Abstract
The purpose of this study was intended to investigate the role of Akita educational society as propulsive part for sports in Meiji and Taisho era. Akita educational society was established in june 1888 which had aims to improve and progress educations in Akita. The society encourages prositively following kinds of sports and athletics by two presidents who deeply interested in sports according to completely opposite views. 1. Challeng cup baseball game for high school: Challeng cup was opened from 1900 to 1908. After 16th match the meeting was stopped by the president on account of excessive attachment for win. But baseball spread rapidly in Akita. 2. Bujutsu meeting(Kendo and Judo) for high school and elementary school: Traditional Bujutsu were balude highly again as nationalistic and moral education and the strength of national defense. The number of participants had increased year after year according to encouragement plan. From 1920 the meeting for elementary school was opened. 3. A practice meeting for swimming for high school and elementary school: A exercise place for swimming was seted up river and seaside in all parts of Akita. 4. A promotion of outdoor sports in winter: A skate rink was seted up on the moat of old castle site and practice meeting were opened sometimes. Athletic meeting on ice in Hachiro lake was only 3 times crowded with over a thousand people. In Taisho era ski was introduced, so custom of outdoor sports in winter was generally. All meetings were discountinued by renovation of organization in 1924, but Akita educational society had usually initiative role that encouraged soprts in Akita organized and continous in the later Meiji and Taisho era.
