Japanese 'salarymen' inspire with cheerleading acrobatics
TOKYO - It's a cold, wet morning and frigid air is seeping through the open doors of a college gymnasium in Tokyo. But that doesn't seem to worry Soichiro Kakimoto and 30 other young businessmen as they gear up for their weekend routine: cheerleading.
"Smile when times are tough!" shouts a tall man with an eager smile. The others -- all dressed in dark suits and ties --pump their fists and jam to the upbeat music that fills the space.
Their chants echo through the gymnasium.
"Yes you can! You can definitely do it! Go, Japan! Go Japan!"
The young men are all about spreading cheer through their eye-popping acrobatic performances, volunteering their weekends at shopping malls and other venues to entertain crowds.
Calling themselves "Cheer Re-Man's" -- a mash-up of "cheerleading" and "salaryman" -- the group, formed in 2023, is made up of alumni from the elite Waseda University's male cheerleading squad.
Their day-jobs range from real estate sales to marketing, and they balance their professional lives with their passion for cheerleading. For practice, the squad often borrows half the gym from a female college cheerleading team in exchange for biscuits.
From Monday to Friday, Kakimoto is the quintessential Japanese salaryman, commuting in crowded trains, working late and going out drinking with colleagues, wearing the stretchy navy Uniqlo suit that doubles as his cheerleading uniform.
"On weekdays, I use my brain and on weekends, I use my body. Even if one isn't well, the other might be, and that's contributing to my overall mental health," said the 23-year-old, who works at a software development company.
"If we, Japanese salarymen, can do what we're passionate about, then everyone else can keep chasing their dreams too."
The unusual sight of Japanese corporate warriors being launched 7 metres (23 feet) into the air in synchronised routines won them an online commercial spot to advertise the stretchy Uniqlo suits they wear for their performances.
The group also competed in "Britain's Got Talent", where they came third in their semi-final.
On a recent weekend, the suited men performed in front of a huge crowd at a shopping mall with gravity-defying stunts, human towers and infectious energy.
Yasuko Yamaki, a 61-year-old housewife who learned about the group three months ago through social media, was there to see the spectacle.
"In Japan, we're all going through a lot. Watching these salarymen putting in so much without giving up makes me cry," she said. "It's so inspirational." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Wales fan hospitalised after fall from stands during Belgium match
BRUSSELS - A Wales football fan was taken to hospital on Monday after falling from the stands during their World Cup qualifier against Belgium at King Baudouin Stadium. The unnamed supporter fell from the upper tier into the lower tier amid celebrations when Wales equalised with a third goal, according to the Football Association of Wales. "He was conscious and speaking and has now been taken to hospital for further checks," the FAW said in a statement, while no further details about his condition have been released. Belgium secured a late 4-3 home win against Wales, inflicting their first defeat under new manager Craig Bellamy, following a winning goal from Kevin De Bruyne two minutes from time. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Train service between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang to resume in June, says Russia
Passenger rail traffic between Russia and North Korea was suspended in February 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. PHOTO: REUTERS Train service between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang to resume in June, says Russia MOSCOW - Russia and North Korea plan to restart a direct passenger train service between Moscow and the North Korean capital Pyongyang this month for the first time since 2020, Russia's state-owned rail monopoly said on June 9. Russian Railways said it had agreed with North Korea's railways ministry to resume a twice-monthly service between the two capitals on June 17, a journey it said took eight days and which, at over 10,000km, was the longest direct rail journey in the world. Another service between Pyongyang and Khabarovsk, a Russian city close to China's north-eastern border, will restart two days later. The services will be operated by Korean State Railway, the state operator, and in the case of the Moscow-Pyongyang route will see a North Korean passenger railcar hitched to the regular Moscow-Vladivostok service and then re-attached to another train. Passenger rail traffic between Russia and North Korea was suspended in February 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moscow and Pyongyang have since ratcheted up cooperation, including in the military sphere since President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024. North Korea confirmed in late April that it had sent more than 10,000 troops and weapons to Russia to assist in its war in Ukraine, aid which proved crucial for Moscow in recapturing Russia's western Kursk region from Ukraine. The two countries already operate a passenger rail service between Vladivostok in Russia's Far East and Rason, a North Korean port city. The nations are also linked by freight rail networks, although Russia does not disclose the size of the cargo traffic. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italy not in a good place for successor, says sacked Spalletti
Luciano Spalletti took charge of Italy one last time on Monday, and while his side sent him off with a win, the sacked manager accepted that he isn't leaving the team in a great place for his replacement and has failed to improve them. Spalletti paid the ultimate price for a 3-0 drubbing in Norway on Friday as Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign was already compromised in their opening game, and an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova was not how he wished to bow out. "I'm disappointed with the result," Spalletti said at his final press conference. "I don't give back to those who come after me a great national team because we didn't play a great match tonight either. I was given the opportunity to work, I tried, I made mistakes and I even tried some experiments. "I try to learn everything in whatever I approach, I'm not convinced I'm the smartest one. I haven't been able to get the best out of these players and I have to take note of that." Spalletti announced his own dismissal on the eve of the Moldova match, which comes after less than two years in the role and included a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. While he never thought of resigning, he conceded he has failed to improve things. "If you agree to coach the national team like I did, then you have to find the solution. You can't hide behind the fact that you have few players, you start to find alibis," Spalletti said. "I did badly and in some ways it is right that I go home. But I didn't resign, because I think I can do better. But, if I am told that I am no longer the one, then I sign the resolution (of the contract). "I left the national team as when I found it, just as it is." Italy have yet to name his replacement, with Claudio Ranieri reported to be the first choice, and Spalletti was asked if he had any advice for his eventual successor. "I tried to shake things up when I arrived but then maybe it was worse from what we saw," he said. "You realise whether you did right or wrong only later, I tried some things and worked hard. "I wish all the best to the federation and to the new coach who will arrive." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
