Maehata Ganbare Day

What Is Maehata Ganbare Day?

August 11th is "Maehata Ganbare Day," also called "Ganbare Day" ("ganbare" means "go for it!"). On this day in 1936, Maehata Hideko (1914-1995) won the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the Berlin Olympics, becoming the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal. The day was established by the Maehata Hideko and Furukawa Masaru Commemoration Committee of Hashimoto City, Wakayama Prefecture, her hometown, and was registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 2023. Its aim is to pass on her achievement to future generations.

"Maehata, Ganbare!" Heard Across Japan

The race was broadcast live on NHK radio.

• 23 "Ganbare"s: Announcer Kasai Sansei is said to have shouted "Maehata, ganbare!" 23 times and "Maehata won!" 12 times, a passionate call still remembered as part of broadcasting history.
• A midnight broadcast: In Japan it aired late at night, and since the scheduled start time of midnight had passed, Kasai reportedly began with the words "Please don't switch off your radio."
• A close race with a German swimmer: In the final, she battled Germany's Martha Genenger and pulled ahead to win.

The Road to Gold

• Learning to swim in the Kinokawa River: Maehata was born into a tofu-making family in Hashimoto Town (now Hashimoto City), Wakayama, and learned to swim in the Kinokawa River.
• Silver by 0.1 seconds: Four years earlier, at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, she won silver in the same event, just 0.1 seconds behind the gold medalist.
• Carrying people's hopes: She considered retiring, but encouraged by those around her -- including Tokyo Mayor Nagata Hidejirō, who urged her on because she had lost by only 0.1 seconds -- she kept competing and trained intensely.

Another Gold Medalist from Hashimoto

Furukawa Masaru (1936-1993), named in the committee that established the day, was also from Hashimoto Town. At Maehata's suggestion he focused on the breaststroke and won gold in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Both are honorary citizens of Hashimoto City, which holds the Maehata Hideko and Furukawa Masaru Memorial Swimming Meet every year.

How to Spend Maehata Ganbare Day

• Listen to the "Maehata Ganbare" broadcast or look at records from the time
• Say a word of encouragement to a coworker or family member who is working hard
• Look back on a time when someone's "ganbare" gave you strength
• Learn about the history of Japanese athletes at the Olympics

The Day One "Ganbare" Fired Up All of Japan

A gold medal won after the frustration of losing by 0.1 seconds, and a broadcaster who desperately shared that moment. August 11th is a day to feel once again the power of words that cheer someone on.