Staying Healthy Through Japanese Dance

On December 5, residents at Keiro Senior HealthCare were among the first in the United States to experience NOSS, a new kind of dance and exercise based on classical Japanese dance movements. Approximately 100 residents gathered in the Activity Center to see the demonstration by Ukon Nishikawa, headmaster of the Nishikawa-ryu school of Japanese dance and creator of NOSS, which stands for Nippon Odori (Japanese dance) Sports Science.

Developed by Nishikawa and Professor Kagemoto Yuasa of Chukyo University in Nagoya several years ago, NOSS exercise and dance classes are currently being tested by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare as a form of preventative health care. Incorporating stretching, aerobics, and muscle movement, Mr. Nishikawa created the NOSS routine with physical rehabilitation and maintenance in mind.

“In Japan, NOSS is a senior activity aimed at preventing the need for nursing and supporting independence,” says Nishikawa. “We wanted to introduce it to Japanese people all over the world, and especially the seniors at Keiro, to help them stay physically and mentally healthy.”

At Keiro facilities, dance exercises have long been incorporated into recreational activity programs. In those exercise programs, residents move their bodies to familiar Japanese classic or folk songs.

“At Keiro, we provide a wide range of culturally-sensitive activities to stimulate seniors’ minds and bodies,” says Tak Oishi, administrator of Keiro Retirement Home. “Japanese dance is one of our most popular activities, and we appreciate Mr. Nishikawa for introducing yet another way for us to enhance the quality of life for our residents.”


If you would like information on supporting South Bay Keiro Nursing Home, please call (323) 980-7513 or e-mail donations@keiro.org.



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