SWIMMING IN JAPAN Published by the International Young Women and Children s Society Tokyo, Japan 1935

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1 SWIMMING IN JAPAN Published by the International Young Women and Children s Society Tokyo, Japan 1935 The Early History of Swimming in Japan Part III ( ) In 1925 the Seventh Far Eastern Championship Games were held at Manila. Takaishi placed first, with the time of 27.6 sec. for 50 metres; with 1 min. 2.2 sec. for 100 metres; and with 5 min. 31 sec. for 400 metres. The 1500 metres swim was won by oyori, a young boy, in 22 min. 9 sec. The 100 metres back stroke was won by Ueda in 1 min sec. who reached the heights by changing the old record. When they arrived home, Takaishi made a Japanese record of 59.4 sec. for 100 metres, 1 min sec. for 200 metres, 5 min. 11 sec. for 400 metres, 21 min. 5.9 sec. for 1500 metres swim and reached the level of the world. It was a great event when Kimura made a new record of 1 min. 17 sec. for the 100 metres back stroke. Till that time the Japanese swimming circle was governed by the swimming division of Japan A.A.A., although the intercollegiate group held the real power. In the autumn of that year when the Meiji Shrine Games were held in Tokyo, in commemoration of the eminent virtue of the great Emperor Meiji, the intercollegiate leading body, through its seniors, issued circular letters to the many swimming parties of Japan and at last succeeded in affiliating the different groups and established the Amateur Swimming Federation of Japan. This new system proved very effective and its establishment is one of the reasons for the development of swimming to its present leading position. The Swimming Races Between Hawaii and Japan In the summer of 1926 Japanese champions went to Hawaii by invitation. This was the only contest outside of Japan except the Olympic Games and Far Eastern Championship Games in which the Japanese participated. It was in preparation for the next Olympic Games for which the champions had to go out of the country and thus have experience. Also the pick of America was at Hawaii at that time. In that year Takaishi broke the Olympic records of Weissmuller with the time of 26.8 seconds in the 50 metres swim and 5 min. 3.4 sec. in the 400 metres swim. Tsuruta made a new record of 2 minutes 57.2 sec. in the 200 metres breast stroke, and Kimura made a record of 1 min sec. in the 100 metres back stroke. Thus they raised the level both in and out of the country. From the end of that year to the next spring Takaishi and Saito were invited to Australia, where they took part in many swimming meets. Saito came off victorious, and Takaishi competed in every free style race with Charlton who was the victor of the 1500 metres in Paris two years before. During these years the swimming of Japan advanced a great deal. Participation in the All-American Swimming Championship Meet In 1927, Japan was invited to the All-American Swimming Championship Meet, and Takaishi, Sata, Tsuruta, Kimura, and Arai went there with Saito as coach. Strong swimmers, such as the All-American champions were, beat the Japanese. In the 100 metres swim Takaishi took third place with the time of 58.6 sec. which was his best record in the 100 metres swim throughout his championship life of ten years. He also took fourth place in the 440 yards. Tsuruta took second place in the breast stroke. These

2 seemed to be very bad results, but as they had pressed the American champions hard, they had no fear of them. Meanwhile others than the champions took part in the Eighth Far Eastern Championship Games at Shanghai where they won the 400 metres, 1500 metres, and the back stroke, but were beaten in the total score. In the autumn, the Swimming Meet in Tokyo between America, Australia and Japan was held. It was regrettable that Weissmuller, Kojac, and Charlton did not come. Takaishi won in. the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. Tsuruta won in the breast stroke. The 800 metres was won by Crabbe. Back stroke was won by Laufer, and Iriye, who had a promising future, was second. Also in this year new records were made : Arai with 21 min sec. for 1500 metres ; Kimura with 1 min sec. for 100 metres back stroke; and Tsuruta with 2 min sec. for 200 metres breast stroke. They caused the Japanese swimming world to progress. The Ninth Olympic Games In the Olympic Games, Amsterdam, 1928; Sata, Takaishi, Noda, Yoneyama, Arai, and Takebayashi (free style) ; Iriye and Kimura (back stroke) ; and Tsuruta and Mawatari (breast stroke) took part under the leadership of Miyahata. On their way, there was a swimming meet between France, Japan and Australia in Paris. Takaishi won with the time of 1 min. 1 sec. for 100 metres; Sata with 2 nun sec. for 200 metres; Iriye with 1 min. 16 sec. for 100 metres back stroke; and Tsuruta with 2 min sec. for 200 metres breast stroke. So they had great hopes for the future. In the Ninth Olympic Games, however, Takaishi took third in the 100 metres; and in the 800 metres relay the Japanese team was second. Tsuruta won a victory in the 200 metres breast stroke and made a brilliant record. No other victory caused the Japanese team more joy than this. Tsuruta said, "When we started from Tokyo, we were in very good condition. I mentioned the fact to the coach, Miyahata, so he said we had better record our time. So we ran up to the pool, and timed. The 100 metres breast stroke was 1 min. 17 sec. which was the best record I have ever made. Then when I swam especially in the pool of the Sporting Club at Paris I made the time of 2 min sec. for the 200 metres. As this record beats the world record (2 min. 48 see.) of Rademacher of Germany, I gained selfconfidence. At the contest between France and Japan I tried a scheme by which I swam the first 100 metres stoutly and the last 100 metres according to schedule. And it was very good. Before the Olympic Games I exercised hard three or four times a day and swam 2500 or 3000 metres. In the Olympic Games, in the first trial, my time was 2 min. 52 sec. and in the semi-finals, it was 2 min sec. In the finals till 150 metres, I swam for my life, and when I came to 170 metres I felt that some one came near. When I reached the goal, I won by 2 min sec. which was a new Olympic record. That evening as the sun-flag was unfurled I was full of deep emotion." Then the Japanese champions gained more confidence and thought if they strived harder they would be the aces of the world. During that autumn Japan invited Weissmuller, Arne Borg of free style; Laufer, Wyatt of back stroke; and Rademacher of breast stroke. In free style the lead was taken by Weissmuller and Arne Borg; back stroke was won by Laufer. Only breast stroke was won by Tsuruta. But the form of these two champions gave an impetus to those in Japan. Trip of the Meiji University to Hawaii

3 In 1930 at the Ninth Far Eastern Championship Games held in Tokyo, the Japanese were completely victorious, both in free style and back stroke, and there was no place for Chinese and Filipinos to enter. But the breast stroke was won by Adjaludin and Yldefonso; and Tsuruta was frightened, because he took only third place. In the 1500 metres Yokoyama made a good record of 20 min. 3.4 sec. On the whole the results were good. That summer the Meiji University which had won in the intercollegiate meet of the previous autumn, went on it trip to Hawaii, and fought against the Hawaiian team and Yale University. As for results, the 200 metres was won by Sata in 2 min. 18 sec. Takeinura took third in the 800 metres and second in 200 metres back stroke ; Tsuruta took first in the 200 metres breast stroke in 2 min. 53 sec. time and Mawatari took second. Meiji won with a close margin, the score being Meiji 72, Yale 71. But in this meet the most active persons were the Kalili brothers and Crabbe. Therefore that summer Japan invited the Kalili brothers and Battler of Yale University to the All-Japan Swimming Championship Meet. In this meet the Japanese champions played a very active part.

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