SFVJLI Radio Taiso in Preperation for Undoukai

As is tradition, San Fernando Valley Japanese Language Institute students, teachers, and parents are invited to participate in Radio Taiso each Saturday morning at 8:30 am throughout April. It includes three minutes of stretching and light calisthenics known to invigorate and jump start energy for the day and help us all prepare for a bit of friendly competition on Undokai. 

While the Radio Taiso calisthenics routine is relatively brief, it has a long history in Japan. According to the Japan America Society of Houston, the precursor to Radio Taiso started in November 1928, and by 1951 was being aired daily on Nippon Housou Kyokai (NHK) public radio starting at 6:30 am. Since its inception, this short burst of exercise has become a healthy morning habit for as many as 27 million people throughout Japan, with everyone from schools, offices, and retirement facilities alike participating. Some health experts speculate that Radio Taiso may even be a contributing factor in Japan’s long life expectancy. 

So please join in on a bit of healthy fun. You can watch the video below.