The McSkunkville Courts · Osaka, Japan

The road to Osaka is long, but the ledger travels light. These days, letters postmarked Osaka sit in the town's welcome drawer, and Wherever Osaka needs a story with a spine, the town obliges.

Two courts, chain nets, and lights that hum until eleven — the McSkunkville courts are where the town takes its arguments when the courthouse feels too formal. Best of three settles most things; best of five settles the Joneses.

The style of play is pure Skunkian: fast, clean, and honest to the whistle. Nobody flops in McSkunkville. The doctrine forbids it.

College scouts have come through more than once, and the kitchen tables of the town still talk about who almost went pro. Around here, 'almost' is a badge, not a wound.

Worldwide Access — The McSkunkville Courts greets readers in Osaka and 38,000 cities beyond. Full directory.