Revolutionizing School Swimming with Science! A Swimming Education Reform for Beginners to "Float and Propel"!

Professor Koji Wakayoshi of Osaka University of Economics is partnering with the Otsu City Board of Education to introduce a new, science-based approach to school swimming. This initiative addresses numerous challenges, including the widening gap in students' swimming abilities, aging facilities, and the heavy burden on teachers, 70% of whom report anxiety about swimming instruction. The core of this reform is the "Flat Helper," a unique swimming aid developed by the professor. By wearing this device, which corrects the body's center of gravity and buoyancy, even beginners can naturally maintain a horizontal posture in the water. This allows students to quickly master floating and breathing, enabling teachers to smoothly transition to teaching swimming strokes. A practical training session for teachers in Otsu City is scheduled for May 26, 2026, to disseminate this method.