Brilliant Japanese Gymnastic Display

Gisborne audiences were treated to a display of gymnastics as never seen before in the city when the representative Japanese gymnastics team presented a series of exhibitions in the Y.M.C.A. stadium as part of their 32-day tour of New Zealand.

Leading the team was the brilliant triple Olympic gold medallist and world champion, Takashi Ono, whose fantastic agility and muscle control left the audience spellbound as he performed incredible feats on the various pieces of equipment.

Ono was ably supported by two others, Shojiro Ishida and Miss Mitsuko Kandori, who enhanced the display with equally impressive performances.

Accompanying the trio was top-line Japanese coach, Tsutomu Morihata, who conducted instructional classes for local gymnasts.

World champion on the horizontal bar, Ono climaxes his performance by flying through the air from the bar to the mat below.

Ishida does a hand-stand from the horizontal bar

An amazing feat of muscle control performed by Ishida on the parallel bars

Grace and control on the balancing beam by Miss Kandori.

A one-handed hand-stand on the parallel bars was feature of Ono's display

Ono on the Roman rings

Muscles straining, Ishida adopts an incredible position on the Roman rings

Coach Morihata was taking a group of Lytton High School pupils for a strenuous course of exercises when "Photo News" visited the stadium. Pictured taking part are Milton Smith, Richard Smythe, Jim Croskery, and David McLatchie.

Milton Smith doing a somersault over six of his team-mates, under the supervision of P.T. instructor Mr L. C. Lewis.

Led by Morihata, Milton Smith, Wade Grave, and others skip around the stadium.

Previous article Issue contents Next article

The Gisborne Photo News

No 114 : December 5, 1963

Brilliant Japanese Gymnastic Display