The Beginnings of Physical Education
July 1, 1995 / Published in "Juku" 1995, no. 192
The ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Athletic Association currently comprises 38 clubs.
This Athletic Association was founded in May 1892, but its history can be traced back to the Shiba-Shinzenza period.
It was Yukichi Fukuzawa who first advocated for the importance of physical education in Japan and introduced it into the curriculum.
"First build the body, then cultivate the mind." This assertion by Yukichi Fukuzawa, based on the Western idea of physical education¡ªincorporating sports into education to cultivate the physical and mental health essential for an independent life¡ªhas been a fundamental policy of ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app since its founding. Physical education was already being practiced during the Shiba-Shinzenza period, and when ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app moved to Mita in 1871 (Meiji 4), activities such as equestrianism, kendo, judo, and gymnastics flourished. Baseball was introduced in 1884 (Meiji 17), and the "Mita Baseball Club" was formed in 1889 (Meiji 22).
Amidst this backdrop, the "´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Athletic Association" was founded in May 1892 (Meiji 25) to systematically unify seven clubs: judo, kendo, baseball, rowing, archery, military drills, and walking. The minutes of the board of councillors from that time state that the Athletic Association was "to be granted the funds for the spring and autumn athletic meets and to hold said meets twice a year," revealing its role within ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app at the time. At the time, the term "undokai" (athletic meet) was used more broadly than it is today, and even excursions were called undokai. While there are records of the first "undokai" at ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app being held around 1883¨C1884 (Meiji 16¨C17), the first athletic meet in the modern sense seems to have been held on June 6, 1886 (Meiji 19), at the athletic field on Mita Hilltop Square. Subsequently, "´ºÓêÖ±²¥app's Undokai" gained a reputation among the citizens of Tokyo, and by 1895 (Meiji 28), it was attracting as many as 10,000 spectators.
The Athletic Association continued to introduce new sports, and clubs for tennis, swimming, and rugby were established. The Waseda-´ºÓêÖ±²¥app rivalry baseball games began in 1903 (Meiji 36), but by 1906 (Meiji 39), the games were suspended due to overly zealous cheering from students of both universities. Entering the Taisho period, the Athletic Association developed further, growing to include 14 clubs. Around this time, the skill level of each club improved dramatically, and they achieved spectacular success in external competitions. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app students and ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app alumni were sent to the Olympic Games on several occasions during the Showa period.
The ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Athletic Association, which had achieved such remarkable development, went into decline in the late 1930s due to the intensification of the war. In 1943 (Showa 18), when the student mobilization took place, a Waseda-´ºÓêÖ±²¥app baseball game was held as a send-off for the departing students¡ªthe so-called "Last Waseda-´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Game." Accompanied by the solemn singing of "Umi Yukaba," which spontaneously arose from the cheering squads of both universities, the Athletic Association temporarily suspended its long and brilliant history since 1892, awaiting the arrival of peace.
Brief Chronology of the Athletic Association
Year | Event |
|---|---|
1871 (Meiji 4) | ¡ñ Moved to Mita Hilltop Square. 323 students enrolled. |
1884 (Meiji 17) | ¡ñ ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app students receive their first baseball coaching from an American, Mr. Stoermer. |
1886 (Meiji 19) | ¡ñ First track and field meet held at Mita Hilltop Square. |
1888 (Meiji 21) | ¡ñ Mita Baseball Club organized. |
1892 (Meiji 25) | ¡ñ Athletic Association founded. |
1899 (Meiji 32) | ¡ñ First rugby game in Japan played under the guidance of instructor E. B. Clarke (on December 7, 1901, the first match in Japan was played against foreigners in Yokohama). |
1901 (Meiji 34) | ¡ñ Boxing by foreigners is introduced to ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app students for the first time. |
1904 (Meiji 37) | ¡ñ Completion of dojos for the Judo Club, Kendo Club, and Kyudo Club, an armory, and a practice area for the Gymnastics Club at the Tsunamachi athletic field. |
1906 (Meiji 39) |
¡ñ The final Waseda-´ºÓêÖ±²¥app rivalry baseball game on November 11 is canceled. Games are not held again until the autumn of 1925.
|
1908 (Meiji 41) | ¡ñ Baseball club tours Hawaii. |
1911 (Meiji 44) | ¡ñ Rugby football match against the Third Higher School. Japan's first inter-school rugby match. |
1920 (Taisho 9) | ¡ñ 7th Olympic Games (Antwerp): Ichiya Kumagae (tennis) and Hiroshi Masuda (track and field) participate. |
1924 (Taisho 13) | ¡ñ 8th Olympic Games (Paris): Takeichi Harada (tennis) and Hiroshi Masuda (track and field) participate. |
1925 (Taisho 14) | ¡ñ Rugby Football Club makes Japan's first overseas tour (to Shanghai). |
1928 (Showa 3) |
¡ñ Yamanaka Lodge and parts of various athletic fields and accommodations are completed.
|
1932 (Showa 7) | ¡ñ 10th Olympic Games (Los Angeles): 28 officials and athletes participate. Ryuzo Hiranuma serves as head of the delegation. |
1934 (Showa 9) | ¡ñ Hiyoshi Athletic Stadium opens. |
1936 (Showa 11) | ¡ñ 11th Olympic Games (Berlin): 28 officials and athletes participate. Ryuzo Hiranuma serves as head of the delegation. |
1941 (Showa 16) | ¡ñ Training camps and matches in other prefectures are banned. (The only national tournament is the Meiji Jingu Games). |
1943 (Showa 18) |
¡ñ A Waseda-´ºÓêÖ±²¥app baseball game is held at Waseda University's Totsuka Baseball Stadium as a send-off for mobilized students.
|