First-ever collaboration between a kindergarten and rugby in Japan! Kindergartners Perform Kumiteki-Gymnastics Performance at Halftime Show

～First-ever nationwide collaboration with kindergartens: halftime show and kumigaisatsudo (gymnastics), interaction between athletes and children

2024.04.11 10:00

学校法人谷野学園　春日東野幼稚園

Kasuga Higashino Kindergarten (Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture; Director: Shigeo Tanino) will perform Kumite gymnastics in the halftime show of the final match of the NTT JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE 2023-24 season between the Kintetsu Liners and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars at Hanazono Rugby Ground, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture on Children's Day, May 5, 2012. We will perform Kumite gymnastics at the halftime show.

Higashi-Osaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium

Kasuga Higashino Kindergarten Kumite gymnastics performance

Background of the project (1) Rugby x Early childhood education (2) Higashi-Osaka x Hirakata

Our kindergarten has long been familiar with the "rugby culture" due to its history of exchange with the Doshisha University Rugby Club and rugby experience through local ties. The garden, which has always worked to develop physical strength, cooperation, and sound mind and body through sports and play, will provide an opportunity for children to become familiar with rugby as a family and experience its appeal through the experience of having the children stand on the pitch at the Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Ground, a sacred place for rugby.

Furthermore, the goal is for the children to learn that Osaka is a city with a variety of attractions in the lead-up to the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The aim of kumite gymnastics is to unite hearts and minds.

Instruction is provided by professional instructors from Cosmo Sports Club (headquartered in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Koichi Yamashita, President) and the preschool's staff. The program is based on the movements that have been practiced at the preschool since the younger children's age, and by building on this with training in "basic body building," "discipline," and "agile movements," we have worked on Kumite gymnastics that overturns the concept of "Kumite gymnastics is dangerous," which was created due to incidents in the past. The original purpose of the event is to build the children's bodies.

About 80 members of this year's senior class will perform. This year's performance will be a "Children's Day version" of the kumigyo gymnastics that is performed by the senior class at the annual autumn field day, in the shape of a giant Koinobori (carp streamer).

For past press releases and videos of Kasuga Higashino Kindergarten Kumite gymnastics, please visit the following link or click on the 2D code below.

https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/372520