers that the Japanese are so fond of. But the unique element of this particular bar is not necessarily its atmosphere or design, but the theme that it flaunts: all things wrestling.

On both occasions I’ve hit this bar with a group of foreigners, we have drank and initially ended up in Mexican wrestling masks of the shiny variety. And that’s not where it begins or ends! The entire wall is filled with wrestling memorabilia, trophies, belts, all of it — from toys to autographed items, this bar screams “WRESTLINGGGGG!” And if you go into the women’s restroom, you’ll find yourself amid a sea of female wrestling paraphernalia. I’m assuming it’s likewise for the men’s, with male wrestling-related decor splashed across all walls.

Another interesting thing that I learned on my latest outing to Ringside is that aside from simply owning the next-door ice cream/gelato place, the man who owns both also makes his own uniquely flavored Japanese ice cream! We were able to try two of the flavors last time, takoyaki and onigiri, the English equivalent of octopus ball and rice ball. :)

If you are placed in Amakusa as a JET, you should definitely seize the opportunity to visit Ringside and perhaps their ice cream enterprise next door!