[Shikoku Edition] Infrastructure engineers participated in the "Yuru Sports Experience Session" in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture

[Before we get to the main topic]

happy new year。

My name is Mizusawa and I work as an infrastructure engineer in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture.

Lately, the weather has been so cold that it feels like winter. . .

The other day, the water heater where I live froze and it got so cold that there was no hot water for about two days. . . (tears)

On the other hand, my ``tiramisu bed'' at home, which I had been working on as a countermeasure against the cold, was successful and I am now enjoying a good night's sleep!

Specifically, the combination of "N Sleep Mattress + Deep Blanket + Mizusawa + Electric Blanket + Comforter".

Thanks to all of you, I think that I have become accustomed to the feeling of ``a cat relaxing under a kotatsu.''

Well, even though it's such a cold season, on January 16, 2022, I went to a place that warms my body to the core.

It was a ``Yuru Sports Experience Session'' held at the Miyoshi City Ikeda General Gymnasium in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture.

As a result, it was a time of deep learning for me that will lead to my next actions.

So, I would like to share my experience with you.

Also, although this site is in Japanese, we have also prepared an "English" and "Spanish" version from the link below.

Please check if necessary.
・English version

https://beyondjapan.com/blog/2022/02/sports-2/

・Spanish version

https://beyondjapan.com/blog/2022/02/deportes/

Well then, let's go.

Background of the “Yuru Sports Experience Session”

① Purpose

・“Citizen health promotion”

・“Sports promotion”

・“Regional revitalization through sports”

 

② Background　

For the above purpose, the `` Miyoshi City Board of Education'' has been hosting a workshop for four months in advance with the ``World Yuru Sports Association'' and ``current athletes.'' held,

Miyoshi City's original ``Yuru Sports'' was devised based on ideas rooted in Miyoshi City's history and sports culture.

In addition to these, they have already provided an opportunity for everyone from the World Yuru Sports Association (General Incorporated Association

 

③ Introduction of “World Yuru Sports Association”

Everyone at the World Yuru Sports Association which was established on April 11, 2016

It operates projects such as "increasing the sports population and promoting awareness of sports education," "developing new sports that anyone can enjoy," and "creating and revitalizing a sports environment that can be experienced nationwide."

We are a group of sports creators who create loose sports.

https://yurusports.com/

④ Configuration

・10am-12pm: For parents and children under 10 years old. Total of 40 groups, up to 80 people.

・14:00-16:00: For people aged 10 and over. Total of 40 groups, up to 80 people.

Introducing the ``Yuru Sports'' that I actually experienced

① Seesaw ball bowl

Place the ball in the basket within 30 seconds. In the end, the team with the most balls wins the game.

The structure of the basket is different from the ball bowls that elementary school students are used to at sports days, in that if you put too many balls in, the seesaw will flip over and you'll end up with zero balls. Both teams can put the ball in at the same time, and the attacking side has to leave the ball in place.

The defensive side decides on tactics based on strategies such as how to reduce the number of balls to zero.

As a result, both the attacking and defending sides need to control the ball's insertion and removal while determining how far the opponent is trying to insert the ball.

Therefore, I think this sport is suitable for strategists who can instantly correct their stance and lead to victory.

Oh, I also learned that tall people are extremely strong (lol)

② Sentaku Tennis

Play tennis in pairs.

The difference from regular tennis is that a balance ball is used, which is several times larger than a tennis ball.

Instead of a racket, use laundry items such as bath towels, uniforms, and jeans.

To catch the ball and attack the opponent's court.

And after each attack, they dry the used laundry on the net and take out new laundry to prepare for the attack.

The rules are simple and easy to understand, and it's entertaining in that you have to choose the most suitable tool from everyday laundry items.

I also thought it was a community-friendly sport that encouraged conversation with partners and the opposing team.

③ Yamabiko Baseball (Miyoshi City original)

The baseball team of Ikeda High School in Tokushima Prefecture has won the spring/summer Koshien tournament.

Miyoshi City's original ``Yuru Sports'' was devised with the motif of the ``Yamabiko batting line'', which was named after the baseball club's stance of winning with hard hitting.

Specifically, it is a sport where you hit a ball against a wall and compete for the total score displayed where the ball bounces and stops.

The ball is out when it reaches the out zone. If you forget to say "Yo-hoo" before hitting the bat.

Then, after activating "Offensive Daruma", if the ball enters the glove placed by the opposing team, the at-bat ends under the "Fine Play" rule.

By the way, I belonged to a team called ``Class 5 Year 2,'' and in order to advance to the decisive battle against the ``high school sports team,'' which scored an average of 12 points, I activated ``Offensive Dharma'' in order to make a comeback in the final inning. However, the ball was successfully sucked into the opponent's glove, and the story of a "fine play" came to a dramatic end. . .

As a result, we lost the match, but it was a great sports experience with an atmosphere where everyone was a winner.

④ Pon Poko Battle (Miyoshi City original)

2017. Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture, is attracting attention from all over the world for water sports, including hosting Japan's first Rafting World Championship.

``Pon Poko Battle'' was devised based on the story of a ``raccoon dog'' who watched the rafting athletes practice from deep in the forest and started playing with the raft balls himself.

Specifically, participants transformed into Mr. Pon Poko, a ``raccoon dog dressed in rafting equipment,'' and

In groups of 3, the score is the number of points for putting a ball worth 1 point and a fish worth 5 points into the opponent's rafting boat, plus 5 points added if the raccoon dog's bellybutton is attached. It is a sport where people compete based on the total score.

Furthermore, the person who explained the competition to me was a current athlete who won the world championship!

The participants actually got on the rafting board and started, receiving instructions on how to prepare before boarding a buoyant rafting boat and what to be careful about when riding a rat.

Balls and fish thrown in by the opponent can be flicked off the board with the paddle.

This is quite difficult, perhaps due to the influence of the wind from the Yoshinogawa River. . .

While we were also throwing balls and fish in, the time passed quickly and the game was over.

Of course, my belly button had fallen off. . . (tears)

Summary (Relationship between sports and community)

How was it?。

In the first place, many people may have learned for the first time that there is a field called ``Yuru Sports''.

I myself was one of the blessed people to learn about everyone's activities for the first time.

In fact, we were able to meet each other because of the ``yuru sports'' experience, which is easy to get along with regardless of age, gender, nationality, etc.

As an immigrant myself, spending time with local people who have a habit of exercising was a valuable opportunity.

In addition, through the time spent together on the same team thinking about tactics, feeling frustrated after losing a game, and sharing the joy of winning a game by touching each other's fists, I learned that ``I was able to express my emotions through physical experiences.'' It was also very important for me to be able to realize once again the joy of sharing sports.

Personally, ``Sentaku Tennis'' and ``Pon Poko Battle'' left an impression on me.

Also, when I was cleaning up, I plucked up the courage to talk to someone about my interest in them.

I was able to receive detailed instructions with a natural smile. Thank you!

After doing some research on my own, I found that there were commonalities such as ``Mizusawa,'' ``Kyoto,'' and ``clubs.'' It's already a strange feeling, but I'm going to go with the flow.

Thank you to everyone who provided us with this valuable opportunity.

Thank you so much!