S8E5: Rajio Taisō; Or, How to Get Fit in a Time of War

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of Rajio Taisō on the daily lives of Filipinos during the Japanese occupation in World War II.

At seven o’clock on the dot, a high-pitched Japanese voice blared out from speakers and switched-on radios all across the archipelago. The program came on like clockwork, chirping in immediately after every station signed on for the day—a cheery signal of a brand-new day under Imperial rule. In wartime Philippines, Rajio Taisō was everywhere—schools, private companies, government offices, military camps. If you browse through pictures from World War II, you can see many pictures of dozens or even hundreds of citizens stretching and twisting in unison. But how was this radio regimen baked into the lives of ordinary Filipinos from all walks of life? Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/thecolonialdept Follow us on IG: @thecolonialdept Follow us on TikTok: @thecolonialdept Email us: thecolonialdept@gmail.com References: Jose, Ricardo Trota (1990). “The Tribune During the Japanese Occupation.” Philippine Studies, 38 (1), pp. 45-64. Griggs, Alyson (2020). There Were Children on the Battleground: Japanese and Filipino Youth in the Second World War [masteral dissertation]. Utah State University. Yamashita, Samuel (2023). “Understanding Daily Life in Wartime Japan, 1937-1945.” Education…

People in this episode

Host: Lio Mangubat

Topics covered

• Wartime fitness
• Japanese occupation
• Philippine history
• Radio programs
• Community exercises

Keywords

• Rajio Taisō
• Japanese occupation
• Philippines
• fitness
• World War II
• community exercises
• radio programs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rajio Taisō

Books & works: There Were Children on the Battleground: Japanese and Filipino Youth in the Second World War, Understanding Daily Life in Wartime Japan, 1937-1945, Radio Taiso: The Birth of Community Morning Exercises in the Philippines During the Height of the Japanese Occupation

Places: Philippines, Japan

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