Megumi Sawayama is a 10th-grader who won the championship in dance-twirl at the 27th All Japan Baton Twirling Competition. She has achieved the highest rank on the Japan Sport Baton Federation examination.

The art of the twirl

Local enthusiasts would like baton
twirling to be respected here as
a sport, the way it is in Japan

Prissy and frivolous are among the words that come to some people's minds when they think about students who trade study time for a majorette or cheer-leading uniform. While a film like "Bring It On" brought the sport of competitive cheer-leading into the mainstream, it's a long road to change people's mind-sets so they think of cheerleaders and their baton-wielding counterparts as athletes -- and not mere field decoration.

Baton-twirling performances Saturday: Noon to 12:30 p.m. at Windward Mall; 4 to 4:30 p.m. at Ward Warehouse. Free. May 1: Noon to 12:40 p.m. at Ala Moana Center; 4 to 4:30 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. Free. For baton-twirling classes: Call Baton Hawaii, 955-2565. Monthly fee is $45.

In Japan, though, it's a different story. Baton twirling is considered a sport, and majorettes are treated as athletes. Yasuko Hata brought the sport of baton twirling to Hawaii by starting her business, Baton Hawaii.

"Japanese twirlers have become well known among the sport-baton community in the world," she said through interpreter Tamae Radke. "I would like to see more young (local) students become familiar with baton twirling and to experience the joy of the sport. Baton twirling will teach young people to try new skills, patience, friendship, cooperation, concentration, satisfaction and the feeling of health and happiness."

Hata teaches classes at Sacred Hearts Academy and St. Patrick's School, and also offers public classes on Saturdays. Her students will demonstrate what they've learned during four mall appearances Saturday and Sunday.

She began baton twirling at the age of 7 under the instruction of Yoshiko Honda in Hokkaido, Japan.

"I was one of the first students of Honda sensei. There were neither competitions nor studios," she said. "We really started out from scratch. We often practiced with a marching band and made our own costumes. Our group was small, but we had great people who shared friendship and their dedication to make the baton twirling fun and successful."

Japanese competitors such as Sawayama set an example for local students from Baton Hawaii.

Honda also began studying baton techniques at a young age, after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Despite her grave prognosis, she managed to improve her health through the sport.

"Baton twirling is to make others happy," said Honda. "We want to show our loved ones how healthy we are, how happy we are and, most of all, to let people know how wonderful and joyful baton twirling is."

Honda now coaches the Japanese National Baton Twirling Team and manages 10 baton studios in Japan.

The girls learn all about teamwork early on, according to Hata. "We would share tricks and techniques," she said. "It was not easy, but I am glad now that I was able to learn such control and dedication."

According to Radke, Japan is one of the original "charter members" of the World Baton Twirling Federation, of which the United States Twirling Association is also a member, sanctioning 200 local, state and regional competitions each year.

USTA members are eligible for national titles, with performances adjudicated on an Olympic-level scoring system.

For Hata the thrill of baton twirling is reward in itself.

"Whenever I see a performance with Mrs. Honda's students, I get goose bumps from the excitement and knowing that behind the beautiful performance there were many hard practices with tears, frustrations and struggles."