In 1952, Japanese gymnasts returned to the Olympic Games after World War II. Even though they were not the dominant team that today’s gymnastics fans know and (perhaps) love, they won four individual medals (two silver and two bronze medals) in Helsinki.
Below, you’ll find a portion of the chapter authored by Sasano Toshihiko for Japan’s Official Report on the Olympic Games. It includes the results from the trials before the Olympics, the selection procedures, and the team’s preparations before the Olympic Games. As you’ll see, the Japanese men had “exhaustive” pommel horse practice.
Enjoy the translation below, and check out those landing mats in the image from Helsinki. I wouldn’t want to land on those. Ouch.
1. Athlete Selection Process and Records
I. Selection Committee
The committee is to consist of the president, vice president, senior coach, and judges (from the selection committee).
II. Decision Process
a. The Helsinki Olympics athlete selection competition (eligible participants are candidate athletes selected following the third round of Olympic qualification and those endorsed by the association). Ranking is to be determined based on the total score from the Nara and the Kanagawa competitions.
b. Four of the five athletes will be decided based on their ranking, and one will be decided after deliberation by the selection committee.
III. Meeting on the Athlete Selection Committee’s Decision
The selection committee meeting was held at the Kanagawa Gymnasium in Yokohama on May 5 at 6:00 p.m. The following athletes were decided based on their rankings: 1st Takemoto, 2nd Ono, 3rd Kaneko, 4th Nabeya. After deliberation, the remaining athlete, Uesako, who placed 5th, was selected. In consideration of the possibility of an athlete being unable to participate due to an unforeseen event, Bamba, who placed 6th, was also chosen as a reserve.
Training Camp Program Prior to Departure
1. At the Athlete Selection Committee meeting on May 25, the five athletes and reserve were selected. Managers and coaches for the athlete training camps were also determined.
2. Training Camps
First Session: From May 29 to June 7 at Tenri Gymnasium
Second Session: From June 15 to June 20 at Kanagawa Gymnasium
3. Training Program
First Session
a. Building physical strength
b. Strengthening team cohesion
c. Honing confidence in compulsory routines
d. Improving skills, particularly floor and apparatus
e. Studying optional routine combinations
Second Session
a. Conditioning adjustments
b. Honing confidence in optional routines
c. Completion of preparations for departure
4. The Team
Manager: Toshihiko Sasano
Coach: Satoshi Nakajima
Athletes: Takemoto Masao (Captain), Ono Takashi, Kaneko Akimoto, Nabeya Tetsumi, Uwasako Tadao, Baba Kiyohiko (Reserve)
[Note: According to the rules, Japan could have selected a team of eight gymnasts plus two reserve gymnasts. “Chaque nation peut faire engager une équipe de 10 gymnastes dont 8 au maximum prendront part à tous les exercices.”]
5. Practice Schedule and Records
| Helsinki Olympic Athlete Selection Competition Results (Top Ten) | ||||||||
| Ranking | Athlete Name | Nara Competition | Kanagawa Competition | Full Total | ||||
| Compulsory | Optional | Total | Compulsory | Optional | Total | |||
| 1 | Takemoto Masao | 57.65 | 57.86 | 115.50 | 57.40 | 57.55 | 114.95 | 230.45 |
| 2 | Ono Taksashi | 57.95 | 57.65 | 115.60 | 57.85 | 56.55 | 114.40 | 230.00 |
| 3 | Kaneko Akimoto | 57.35 | 56.96 | 114.30 | 58.10 | 57.45 | 115.55 | 229.85 |
| 4 | Nabeya Tetsumi | 56.45 | 56.75 | 113.20 | 56.35 | 56.86 | 113.20 | 226.40 |
| 5 | Uwasako Tadao | 57.10 | 55.75 | 112.85 | 57.20 | 56.15 | 113.35 | 226.20 |
| 6 | Baba Kiyohiko | 56.05 | 56.70 | 112.75 | 56.60 | 56.60 | 113.20 | 225.95 |
| 7 | Kawada Hiroshi | 56.25 | 56.05 | 112.30 | 56.35 | 56.20 | 112.55 | 224.85 |
| 8 | Hataoka Masao | 56.25 | 55.70 | 112.95 | 55.95 | 55.90 | 111.85 | 223.80 |
| 9 | Tsukawaki Shinsaku | 56.05 | 55.75 | 111.80 | 56.45 | 55.40 | 111.85 | 223.65 |
| 10 | Fukai Kazumi | 55.45 | 56.15 | 111.60 | 56.45 | 55.15 | 111.60 | 223.20 |
First Training Camp
Training Venue: Tenri Gymnasium. Accommodation: Tenrikyo Takayasu Dormitory.
