A Study on Hokorensyu-Nokai in the Taisyo Era
　　　　　　　　　of the Elementary School attached to
　　　　　　　　　Nara Women's Higher Normal School

　　　　　　AkisatO SUZUKI (Okayama University of Education)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Abstract

　Hokorensyu of the elementary school attached to Nara Women's Higher Normal School is a
sports event that was begun by Takeji Kinoshita (1872― 1946), head manager of the school.
Hokorensyu was held on the last eleven days of January every year. The first nine days were
called Mikasayamanobori, and the last day was called Nokai. Mikasayamanobori was training
for Nokai, a walking race of about 46km.
　The purpose of this paper is to describe Nokai in the Taisyo Era. The point that the author will
describe in detail is how the approximately 46km. walking race was held. The approach em-
ployed in this paper was a descriptive analysis of the management and the style of the course in
this walking race.
　The results of the research are summarized as follows!
1 ) In 1922 the course of Nokai was constructed parallel to the railway line taking care of the
safety of students. This course was the same as the round trip railroad line from Nara to Kyoto.
2) In 1923 the course of Nokai was the same style as the previous year, but the route was changed
from Nara to Osaka. However, this round trip course was confronted with several problems such
as distance, resting places, and the participants1 retention of motivation,
3) In 1924 the course of Nokai was changed to a circular course making use of the development
of the railways network in the suburbs of Nara. This circular course was called Minamiyamato-
ichijun and was used for twenty consecutive years. The problems of the previous course men-
tioned above were thus solved.
　As a result, the major characteristics of this walking rase were established as a circular course
along the railway loop. The reason that this course was realized is that a railways network was
developed to transport tourists in the suburbs of Nara. The Unebi Line, between Saidaiji and
Kashihara Shrine, opened by Osaka Denkikido Railway Corporation in March, 1923, was major
factor in the creation of a round course. The development of this railways network, in addition,
was promoted by two factors! one is the industrial growth in the Taisyo Era, and the other is the
development of the railroad under private management brought about by the wartime boom of
world war I.