Lovely piece, Jeffrey. I especially enjoyed the British side of the story, which I didn't know yet.
The beneficial habits of Radio Taiso are a fact, while I've always found other customs, like the practice of children being expected to clean their school, rather funny, since those children never seem to apply that lesson to their own rooms, and Japanese homes - especially bachelor's pads - are notorious for being messy.
Being, as you know, a little weird, the "clear vowels rise like balloons" verse reminded me of Meredith Monk's "Turtle Dreams." Not sure you like this kind of music, but the vowels start flying around 6'27", albeit like ominous anti-air sirens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC11KM2Gu6w
Thank you, Gianni. Children leaving their room messy seem to be a universal fact of life... I don't know about Japanese homes in general, but the one I live in is pretty tidy 😊. I'll check out the piece by Monk. Thank you! 🙏
A great read, Jeffrey. I always really enjoy the way you tie things together in your pieces. For example, Plath’s words linked to the early mornings movements, and also linking to the way music played a part in these things. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to bring all these things together in the way you do. :)
Love this! I miss the early Tai Chi elderly of Hong Kong and have heard there is a strong showing of older exercisers along the beach front near us in Fukuoka. I find it so inspirational. But the community aspect is perhaps even more important than the exercise itself.
What a lovely post. It brought back memories of seeing similar groups of people doing similar exercises in Kowloon Park, Hong Kong. Sometimes there would be a few people doing exercises with a sword, beautifully controlled. They are bitter sweet now; the person I used to travel with died last November and I can never think of HK without thinking of him and the fun times we had exploring.
I remember the first time I saw (mostly) women exercising at the park in Thailand and Ecuador. I joined early in the morning in Ecuador, but the novelty didn't last, as it was so early and cold. Nevertheless, it was an amusing experience.
I adore how much Japan takes care of its citizens. Recently, I watched a short documentary on Japan's aging population and how they get together to do sports like rugby! And the children cleaning the school! I wish the world would learn from Japan!
Lovely close and connection. While not identical, your experience of Taiso put me in mind of something I think you may have seen, because I think you've been to Vietnam. One morning in Hanoi, we went out in the darkness, about 5 a.m., to visit one of the city's many lakes and witness hundreds, maybe thousands, of older Vietnamese performing their morning Tai Chi exercises. One exceptional moment, of which I've had many observing Julia photograph, was watching her expert, effortless, silent communication with the elderly Su-fi, without disturbing him, to gain his permission to come in close to shoot him as he led his group. Tai Chi, too, exemplifies mens sana in corpore sano.
Thank you, Jay. I’ve enjoyed that sight in Hanoi, as you rightly surmised. And I have happy memories of early mornings in parks in Shanghai, where many coordinated exercise routines would take place, sometimes to the beguiling sound of the “er hu”, a two-stringed fiddle.
This is new to me and I love it. I’ve seen people doing tai chi in the parks but nothing like “national calisthenics” (!) I can’t quite picture it but imagine the whole country in sun salutations.
It’s morning now in Brooklyn and perfect for imagining. 🙏
Lovely essay. This reminds me of the group exercises that were a big part of the morning scenery in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, in the city's gorgeous parks, when I visited about 10 years ago. The community movement and gathering seems so healthy! Would love to see something like it where I live in Missouri.
Thank you, Jeffrey, for sharing these beautiful moments with me. You paint the scene so viscerally I felt I was in that park with you. I love the way this practice, and tai chi and MFWYW create evanescent community. These are the original flashmobs, maybe?
The Chinese has had something very similar for as long as I could remember, during the days of “radio”. Now people mostly use internet streaming (live or recorded), and dance sometimes replaces stretches.
I think it is n Asian thing 😊, and one (among many) I wish the West could learn.
Curiously, the radio seems to be the device of preference for this activity. I recall with fondness the early morning dancing and other activities in parks in Shanghai. Beguiling.
Lovely piece, Jeffrey. I especially enjoyed the British side of the story, which I didn't know yet.
The beneficial habits of Radio Taiso are a fact, while I've always found other customs, like the practice of children being expected to clean their school, rather funny, since those children never seem to apply that lesson to their own rooms, and Japanese homes - especially bachelor's pads - are notorious for being messy.