Left Tokyo at 11:00 p.m. on May 28, arrived at Nara Station on the morning of May 29, received a welcome from Mr. Tanida, and went to Tenri, before heading to the Takayasu office.
Discussions were held at the office regarding the schedule, timings, and meals. The schedule, timings, and program for the training camp and practices were decided after consulting with Coach Nakajima.
The condition of the athletes had been considerably disrupted by the final qualification competition on May 25, followed by European administrative bureaucracy and other tasks from May 26 to 28. Physically, they were exhausted from the selection competition, so the primary goal was to get them to recover from their fatigue.
The focus of the first day was on some light practice to improve their condition. As scheduled, light exercises were done on floor and parallel bars, particularly focusing on compulsory floor routines. In the evening, each athlete presented their optional routines several times for review.
On May 30, practice started at 9:25 a.m. with warm-up exercises to get the athletes to break a sweat, focusing on floor as the main goal of the day. Focused areas of practice included head spring exercises, forward somersaults from backward somersaults, and knee flexion and extensions from side falls.*
[*Note: You can see the compulsory routines here.]
These are the main focuses so as to address the shortcomings of each athlete and assist them in their efforts.
(The necessity for pommel horse backward scissors practice became apparent.) In the afternoon, considerable practice was done on the parallel bars, while horizontal bar and rings practice was kept light.
On May 21, practice started at 9:00 p.m. with a focus on optional routines.
The order of practice was determined on this day, which was reviewed with a competition situation in mind.
Floor: Kaneko, Ono, Nabeya, Uwasako, Takemoto
Pommel Horse: Ono, Uwasako, Takemoto, Nabeya, Kaneko
Parallel Bars: Nabeya, Uwasako, Kaneko, Ono, Takemoto
Horizontal Bar: Uwasako, Nabeya, Ono, Takemoto, Kaneko
Rings: Nabeya, Ono, Uwasako, Kaneko, Takemoto
Vault: Ono, Nabeya, Kaneko, Takemoto, Uwasako
Floor and pommel horse in the morning; parallel bars, rings, and vault in the afternoon (compulsory, optional)
June 1: Pommel horse and horizontal bar in the morning, rest in the afternoon
June 2: Rest in the morning. Practice began at 1:00 p.m., beginning with extensive floor practice, the athletes completed two full routines as practice. There was exhaustive pommel horse practice.
Practice chiefly on the parallel bars.
June 3: Practice began at 9:00 a.m. with cartwheels for warm-up.
There was full optional routine practice for floor.
Training and full routine practice for pommel horse
June 4: Rest day
June 5: Optional practice
June 6: Thorough practice, akin to a record-keeping session for this training camp, performing all events with detailed critiques and reviews.
June 7: The last day of the training camp. Full optional routines were practiced.
Impressions from the First Training Camp
Deciding to hold the intensive training camp in Tenri was a success. With the generous support and backing of the Tenri authorities, we were able to train in a peaceful religious atmosphere, receiving heartfelt care from believers, who made us feel at ease as we practiced. We are truly grateful for the kindness of the Tenri authorities, Nara Prefecture, and the Nara Gymnastics Association. This camp achieved its objective, as expected, of serving as an intensive training camp. We could practice floor exercises, which were the team’s weak point, and pommel horse extensively, while the athletes improved their physical strength and especially their endurance.
