Investigative and practical research was conducted to produce teaching materials for the Awa Dance. Questionnaire results revealed that the Awa Dance is an easy-to-learn folk dance which is rhythmical, lively and joyous, but that it requires specialized knowledge and skills to dance well.It was, therefore, revealed that the Awa Dance is an appropriate dance to be taught in the framework of school education.The items that should be focused on in the teaching of the Awa Dance and their order were next dealt with in practical researches.It was clarified that, for teaching basic skills, getting into one's rhythm is the first thing to be taught.Posture, foot steps, hand movements and coordination of hands and feet should then be covered step by step in that order.The characteristics of male and female dancing should be subsequently introduced, followed by various advanced and applied skills.

View full abstract

In order to explain the effects of dance therapy using improvisational body expressions, participants were required periodically to check“Self-Monitoring Scales” and “Self-Esteem Inventory”.As a result, there was a significant increase in“other-person oriented”factor scores in“Self-Monitoring Scales”after the dance therapy experience, parallel with that of the“Self-Esteem Inventory”scores;in particular “among one's own friends” increased significantly.In the dance therapy conducted in this study, by experiencing positive inner attitudes such as feelings and emotions together with others, the self-esteem of an individual who tries to find a way to refer to others increases, and it supports the adaptive change of one's behaviour.

View full abstract

In this study, I quoted the phenomenology of Nishimura, and clarified how children could catch up when they were“Dancing”in the class of expression movement.In addition, I aimed at submitting the viewpoint of the creation of the class expression movement by ascertaining the“Relationship with others” to be seen in “Dancing”.
As a result, it became clear that“Dancing”was a certain relationship, and“Dancing” was formed by replying to the “Relationship with others”.It was considered that the children who participated in “The existence to dance unconsciously”and“The existence to dance consciously, ”had a mutual relation to the subject with another person.In addition, in the “Relationship with others”transformation process, “Fusion relations”, “Reply relations”and “Sympathy relations”were observed. The“Relationship with others”was regarded an important viewpoint in the making of the class expression movement in future.

View full abstract

Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis is an important issue for the maintenance and promotion of QOL of senior females. We investigated the change of BMD of women ranging from pre-menopausal to postmenopausal years to devise a prevention plan for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The results showed that age correlated the highest with BMD. And, the slopes of regression lines were different form pre and post menopause. The absolute value of BMD was low in the post-menopausal period. But, the decreasing rate of BMD was larger in the pre-menopausal period. Therefore, reducing the drastic decrease of BMD in the premenopausal period is a key-point for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Contrary to the reports of European and American females' data which showed high correlation between obesity and BMD, there was no significant correlation between BMD and weight, and the BMI and body fat ratio in our study with Japanese females. Nor was there any correlation with milk and milk products. Japanese females' physical constitution and life style are different from European and American females. Thus, we suggest that the preventive measure and campaign for enlightenment about osteoporosis should target pre-menopausal females, too. And for the screening of post menopausal osteoporosis, judgment of being under-weight or drastic weight loss and total calcium intake are necessary.

View full abstract