Bodybuilders Ditch Protein Shakers for Wooden Rice Tubs. New Trend: "Chestnut Rice Bulk-Up" Born

A rumor that “muscles become as hard as chestnuts” is sweeping through gyms. Some enthusiastic bodybuilders have tucked away their longtime protein shakers into the back of cupboards and instead begun bringing wooden “ohitsu” (rice tubs) to the gym. Between training sets, they shake the ohitsu with single-minded devotion and consume fluffy chestnut rice. Experts coldly analyze this bizarre spectacle as “the pinnacle of collective placebo effect,” but rice farmers across the nation are buzzing with an unexpected “muscle boom.”

The spark for this trend was fitness influencer “Muscle Kurihara,” who wields tremendous influence on social media. His post stating, “Protein from Europe and America doesn’t please traditional Japanese muscles. Our bodies need the soul of rice and chestnuts nurtured by this country’s soil,” spread instantly. With the hashtag #ChestnutRiceBulkUp, ohitsu shaking has become a phenomenon in gyms nationwide.

At the Tokyo training gym “Muscle Heaven,” one can see men shaking their ohitsu with groaning sounds beside the bench press. “This shaking motion itself works the forearm muscles. Truly a two-birds-one-stone training,” says practitioner Tsuyoshi Masuda (34). Around him wafts the sweet aroma of freshly cooked chestnut rice, while other gym members give him puzzled looks and keep their distance.

Regarding this phenomenon, Professor Soichi Todayama of the prestigious Toto University Department of Sports Nutrition dismisses it with one stroke: “From a nutritional perspective, it’s quality carbohydrates and a small amount of plant protein. There’s no notable muscle-building effect.” He continues with his analysis: “It’s probably an ‘associative memory placebo’ where they unconsciously associate the word ‘kuri’ (chestnut) with the squatting motion of ‘kuri-hiroi’ (chestnut picking), creating the illusion of improved training quality. In short, it’s all in their heads.”

However, the market is honest. In response to this boom, nationwide chestnut shipments recorded a 300% increase over the previous year. Sales of premium rice brands like Koshihikari and Akitakomachi also surged, with rice shop owners enthusiastically declaring, “All thanks to muscles. Next year we’ll compete with a new brand called ‘Muscle Rice’ (Kinniku-mai).” Furthermore, orders for traditional craft “Kiso Hinoki wooden ohitsu” that had seen no demand have come flooding in, with craftsmen raising joyful screams.

Meanwhile, confusion has emerged on the ground. Some gyms have received complaints such as “I can’t concentrate with the mixed smell of sweat and rice” and “I slipped and fell on rice grains dropped on the floor,” leaving management troubled over whether to post signs reading “Please refrain from bringing ohitsu.”

The overseas fitness community has also taken notice of this peculiar Japanese trend. Videos titled “Japanese Chestnut Rice Bulk-up Challenge” have been posted, drawing a mixture of praise and bewilderment in comments like “After sushi, now chestnuts?” and “Samurai descendants think differently.”

Is it cutting-edge science, ancient tradition, or simply the power of belief that forges a steel body? The answer may only be known by the hardness of chestnuts harvested this autumn and the muscles of the bodybuilders who devour them.

Stakeholder Comments

• Bodybuilder (practitioner): “This ‘ohitsu shake’ works the biceps too! Truly two birds with one stone, or should I say two birds with one chestnut!”
• Mr. Protein Shaker: “Has my era ended…? Whey (Why)…?”
• Mr. Ohitsu: “I never expected to be shaken so vigorously in my twilight years. This is a craftsman’s honor.”
• Professor Soichi Todayama (Sports Nutrition): “Well, they seem to be having fun. Stress reduction might be the greatest bulk-up effect.”
• Rice farmer: “Muscles save Japanese agriculture. With gratitude, we’ll ship next year’s rice with each grain in a muscle pose.”
• Chestnut: “I never imagined I’d become a rival to protein. Life (chestnut life) is unpredictable.”
• Gym janitor: “I recently realized the floor slipperiness is rice starch. Spilled protein was still better.”
• Muscle Kurihara: “Behold. My theory has transcended science. Next, I’ll propose ‘ultimate cutting (definition) through dried persimmons.’”
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official (anonymous): “We’re observing quietly if it contributes to national health promotion, but we’ll intervene if fights break out with ohitsu as weapons.”
• God of Muscles: “Honestly, anything is fine. Just offer. Keep offering.”

International Expressions

Haiku

• Autumn gym air / Chestnut fragrance mingles / With the scent of sweat
• Shaker discarded / Shaking ohitsu instead / The man stands strong
• Muscles they say / Harden with chestnuts / Urban legend spreads
• Shaking the rice / Sound echoes loudly / Under autumn sky
• Professor laughs / At placebo believers / Harvest moon above
• Muscle fibers / Cry out with joy / Chestnut rice feast
• Fluffy and warm / Biceps brachii / Growing strong indeed
• Full moon shines / Power surging through / God of rice
• Steel body / Wishing while eating / Autumn delicacy
• Trends come and go / That too is fine / Way of muscle training

Kanji / Chinese Characters

筋肉男 蛋白粉捨 木製飯櫃振 栗飯摂取 筋肉如栗硬化 専門家 偽薬効果 農家大歓喜

Emoji

💪🌰🍚🥣🔄🏋️‍♂️😂📈

Onomatopoeia

Mori-mori, muki-muki, furi-furi, shaka-shaka, paku-paku, kachi-kachi, hoku-hoku, zawa-zawa…

SNS

• #ChestnutRiceBulkUp
• #OhitsuShake
• #GoodbyeProtein
• #MusclesAreMadeOfRice
• #JapanesePowerFood
• #AutumnFitnessRevolution
• #BelieversAreMuscle
• #CantConcentrateGymSmellsLikeRice
• #PlaceboIsJustFine
• #IsKuriharaGodOrScammer