On the evening of June 7, we left the training camp with positive memories and returned to Tokyo.
Second Training Camp
Training Venue: Kanagawa Gymnasium. Accommodation: Asahi Inn.
In accordance with the program, practice focused on optional routines, condition adjustment, and preparing as a team.
Schedule and Activities from Departure to Arrival in Helsinki
June 26: Departed Haneda at 5:00 p.m..
It was finally the day to leave. We met at the Japan Amateur Sports Association at noon, had lunch together, and received all kinds of advice. At 2:00 p.m., we left the Sports Association, cheered on by the crowd and carrying Japanese flags, and headed to Haneda, receiving encouragement from people along the way. At 3:00 p.m., we arrived at Haneda Airport, and at 4:50 p.m., we boarded the plane amidst farewells and camera flashes. Taking off after 5:00 p.m., the plane ascended through rainy skies. We couldn’t see anything, but there was little turbulence. After a while, we emerged above the clouds. Dinner was at 6:30 p.m., and we arrived in Okinawa at 9:30 p.m., where we took a break for about an hour before taking off again. Around the time we were flying over French Indochina, the plane shook a great deal, startling us awake and prompting us to quickly fasten our seatbelts.
June 27: We arrived in Bangkok at 4:45 a.m. We had breakfast at a diner, with a delicious pomelo for dessert. We met the Korean team here. Departed Bangkok at 6:15 a.m., experiencing turbulence at around 9:20 a.m.
We arrived in Karachi at around 2:40 p.m. It was as hot as a sauna. We were welcomed by Japanese nationals living in the area, received a kind postcard, and sent our first report to Japan. Left Karachi at 3:40 and watched the sandy coast of Iran as we flew over.
Arrived in Basra at around 7:00 p.m. The heat was indescribable even though it was evening as if the wind itself was hot. Departed Basra at 8:00 p.m., heading towards Rome.
June 28: Arrived in Rome at around 4:00 a.m. We had set foot in Europe for the first time. After a short break, we left Rome. The city looked so orderly and beautiful from above. We flew straight to Stockholm from Rome. Just after passing over Pisa, we could see the Alps ahead of us as the plane continued to climb smoothly. The view of the majestic mountain range above the clouds was astounding. After crossing the Alps, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and you could clearly see the ground and Zurich with its great lake, which looked truly beautiful. Passing over Hamburg and Copenhagen, it was the white buildings and red roofs that stood out. The sea looked calm and blue as if it had been painted with masterful brush strokes.
Our next destination, Stockholm, was two hours away. The plane flew steadily along the Scandinavian Peninsula.
June 28: Arrived at Stockholm Airport at 10:47 a.m., received a welcome from those who had arrived earlier, and boarded a bus at 11:00 a.m., heading to the Summer Hotel in Saltsjöbaden, our accommodation. The group was made up of wrestlers, boxers, rowers, and weightlifters. After a short rest, we went out behind the hotel (on the waterfront) for light exercises, which included stretches, running, handstands, and inversions. Although it wasn’t that late, we soon felt quite tired after exercising. It seemed more like sensory fatigue than physical exhaustion. I had a persistent ringing in my ears, even at 7:00 p.m. We had dinner at the Grand Hotel at 5:30 p.m.; the food was greasy and didn’t sit well with me. Went to bed at 7:30 p.m. Although the sun was still high in the sky, I was so tired from traveling that it was easy to fall asleep. Ono wasn’t feeling well; he seemed rather congested. (Notes from an athlete)
◇ Notes from the manager
1. Held a meeting with all managers at the hotel to allocate rooms.
2. Mr. Asano (from headquarters) and Mr. Fukuda (from the embassy) guided us in inspecting the gymnasium and stadium, at the Tattby Läroverk Middle School and club. We were surprised by how comprehensive the facilities were, including drying, shower, and bathing facilities, perhaps due to the cold climate.
