A study concerning about an activity to spread skiing by Michiakira NAGAI at the beginning of the spreading stage of skiing in Japan

Abstract

In Japan spreading of skiing is said to have originated from the ski instruction of Lerch, an Austrian officer, in Takada district since January 12 in 1911. But Nagai, a professor of gymnastics in Tokyo Higher Normal School, indicated that he had done it before Lerch. Staying in Sweden to search for Swedish gymnastics from 1907, Nagai had practised skiing for the study of the physical activity of the Japanese nation. From the end of December in 1910 fell on the 3rd ski season (1910-11) since his return to Japan in early 1909, he started an action to spread skiing in the prefecture of Akita, next to Yamagata, because he got a chance to go to snow area in winter for a course in gymnastics, and after returning to Tokyo, he wrote an article introducing Swedish winter sports in the newspaper "Jijishinpoh (時事新報)" and so on, and in the next ski season (1911-12) he gave ski instruction in the north-eastern section of Japan in the first half of January in 1912. But these activities amounted to no more than an introduction of skiing, and had little influence. On the other hand, at the end of December in 1910 was the same time Nagai started his action, Takada Division started a research for popularizing skiing before Lerch arrived at his post. They accomplished its study in this ski season (1910-11), and in the next ski season (1911-12), they started an action to extend their influence all over Japan, and almost succeeded in it after holding the opening ceremony of Esshin Skiing Club (越信スキ-倶楽部) on February 11 in 1912 fell on the next month Nagai visited the north-eastern section of Japan. Though Nagai used a skiing style with two poles, Lerch's one with one pole has consequently spread in the north-eastern section of Japan.