Topic: Media
"I want money, I want to be popular and adored but what I want most is to build a 'Walking Paradise'"
Walking craze gathers pace across Japan
APF / 02 March 2004 1245 hrs
TOKYO: The flailing arms, high kicks, twists and crouches may look eccentric, but the walking style of exercise guru Duke Saraye is sweeping Japan with its unique mix of yoga, ballet, aerobics and other Oriental and Western ideas.... The moves, which would doubtless win approval from legendary British comedy group Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks, include energetic high-stepping, leg swinging and shoulder rolls, as well as flowing hand movements .... flung their arms in the air, chanting "Pink, gold!"....Saraye, whose real first name is Takuya but is better known as "Duke," claims to be a descendant of a mountain ascetic who served Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339).