JAPAN: Japanese students take walking to a whole new level

Record ID: 467560

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese students take walking to a whole new level
  • Date: 15th November 2013
  • Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 14, 2013) (REUTERS) TEAM "COLLECTIVE ACTION" PERFORMING PRECISION WALKING GROUP LEADER SHOUTING COMMANDS VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS SHOWING PRECISION WALKING MANEUVERS HI SPEED/TIME LAPSE VIDEO OF PERFORMERS MARCHING IN ROWS AUDIENCE CLAPPING VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS MARCHING IN ROWS THAT CROSS EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT NIPPON SPORT SCIENCE UNIVERSITY AND MEMBER OF "COLLECTIVE ACTION" GROUP, KEIKO SUZUKI, SAYING: "People say Japanese youngsters these days lack the ability to work in group, but we just proved that we don't." VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS WALKING FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN LINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT NIPPON SPORT SCIENCE UNIVERSITY AND MEMBER OF "COLLECTIVE ACTION" GROUP, KEIKO SUZUKI, SAYING: "We all mastered this highly disciplined training and made it our habit to stick to strict rules. I believe this experience will be an asset as we enter into the job market." TIME-LAPSE OF PERFORMERS MAKING FORMATION OF OLYMPIC RINGS VARIOUS OF CHEER-LEADERS PERFORMING VARIOUS OF STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING MARTIAL ART VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE COSTUMES PERFORMING SHOUT OF CONCENTRATION
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABKC0JHYS893LRY9PSY4PBAJM8
  • Story Text: You've heard of synchronised swimming; now in Japan, there's synchronised precision walking.
    A group of Japanese student at Nippon Sports Science University have taken walking to a whole new level drawing in 11,000 people at their university festivities this year on Thursday (November 14).
    It's called "Shudankodo " in Japanese, or "Collective Action", and has gain massive popularity after a YouTube video went viral last year. That is even though Nippon Sports Science University says they've been doing this since 1966.
    It took the 77 Nippon Sports Science University students 5 months - at 3 days per week - of exercises to get them in shape for the dazzling performances. Their practice forced them to walking up to 1,200 kilometers (720 miles) in total - roughly the distance from Paris to Rome.
    The captain of the team say she hopes their collective discipline will help the older generation improve their impression of the younger.

    "People say Japanese youngsters these days lacks the ability to work collectively in group, but we just proved that we don't," 23-year-old Keiko Suzuki said.
    Suzuki says this training also helps student with their job search.

    "We all mastered this highly disciplined training and made it our habit to stick to strict rules. I believe this experience will be an asset as we enter into the job market," she said.
    The university, famed for producing many Olympic gold medalists, sumo wrestlers and politicians, uses this event to highlight it's student's athletic prowess - from cheerleading to martial arts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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