Study on Transition of Term Referring to Human Pyramid and the Position in Education Curriculum Guidelines

Abstract

In 2015, a human pyramid collapsed at a junior high school in Osaka, Japan, resulting in injuries to several children. This accident triggered a nationwide campaign to eliminate the human pyramid from school events. This campaign was based on the idea that the human pyramid was not included in the education curriculum guidelines. In the present study, the author investigated whether the human pyramid was included in the education curriculum guidelines. The following results were obtained.
1. In the 1930s, the human pyramid was considered to be a form of “tumbling” or “stunts”. However, by the 1980s, the terms “tumbling” and “stunts” had been replaced with gymnastics terminology. Consequently, the human pyramid came to be referred to as “kumitaiso”.
2. “Tumbling” and “stunts” were definitely included in the education curriculum guidelines published in the 1940s. However, following a revision in 1958, the education curriculum guidelines listed only basic contents, and these terms no longer appeared in the guidelines.