Being, as you know, a little weird, the "clear vowels rise like balloons" verse reminded me of Meredith Monk's "Turtle Dreams." Not sure you like this kind of music, but the vowels start flying around 6'27", albeit like ominous anti-air sirens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC11KM2Gu6w
Thank you, Gianni. Children leaving their room messy seem to be a universal fact of life... I don't know about Japanese homes in general, but the one I live in is pretty tidy 😊. I'll check out the piece by Monk. Thank you! 🙏
What a delightful read. I've never hear of this before, it's truly fascinating.
Thank you, Evelyn! I'm glad you found it interesting.
A great read, Jeffrey. I always really enjoy the way you tie things together in your pieces. For example, Plath’s words linked to the early mornings movements, and also linking to the way music played a part in these things. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to bring all these things together in the way you do. :)
Thank you, Michael. Sometimes things just come together, don't they?
It’s wonderful when things come together like that. :)
Love this! I miss the early Tai Chi elderly of Hong Kong and have heard there is a strong showing of older exercisers along the beach front near us in Fukuoka. I find it so inspirational. But the community aspect is perhaps even more important than the exercise itself.
Certainly the community aspect is a big thing for many.
What a lovely post. It brought back memories of seeing similar groups of people doing similar exercises in Kowloon Park, Hong Kong. Sometimes there would be a few people doing exercises with a sword, beautifully controlled. They are bitter sweet now; the person I used to travel with died last November and I can never think of HK without thinking of him and the fun times we had exploring.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend, June. And yes those sword exercises are fun to watch, aren't they?
It's a little hard to imagine, as it's not quite like Tai Chi on the one hand, or aerobics on the other. But it's certainly impressive.
I remember the first time I saw (mostly) women exercising at the park in Thailand and Ecuador. I joined early in the morning in Ecuador, but the novelty didn't last, as it was so early and cold. Nevertheless, it was an amusing experience.
I adore how much Japan takes care of its citizens. Recently, I watched a short documentary on Japan's aging population and how they get together to do sports like rugby! And the children cleaning the school! I wish the world would learn from Japan!
Love the imagery of this piece, Jeffrey.
Thank you, Holly!
Lovely close and connection. While not identical, your experience of Taiso put me in mind of something I think you may have seen, because I think you've been to Vietnam. One morning in Hanoi, we went out in the darkness, about 5 a.m., to visit one of the city's many lakes and witness hundreds, maybe thousands, of older Vietnamese performing their morning Tai Chi exercises. One exceptional moment, of which I've had many observing Julia photograph, was watching her expert, effortless, silent communication with the elderly Su-fi, without disturbing him, to gain his permission to come in close to shoot him as he led his group. Tai Chi, too, exemplifies mens sana in corpore sano.
Thank you, Jay. I’ve enjoyed that sight in Hanoi, as you rightly surmised. And I have happy memories of early mornings in parks in Shanghai, where many coordinated exercise routines would take place, sometimes to the beguiling sound of the “er hu”, a two-stringed fiddle.
Poetry in prose is the essay about dance and the beauty of those arms arising from the daily sleep.
Thank you, Mary. I deeply appreciate your readership and support!
This is new to me and I love it. I’ve seen people doing tai chi in the parks but nothing like “national calisthenics” (!) I can’t quite picture it but imagine the whole country in sun salutations.
It’s morning now in Brooklyn and perfect for imagining. 🙏
I love this idea, Jeffrey and am ready to commit to such a programme! A beautifully evocative post.
Thank you, Ann! Yes, it's an impressive programme.
Lovely essay. This reminds me of the group exercises that were a big part of the morning scenery in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, in the city's gorgeous parks, when I visited about 10 years ago. The community movement and gathering seems so healthy! Would love to see something like it where I live in Missouri.
Thank you, PJ! Yes, it can be a moving sight (I’ve seen other morning exercises in different parts of China, including Shanghai and Hong Kong).
Thank you, Jeffrey, for sharing these beautiful moments with me. You paint the scene so viscerally I felt I was in that park with you. I love the way this practice, and tai chi and MFWYW create evanescent community. These are the original flashmobs, maybe?
Thank you, Michelle! Yes, flashmob is quite a good way of putting it! I have also enjoyed seeing early morning activities in parks in China, too.
The Chinese has had something very similar for as long as I could remember, during the days of “radio”. Now people mostly use internet streaming (live or recorded), and dance sometimes replaces stretches.
I think it is n Asian thing 😊, and one (among many) I wish the West could learn.
Curiously, the radio seems to be the device of preference for this activity. I recall with fondness the early morning dancing and other activities in parks in Shanghai. Beguiling.
This so wonderful! I love the practice. Thank you!
Thank you, Bonnie!