JAPANESE ATHLETES DEPART

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 16

JAPANESE ATHLETES DEPART

Impressions of Tour MORE FACILITIES NEEDED IN NEW ZEALAND Comment on the stantlai-il of athletics in New Zealaml was offered yes-tei’fl.-iy by .Mr. E. Kurosawa, of Ailek--1,-md,'on" behalf of the Japanese athletes. K. Murakoso anil K. Togami. whom he has accompanied throughout their tour ot the Dominion. The fin'll ,-ippearances of the athletes were al Nelson and Motueka at Easter, lhe) left by the Awatea last night for Japnn, via Sydney, and Mr. Kurosawa will return to his studies al Auckland University College.

First, said .Mr. Kurosawa, Togami and Murakoso wished to tell the people of New Zealand of their warm appreciation of the kindly thought of the New Zonl.and Amateur Athletic Association in inviting them to tour the Dominion. "We believe,” he continued, "that personal contacts such as we have been privileged to make during the last seven weeks will promote and cement the friendly relations of New Zealand and Japan as nothing else does, and we hope that we shall be able to reciprocate lhe kind thought of the Amateur Athletic Association of Now Zealand nt the very earliest opportunity. Wherever we have gone in New Zealand lhe officials and the public have been very hospitable and we are very -'-areful to them.

"We came to the conclusion 'hat the standard of the sport in New Zeal.-md is very high in general, and exceptionally high in the middle-distance events. The team competed against outstanding athletes in V. P. Root (Canterbury), W. A. C. Pullar (Otago), and A. R. Wilson (Wellington).” Special Grounds Needed

Mr. Kurosawa said it was their opinion that it was very important that New Zealand should have athletic grounds designed for athletic sports and nothing else. They had not competed on any such grounds on their tour. Apart from other advantages, proper grounds for athletic sports would permit of athletes continuing their training during the winter. This could he done outside in Now Zealand during the winter, whereas in Japan the climate made it out of the question.

The provision of cinder tracks was

considered important for New Zealand, said Mr. Kurosawa. Murakoso had found the grass tracks very comfortable, but they were not as fast as cinder tracks. Togami had not been able to get the same assistance from lhe grass as lie did from cinders in his jumping events and had been unable | to show his best form. If New Zealand could not afford lo put down cinder tracks before the next Olympic Games, their suggestion was that the New Zealanders should endeavour to train on unmetalled clay roads, as the nearest approach to hard cinder tracks. X’alue of Coaching. In the opinion of the Japanese, New Zealand's greatest problem in athletics was coaching. Mr. Kurosawa stressed the importance of tours by overseas athletes being regarded not so much from the financial aspect as from their educational value to the younger athletes. It was important that visiting athletes should be given sufficient time in each of the centres visited to do some coaching. He referred to the steps Japan had taken during the last decade to improve the Japanese standard in sport, particularly in swimming and in athletics, by inviting top-notch performers from America. Finland, Germany, and other countries. In view of lhe fact that cross-country running was so popular in New Zealand. Murakoso considered it a great pity that 5000 and 10,000 meters events were not included in some of the pro grammes for the track meetings, said Mr. Kurosawa. Murakoso thought New Zealanders were at. their best over the long distances ami lin'd everything to i aid them, including shape of legs, phy- | sique. and climate.