足が速い[あしがはやい, ashi ga hayai] be fast; be a fast walker; be fast on one’s feet

Yesterday the person’s legs (ashi) were slow (osoi). Today is the opposite.

His/her legs/feet are fast. But not necessarily quick. Quick can be hurrying to do go or do something. Fast is speedy in this instance.

The only times I ever heard this expression used was when watching a foot race, something you can see a lot of even on Japanese televisions and at local or school athletic meetings.

Yeah, Japanese will watch marathon races on television the way Americans watch football or baseball games. There is the ekiden as well. This befuddles Westerners. Watching people run on television?! Yup, Japanese will do that.

Whereas some Japanese will see an American football game and wonder “Aren’t there any rules?”

Athletic meetings were started post-war to give neighborhoods and schools a diversion during the rebuilding of the country. And even though there is now much going on in the country, the competitions still take place…albeit sometimes not without a fight as busy parents think out loud “enough is enough.”

What do you think about athletic meetings and watching long distance foot races on television?