Every morning I wake up at 5:30 and go to the Radio Taiso riding my bicycle.
During winter Demachiyanagi station is dark and cold. Some volunteers are cleaning around the station. Some people are walking on hurry with their suitcase. They will take the limousine bus going to the Kansai International Airport a few minutes after 6 o’clock.
I pass the station, and go down the Kamo Riverside. I ride through Aoi Bridge, Izumoji Bridge, Kitaoji Bridge, I finally arrive at Kitayama Bridge in 20 minutes. I always sweat even though it is a cold morning.
People get together on foot at the ground near the Bridge to play Radio Taiso. It starts at 6:30. Usually about 50 people, in warm days 100 people get together. Most are elders in the seventies up to the eighties. Cold day’s temperature is -2 degrees, but there is always someone. We greet each other every time. Rainy days or snowy days we do under the Bridge. Regular members prepare a big radio, a special flag of Radio Taiso and a stamp for the attendance book, which greatly encourage us to keep on doing this exercise program broadcasted by NHK radio. Piano rhythm starts with a familiar voice asking us to stretch out our arms and take a deep breath. All people start to move their bodies according to the voice. Actually, our bodies know what is the next movement. We do jumping; stretch our backs and our necks; twist all the body on the piano rhythm. We have the first and the second set of exercises and finish all with a stretch and a deep breath. It finishes at 6:40. We bow down and say “Thank you”. We also send our yell (“Oooi”= Hello) to the people of opposite side who do Radio Taiso. And then we leave the place. But some stay to practice rhythm exercise or to enjoy petanque, a French game of iron ball throwing.
During the exercise, many people pass by, who are just walking, walking with dog, running, riding. A student group of morning training always greets us and run away. A flock of birds fly lowly over our head.
I started to join this group some years ago. Every morning I greet the same people, but I don’t know their names, jobs, carriers and lives. They know nothing about me, too. Even though we go to see the cherry blossoms, to sing karaoke, and to end-of-the-year party together. I think that it is not important to search for other people’s life. I believe that those who keep regular hours are very happy and healthy.
On the way home, I ride down the Kitaoji Avenue for 20 minutes and stop by Kitaoji Mc Donalds to have a coffee to warm my body. I go back at Demachiyanagi about 7:30. This is my one and half hour daily exercise.
Last year, Japanese Radio Taiso reached 90 years. Our Kamo River Taiso group got an award from the Kyoto Prefect. Three years ago and last year, the English BBC came to Japan to make a documentary about this exquisite Japanese health method, Radio Taiso. I heard about a research result, which shows that people who practice Radio Taiso every day for three years or more have a longer and healthy life, being 20 years younger than their real age.
I believe we can live a longer and healthy life. This Kamo River Radio Taiso group is good and wonderful.
