In 1938, Japan government established “Ministry of Welfare” and they enacted and dis- seminate “Tainihonkokumintaisou(대일본국민체조)“ as a mean to improve the public’s strength and enhance their spirit. This gymnastics can be subdivided into standar ...
In 1938, Japan government established “Ministry of Welfare” and they enacted and dis- seminate “Tainihonkokumintaisou(대일본국민체조)“ as a mean to improve the public’s strength and enhance their spirit. This gymnastics can be subdivided into standard type, Tainihonseinentaisou, and Tainihonsyosiseinentaisou. There are the results of analysis of distribution and activities of Tainihonkokumintaisou enacted by the Chosun Government-general as follows.
First of all, we studied the reasons why health gymnastics were vitalized in modern japanese society from 1920s to 1940s. Also, we examined Radio Gymnastics, which started in 1928, and study purpose, dissemination, and actual condition of Tainihonsyosiseinentaisou and ministry of welfare, which were for accomplishing militaristic nation. We examined how the Chosun government-general propagated Tainihonkokumintaisou, and how the reality was, how different the radio gymnastics was from prior health gymnastics and why the Japan government wanted to get health gymnastics taken root in Chosun
Our society’s Sound People Gymnastics started from the Chosun govern- ment-general’s Sound People Policy. Following radio gymnastics in 1931, and Kokokushinmin(황국신민) gymnastics in 1937, Tainihonkokumintaisou were enforced in 1939. Using the excuse that people in Chosun were lazy, the Chosun government-general encouraged the public to follow the verbal order and accompaniment coming from the radio in the morning to habituate to wake up early. As the world war spread, using radio gymnastics meeting as a national event to celebrate 2600th year of national foundation, Japan planned to reinforce Chosun people’s strength through collective training. Through collectivity that everyone gathers to exercise, they cultivated Kokokushinmin’s forced health.
The Chosun government-genral taught Tainihonkokumintaisou through educational magazine and compelled people to practice it. Every summer, radio gymnastics meeting used Kyujoyohai(궁성요배) to heighten Japanese identity and community spirit making Chosun people loyal to the authority. Leading radio gymnastics meeting and encouraging people by mobilizing Patriotic Presidents of Neighborhood Association from different regions while the war got intensified, the Chosun government-general focused on fulfilling militaristic goal. Tainihonkokumintaisou was relatively intense than prior gymnastics, especially concentrating on the leg exercises reinforcing the lower body. This shows us that during the war, Japan tried to forge strong armies with national physical exercises. This health gymnastics policy from governmental power continued after the emancipation, followed by health gymnastics in period of US Military Government, reconstruction gymnastics in 1960s, and national physical exercise in 1980s.