HOKKAIDO, May 22, 2026 (News On Japan) - Elementary schools in Sapporo will begin their sports day season from this Saturday, and for children eager to run faster in footraces, a special lesson was held to teach the basic techniques that can make the difference.
The "running class" took place on May 21st at Hiraoka Elementary School in Sapporo's Kiyota Ward, with around 80 fifth- and sixth-grade students taking part.
The instructor was Masaki Yasui, an associate professor at Sapporo International University who spent 20 years as a teacher at elementary schools in Sapporo.
"It is not just a matter of swinging your arms. Timing is important. I want you to feel when swinging your arms helps move your body forward," Yasui said.
The lesson covered how to swing the arms, lift the legs and move the body, as well as the starting posture, which can play a decisive role in a short-distance race.
Takaki Sato, a new reporter who had trained in table tennis during his student years, also took on the challenge, asking the children to cheer him on. However, the expected time could not be recorded because the timekeeper running beside him fell over, apparently suffering the effects of a lack of daily exercise.
After watching Sato run, Yasui offered some advice. "Your starting posture is too high, so you should lower it and bring your body forward. From midway through the race, switch your running style by taking longer strides and imagining that you are driving your knees high and forward."
Sato then tried running again while keeping the advice in mind. "When I ran after using the advice, my legs felt lighter," he said.
The effect was immediate. During the 90-minute lesson, the students also appeared to pick up the key points.
"People say children do not get enough exercise, but if they feel that moving is fun and that they are improving, they can experience the joy and enjoyment of exercise," Yasui said.
Sixth-grader Iori Sakamoto said: "It was good because I felt like I had become faster."
Sixth-grader Yuna Mukaide said: "I used to be bad at running, but now that I have learned the tips and gained confidence, I want to do my best at sports day."
The running class is scheduled to be held at 11 elementary schools in Sapporo during the 2026 academic year.
According to Yasui, the key to running faster is simple: at the start, keep the posture low and move the body forward; in the second half, take longer strides and raise the knees high; and at the finish, do not slow down but run straight through the line.
Caster Kinuko Morita noted that these are techniques children can put into practice quickly, while caster Hiroshi Hori said the experience of becoming even slightly faster can itself become a meaningful success for children, regardless of whether they win the race.
Source: HBCニュース 北海道放送
