The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-08-17


With all preparations completed the Japanese swimming
team headed by Murayama accompanied by Diet membe
Professor Takizo Matsumoto left aneda by Pan American TO
California the 18th High hopes are carried by the swim
mes themselves and the whole country is looking
e setting new records in sport which before the
dominated by the United States and Japan
The feeling prevalent here Tokyo that since American
swimmers copped all top honors the London Oympics las
year this actually will decide the world champions in the aquatic
field.
Most of us here Japan probably many of you in thu
States first couldn't believe when Furuhahi first began
breaking all those records years Now wondern.
how he and the Others will show against the top swim
mers who will compete with them in the Olympic Pool
The swimmers repeatedly training under the super
vision of former Olympic Koke Maxine and Ys and arr
said to have gained close o pounds each
Much interest hinges whether AcI4ane and Smith will
compete in the Regardless whether Mclean who won
the 1900 meters in London last year completes or not the Jap
anese team pretty confident Of taking first and second place
lsll expert ON swimming of the Asahi Shimbun in a
forecast of the meet said that swimmers are not
even III the running and that will boil down to close fight
between Furuhash and Hashzme If Furhash can really
get INTO his stride Tsuji thinks record in the vicinity
minutes 81 seconds is possible
Hope is placed also Tanaka who recently swan the
1900 in 10 minutes 154 is better than any record
chalked up far except for Furuhasl and Haslzlme
The 400 meters, which America dominated at the Los An
gees Ompics in 1899 and which continued to dominate
the real test Smith years and his reported weight are
counted against him, and suj considers that Mcane who lost
to Smith at the London Oymp by seconds should
to watch.
furuhasms start is apparently not too fast but former
Olympic stars don't consider it black mark against him.
Mcane is expected by forecases here the at
~ minutes 20 seconds at his best and ism expected
chance against Fruasi whose best time minutes ii
ends llaizumes best time min 40 seconds and if ura-
completes in this the aforementioned two and
T1ngko .anon H. OIL
If things WELL Hamaguch Murayama are expected
to place one and two in the 200 meters but in the 100 the
Japanese swimmers not confident Hamaguch
main japanese hope and he expected fight
and Carter
Victory in the 800 meter relay is taken by Tsu as
gone conclusion with the japanese finishing about 80
meters or so in front of American team Last the
composed of Furuhasi Haslzume Hamaguchi Maxi
gotiated the distance in minutes AIS seconds Now with u
rayama replacing MAXI two seconds will probably be chop
ped off that meA rate hopes high that they will
world record in this event
Only time tell whether all these hopes justified
People here in Japan and the world certain
what the actual ability of the japanese of postwar
An interesting sideght the trip of swimmers to the
States the following story About week ago Tokyo papers
carried pictures of the swimmers being fitted for
are being made especially for the trip Immediately the papers
deuged with letters of protest about fasly
the suits
The officials charge counered by SAYING that when they
get to the States they will look dab in comparison
with the multcoored suits of the American competitors
by this little incident understand how much interest is
being shown in the first sports be
the
Written august 9, 1949