3. Attended a reception hosted by the diplomat with the other managers.
4. Returned to the accommodation at 9:30 p.m.
June 29: Woke up at 8:00 a.m.
Set off for a 20-minute walk to the school gymnasium at 9:30 a.m. From 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., we practiced rotations and floor exercises in detail, although keeping it light due to the lingering fatigue. On the way back, we took a bath at the venue. It felt so refreshing after the past few days. We noticed that everyone had lost quite a bit of weight. Proper meals and rest were needed. We toured the city in the afternoon.
June 30: Woke up at 8:00 a.m.
In the morning, practiced on the Idrottsparken field for an hour, starting with comprehensive practice of compulsory floor exercises, followed by practicing both compulsory and optional routines. Conditions had improved somewhat. The Japanese flag was raised on the flagpole at the stadium on this day. We are grateful for this kindness from the management.
July 1: This was the day to head to Helsinki, so we finished preparing and spent time by the coast until departure.
Took a bus to the airport, departed Stockholm at 3:30 p.m., and arrived in Helsinki at 6:05 p.m.
1.選手選考及び決定の方法と記録
（1）選考委員会
会長、副会長、常務理事、審判員（選抜競技会）で構成する。
（2）決定方法
（イ）ヘルシンキ・オリンピック大会選手選抜競技会
（参加資格は第3次オリンピック予選会で選ばれた候補選手並びに協会推せんのもの）奈良大会と神奈川大会の得点総会計により順位を決定する。
（ロ）五名の選手の中、4名は順位により決定し、あと1名は選考委員会で審議の上決定する。
（3）選手決定選考委員会の開催
5月25日午後6時より横浜市神奈川体育館において選考委員会を開催成績準位により1位竹本、2位小野、3位金子、4位鍋谷の選手を決め、あと1名は審議の上、5位の上迫選手を決定、なお5名の選手の中で事故により出発不能となった場合を考えて補欠として6位の馬場選手を決めた。
出発までの強化合宿の方針
1．5月25日の選手選考委員会に置いて5名の選手と補欠1名を決すると共に選手強化合宿の監督とコーチを決定した。
2．強化合宿
第1回 5月29日から6月7日まで天理体育館
第2回 6月15日から6月20日まで神奈川体育館
3．強化の方針
第1回
イ．体力の増強
ロ．選手団の緊密化をはかる
ハ．規定問題の確実性の増進
ニ．特に徒手、鞍馬の技術向上
ホ．自由問題のコンビネーションの研究
第2回
イ．コンディションの調整
ロ．自由問題の確実性の増進
ハ．出発準備の完了
4．参加者
監督 佐々野利彦
コーチ 中島想知
選手 竹本正男（主将） 小野喬 金子明友
鍋谷鉄巳 上迫忠夫 （補欠）馬場清彦
