A historical study on the physical education activities of Shuzo Hara, a graduate of Taiso Denshujo in Iwate prefecture

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is, based upon the documents at Iwate Prefectural Record Office, to clarify how Shuzo Hara, who graduated from Taiso Denshujo (National Gymnastics School) developed his physical education activities in Iwate prefecture from 1881 through 1884. During that period, Shuzo Hara was a gymnastics instructor of Iwate Normal School and Iwate Prefectural Middle School. He became, at a later date, a professor at Taiso Denshujo and contributed to the training of physical educators in Japan. His various activities in physical education in Iwate prefecture caused his later success, and his activities are considered now as a typical case of indicating what were expected and requested to Taiso Denshujo graduates who were sent to various districts all over Japan. Shuzo Hara's main achievements of physical education activities in Iwate prefecture were as follows. 1. Reconstruction of a previous dining hall into a gymnasium of 24 by 75 ft. in area at Iwate Normal School in 1881. 2. Purchase of gymnastics training apparatus and equipment indicated below. 1) light gymnastics apparatus: 80 dumbbells, 62 clubs, 100 wands and 60 wooden rings for both Iwate Normal School and Iwate Prefectural Middle School. 2) measuring apparatus: 2 spirometers and 2 muscular strength gauges. 3) 7 footballs (2 were lost in a fire). 4) equipment for gymnastics (Geratturnen) and outdoor games: 2 sets of parallel bars and 2 swings. 5) several books on physical education and games. 3. Formulation of rules for the regular curricular activities at Iwate Prefectural Middle School and for the general use of the gymnasium. 4. Execution of short training courses of gymnastics for primary school teachers in Iwate prefecture. In View of the fact stated above, Shuzo Hara should be called "father of physical education in Iwate prefecture" along with Hisayosi Kano, who was a head master of Iwate Normal School from 1877 to 1879.