If internet years were equal to dog years, Mark Chapman has already spent an entire lifetime on the world wide wait. Many human years later, the new tube finally delivers and Mark is only too happy to be your guide to the weird, whacky and wonderful online. Bloodsport, bug style!
| Mark Chapman
If you were in Tokyo this month, you could have popped in to see the IWBC - the Insect World Battle Championships.
Picture it: a miniature ring with two feisty Rhinoceros Beetles, or Kabutomushi as they are known, laying some serious smackdown on each other. Proportionally, old William Regal would be layed out flat in a a matter of seconds, as these insects are, by size and weight, the strongest there is the planet, lifting 850 times their own body weight.
Beetle fighting is also popular in the northern region of Thailand as is explained in an article by Sam Fang. According to him there are at least two benefits from the events, being free entertainment - unless betting is involved - and removing a pest from the environment.
As amusing as watching two beetles knock each other over might be, there's a lot of money to be made as well, as winners of certain tournaments in Asia can make up to a million US dollars for their victory.
Where can you buy these bugs? You could pick them up at the local pet store in Japan for the equivalent of around $3 to $10.
If you were after a battler in Thailand, the price would be more around the $20 mark, and believe it or not, there are even vending machines that you can use!
Check out video of beetle fighting on YouTube.
For battling of a different kind, check out a few hilarious scenes from some bizarre Japanese gameshows.
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