5．練習日程と記録
ヘルシンキ・オリンピック選手選抜競技会成績（十位まで）
| 順位 | 選手氏名 | 奈良大会 | 神奈川大会 | 総合計 | ||||
| 規定問題 | 自由問題 | 合計 | 規定問題 | 自由問題 | 合計 | |||
| 1 | 竹本正男 | 57.65 | 57.85 | 115.50 | 57.40 | 57.55 | 114.95 | 230.45 |
| 2 | 小野喬 | 57.95 | 57.65 | 115.60 | 57.85 | 56.55 | 114.40 | 230.00 |
| 3 | 金子明友 | 57.35 | 56.95 | 114.30 | 58.10 | 57.45 | 115.55 | 229.85 |
| 4 | 鍋谷鉄巳 | 56.45 | 56.75 | 113.20 | 56.35 | 56.85 | 113.20 | 226.40 |
| 5 | 上迫忠夫 | 57.10 | 55.75 | 112.85 | 57.20 | 56.15 | 113.35 | 226.20 |
| 6 | 馬場清彦 | 56.05 | 56.70 | 112.75 | 56.60 | 56.60 | 113.20 | 225.95 |
| 7 | 川田浩 | 56.25 | 56.05 | 112.30 | 56.35 | 56.20 | 112.55 | 224.85 |
| 8 | 畑岡正夫 | 56.25 | 55.70 | 111.95 | 55.95 | 55.90 | 111.85 | 223.80 |
| 9 | 塚脇伸作 | 56.05 | 55.75 | 111.80 | 56.45 | 55.40 | 111.85 | 223.65 |
| 10 | 深井一三 | 55.45 | 56.15 | 111.60 | 56.45 | 55.15 | 111.60 | 223.20 |
第1回合宿
練習場、天理体育館、宿泊所、天理教高安詰所
5月28日午後11時、東京発29日朝奈良駅着、谷田氏の出迎を受け、天理に向う、高安詰所に入り、事務所で日程、時程、食事について打合せを行う。中島コーチと協議の上、合宿，練習の日程、時程、方針をきめる。
選手のコンディションは5月25日の最終予選会をへて26日から28日まで渡欧手続その他の用務のため選手の調子は相当に乱れており、又、選抜競技会に体力を消耗しているので、まず疲労の快復が第一であると思った。
第1日目は軽い練習により調子を整える練習は予定のとおり徒手平行棒を軽く流す、特に徒手は規定問題の研究を行う、夜間各選手から自由問題を提出してもらい、二、三検討をする。
5月30日 9時25分に練習を開始、準備運動を汗ばむ程度に行い、本日の課題である徒手に重点をおく、ヘッドスプリングの練習、後転からの前転、側倒から膝屈伸の練習。
以上の点を中心として各選手の欠点を深く追及して努力をうながす。
（鞍馬のバックセヤーの練習の必要を痛感）午後は平行棒を相当に行い、鉄棒と吊環は軽く練習程度。5月21日は午後9時より練習 自由問題に重点をおく。
この日練習の試技順をきめる。この試技順は協議の場合を考えて研究した。
徒手 金子、小野、鍋谷、上迫、竹本
鞍馬 小野、上迫、竹本、鍋谷、金子
平行棒 鍋谷、上迫、金子、小野、竹本
鉄棒 上迫 鍋谷、小野、竹本、金子
吊環 鍋谷、小野、上迫、金子、竹本
跳馬 小野、鍋谷、金子、竹本、上迫
練習は午前中徒手、鞍馬、午後は平行棒、吊環、跳馬（規、自）
6月1日は午前中鞍馬、鉄棒、午後は練習休み
6月2日は午前練習休み、午後1時から練習を開始、徒手の分習より始め一連の練習を2回程度行う。
鞍馬は分習を徹底的に行う。
6月3日は午前9時練習開始、準備運動として転回運動を主として行う。
徒手は自由問題の分習と一連の練習を行う。
鞍馬は分習並びに一連の練習
6月4日は練習休み
6月5日は自由練習
6月6日はこの合宿の記録会ともいうべき練習を徹底的に行う、全種目の演技を行い細部にわたって批判検討を行う。
6月7日は合宿最後の日である。この日は自由問題の一連練習を行う。
第1回合宿の感想
