Celebrating National Bowling Day and Remembering Ritsuko Nakayama

Fox & Friends Weekend recently celebrated National Bowling Day with a lively broadcast. Hosts Pete Hegseth, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Will Cain showcased their bowling skills in custom lanes set up in the studio. They were joined by Tyler Harriman, President of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, and Avery Ling, a promising 15-year-old competitive bowler, to delve into the sport’s remarkable history.

The segment promoted free bowling games across the nation, encouraging viewers to participate in this beloved pastime. A notable moment of reflection occurred with the passing of Ritsuko Nakayama, a pioneering figure in Japanese bowling history, at the age of 84. The Japan Professional Bowling Association confirmed her death, attributed to an undisclosed health condition.

Nakayama played a significant role in popularizing bowling in Japan during the 1970s. Before her accomplished bowling career, she was involved in volleyball with a corporate team. In 1969, she took the first professional qualification test for female bowlers, coming in second to the late Kayoko Suda and becoming part of the first group of 13 women professional bowlers.

Ritsuko Nakayama’s career reached a historic milestone in 1970 when she rolled the first perfect game in women’s professional bowling. Her appeal transcended the sport, leading to her appearance in a 1971 television commercial for a shampoo product. The commercial’s catchphrase led to her affectionate nickname, “Sawayaka Ritsuko-san.” Her contributions to bowling remain influential, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.