Tokyo (AFP)

If the "radio taiso" is absent from the program of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, it is surely to the chagrin of the Japanese who indulge in this gentle gymnastics by the millions, at home or in parks, schools or even in the office.

First of all, music, calm and old-fashioned, played on the piano to set the pace.

Then everyone takes their standing position, legs apart, arms at their sides, freezes, breathes.

And it's quietly gone for three minutes of gentle gymnastics.

Alone or in groups, schoolchildren, construction workers, taxi drivers or seniors, everywhere the same movements.

"We raise our arms, we stretch the body ... And we turn our arms" calmly orders a voice.

"Now we gently bend forward and repeat the movement three times. And we continue, same thing back."

For decades, the Japanese have been performing these 13 very simple exercises to relax and stretch the arms, shoulders, legs and back.

Nothing traumatic for the body.

On the contrary, the happiness of a gentle muscular awakening.

The Japanese call it "radio taiso".

Why?

"Taiso" means exercise and "radio" because the phenomenon started in the archipelago on public radio.

- An almost century-old ritual -

And it has nothing to do with the global fashion for gentle gymnastics videos or podcasts since the start of the pandemic.

The "radio taiso" has been around for nearly a century and even survived a post-WWII ban by the US occupier, who saw it as a militarist practice.

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This mass phenomenon began in the 1920s when a national insurance company urged every Japanese to do easy daily exercise based on what was done in the United States.

NHK National Radio began broadcasting taiso in 1928, every day at 6.30am.

In particular, this program has gained in popularity by becoming a popular activity during the summer holidays.

Today, nearly 27 million Japanese (or 21% of the population of the archipelago) practice this gymnastics at least twice a week, according to estimates, via radio, television or the internet.

Himori Reiko, an air hostess, has made a habit - pandemic obliges - to regularly meet with her colleagues on Zoom to share this moment.

At home or in the office, and in a casual outfit, they move in unison on the first piano notes and they communicate, even when separated by the screen.

"With telework, many people have felt loneliness. By doing + radio taiso + we can see each other at least once a week," Ms. Reiko told AFP.

- Cure of youth -

But it's not just the working people who are addicted, the older ones are also having a blast.

Seniors often meet in municipal parks at dawn.

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"During the coronavirus, our daily life has become more difficult. So we need to exercise, to move our body, more than ever," says Mitsutoshi Watanabe, who leads a group of 250 people, mostly retirees, all mornings in a large Tokyo park.

"For a year, the number of participants has increased" continues Mr. Watanabe, 79 years old and dressed all in white, delighted that younger people have joined his group since the pandemic.

"We meet, we discuss, we take news from each other. When one of us is absent, we wonder if he is okay", explains Kenny Takahashi, a 55-year-old jeweler who discovered this group with his wife on her way to work.

The couple became loyal to this daily "whatever the weather" ritual.

"Our body is perfectly stretched in the morning," said Mr. Takahashi.

Japan, considered to be the oldest country in the world (29% of the population of the archipelago is 65 years old and over), perhaps finds in this gymnastics its rejuvenation.

And what does it matter that the + radio taiso + never has an Olympic champion.

© 2021 AFP