天理で強化合宿を行うとこにしたのは成功であった。天理当局の絶大な援助と後援の下、閑静にして宗教的なふんいきを身に感じつつ、信徒の方々への心からの世話を受け、落ちついた気持ちで練習に専念した。天理当局、奈良県、奈良県体操協会の厚意に深く感謝する。この合宿は期待通りの強化合宿の目的を達成することが出来た。選手団の弱点とした徒手、鞍馬の練習も相当に出来たし、選手の体力、特に耐久力が出来た。
6月7日夕方名残をおしみつつ合宿所を出発、帰京の途につく。
第2回合宿
練習場、神奈川体育館、宿泊所、旭荘
方針どおり、自由問題の練習とコンディションを整え、選手団としての準備を整えた。
出発からヘルシンキ到着迄の日程及び練習その他
6月26日午後5時羽田発
いよいよ出発の日である。正午体協に集合、会食の後種々注意をうける。2時、日の丸と万歳に送られて体協を出発、途中街頭の声援をうけて、3時羽田着、4時50分お見送りのかんことフラッシュを浴びて機上の人となる。5時過ぎ離陸、機は雨模様の空をきつて上昇する。視界なし、乗心地も良好、しばらくして雲上に出る。6時30分夕食、9時30分に沖縄に到着、1時間ばかり休憩の後出発、途中仏印上空にかかる頃機は大きく揺れる熟睡中であったので驚き、いそいで腰にバンドをしめる。
6月27日午前4時45分にバンコックにつく、食堂で朝食を摂る、食後に食べたザボンの味がうまい、ここで韓国選手団と会う。6時15分にバンコック発、9時20分相当にゆれる。
午後2時40分頃カラチに着く蒸風呂のように暑い、在留の同胞諸氏の出迎をうける、厚意の葉書をもらって第一報を日本に送る。3時40分にカラチ発、途中がいがいたる無毛の砂土地帯のイランの海岸線の風景をみる。7時ごろバスラに着く、夕方とはいえ暑いこと言語に絶する、まるで熱風の中にいるようだ、8時頃バスラ発、一挙にローマに向かう。
6月28日午前4時ごろローマにつく。欧州に第一歩をしるす。小憩の後、ローマを発つ、上空から見たローマは整然として美しい、ローマから一路ストックホルムへ飛ぶ、ピサを過ぎて間もなく前方にアルプスを見る、高度をぐんぐん上げて機は快翔する、雲上に聳えるアルプス連峯の雄姿に接する、アルプスを越えて眼下は雲一つない。地上の風景がよくみえる湖畔にさかえるチューリッヒの上に出る実に美しい。ハンブルグ、コペンハーゲンの上空を通る、白い壁に赤い屋根が目立つ、海は静かで青い絵の具を上手にぬったようである。目指すストックも後2時間位である、スカンジナビヤ半島にそって機はぐんぐん進んでゆく。
28日10時47分ストックホルムの飛行場に到着、先発の方々の出迎えをうけて11時バスに乗り宿舎であるサウスバーデンのサンマ―ホテルに向う。同行はレスリング、ボクシング、ボート、重量挙の選手団である。しばらく休んでからホテル裏（水際）に出て軽い体操、柔軟運動と駈足、倒立、逆飛を行う行う。あまり疲れていない様だが運動してみると相当疲れている、体力というよりは感覚の方が余程つかれているようだ。午後7時になるも耳鳴りがとまらない。5時30分グランドホテルで夕食、油こくてあわない。就寝7時30分、陽は高いが旅の疲れもあり暗幕を下ろして、小野君の体調が悪い。鼻が相当悪いようだ。（以上選手の手記）
♢監督の手記より
1．ホテルで各監督集会部屋割りを行う。
2．浅野氏（本部）福田氏（公使館）の案内で競技場体操場の視察に行く、Tattbyレーロベルギ中学体育館及び俱楽部の競技場である、設備の完備しているのに驚く、寒い国であるためか、乾燥部屋、シャワー風呂の設備が整っている。
3．各監督と共に公使の招待パーティに臨む。
4．宿舎に帰着9時30分
6月29日 8時起床
9時30分より徒歩で20分レーロベルギ中学校の体育館に行く、10時から11時30分まで転倒運動、徒手の部分練習を行う、疲労がまだ去らず軽い練習にとどめる。帰路競技場で蒸風呂に入る、数日振りの風呂でさつぱりする。そこで計量としてみたら皆相当の原料である。食事と休養が必要である。午後市内見学。
6月30日 8時起床
午前中イードロッツバラッツの競技場で練習1時間徒手体操の規定問題の分習から始め、規定、自由の練習を行う、調子幾分昇る、この日の競技場には掲揚塔に日章旗がひるがえつていた。管理者の厚意に感謝する。
7月1日 ヘルシンキへ向う日であるのでその準備を終え海岸で思い思いの行動をとる。
バスで飛行場に向かう、3時30分ストック発、6時5分にヘルシンキに着く。
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