Hokuryu Town residents of all ages gather together for early morning radio exercises to get energized

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Under a refreshing blue sky, the annual early morning radio exercises are held in the square in front of the Hokuryu Town Community Center. Sponsored by the Hokuryu Town Board of Education, many townspeople participated this year, starting at 6:30 AM.

Radio calisthenics (in front of Hokuryu Town Community Center)

Early morning radio exercises
Early morning radio exercises

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event will begin on Thursday, June 25th and end on Friday, September 11th.

Model performance: Kayoko Tanimoto

The person demonstrating the performance at the front is Kayoko Tanimoto (69 years old).

Model performance by Kayoko Tanimoto
Model performance by Kayoko Tanimoto

Keep your feet up!
Keep your feet up!

Men and women of all ages together

There were about 23 participants that day, ranging in age from elementary school students to an 89-year-old senior citizen.

With Mom!!!
With Mom!!!

Stretching as far as you can...
Stretching as far as you can...

To the rhythm...
To the rhythm...

Line up in a row...
Line up in a row...

Participants receive a stamp on their radio calisthenics attendance card, and it seems that many people have perfect attendance.

Mitsuko Inoue, the oldest participant at 89 years old, is still in good health

Mitsuko Inoue, 89, says she has been attending every event for the past four or five years.

"This year, I'm in good physical condition and have been doing exercises. Thanks to these exercises, I can spend the day feeling good. Of course, doing the exercises is refreshing, but walking here is also very refreshing.

"When I come here and do the exercises, I can move my body with all my might and my spine naturally straightens out, which feels really good," says Inoue with a lively tone and a kind smile.

Stand up straight...
Stand up straight...

Take a deep breath!
Take a deep breath!

All the participants unanimously said, "Mr. Inoue is a model for how we should live our lives."

Mitsuko Inoue (89 years old), Kiyo Nakagawa (84 years old), and Hideko Arima (79 years old) are all young, healthy, and wonderful people!!!

Mitsuko Inoue (center), Kiyo Nakagawa (right), Hideko Arima (left)
Mitsuko Inoue (center), Kiyo Nakagawa (right), Hideko Arima (left)

Morning exercises are the key to a healthy day!!!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the early morning radio exercises that fill Hokuryu Town with vitality and energy.

Bathed in the magnificent morning light!!!
Bathed in the magnificent morning light!!!

Other photos

Click here for 40 photos of early morning radio calisthenics >>
 

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi