Japanese salarymen find joy in cheerleading 

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​Description:  

From Monday to Friday, Satoi Mochizuki works behind a desk as a typical Japanese salaryman. But after hours, the former university cheerleader flips through the air as a founding member of Cheer Re-Man, an all-salaryman male cheerleading squad that is injecting some high-flying excitement into Japan’s typically buttoned-down business world. 

월요일부터 금요일까지 사토이 모치즈키는 전형적인 일본 샐러리맨으로 책상 뒤에서 일합니다. 하지만 몇 시간 후, 전직 대학 치어리더였던 모치즈키는 샐러리맨 남성 치어리더 팀인 '치어 리맨'의 창립 멤버로서 일본의 전형적인 비즈니스 세계에 높은 관심을 불어넣고 있습니다.​

Transcription: 

These men are flipping the script about Japan's stoic salarymen. 

Cheer Re-Man is an all-male cheerleading group that delivers infectious cheers... and high-flying acrobatics, all while, dressed in their business best. 

Satoi Mochizuki: We chose to wear suits for our performance because there’s this common image in Japan, and probably the whole world, of the typical salaryman in his suit, working day after day as a cog in society. And we thought it would be a good contrast for us to express ourselves through our performances, wearing suits and doing what we love with all our might. 

The men were former members of Waseda University's cheerleading team. Despite moving from classroom to cubicles, they managed to keep their love of cheer alive. 

SoichiroKakimoto: On weekdays, I use my brain and on Saturdays and Sundays, I use my body. Even if one isn't well, the other might be, and that's contributing to my overall mental health. 

The troupe’s high-energy routines have caught the attention of advertisers in Japan. Cheer Re-Man brought their skills to a Uniqlo campaign for the brand's stretchy suits. The group also competed in Britain's Got Talent, coming out 3rd in the semi-final. They also find time to perform on weekends before crowds across Japan. 

Satoi Mochizuki: We're all just regular salarymen. In my case, I work for a general trading company and I usually have to go out drinking after work and do overtime. After that, I head home and have meetings about Cheer Re-Man. When I have to go out drinking, I move the meeting to the following day. So, you can really say that I'm balancing this with being an everyday salaryman. 

이 남자들은 일본의 금욕적인 샐러리맨에 대한 대본을 뒤집고 있습니다.

사토이 모치즈키: 우리는 모두 평범한 샐러리맨일 뿐입니다. 저의 경우 종합상사에서 일하고 있는데 보통 퇴근 후 술을 마시며 야근을 해야 합니다. 그 후 집으로 가서 치어 리맨에 대한 회의가 있습니다. 술을 마시러 나가야 할 때는 회의를 다음 날로 옮깁니다. 그래서 저는 이것을 일상적인 샐러리맨과 균형을 맞추고 있다고 말할 수 있습니다. 

Questions: 

1. How do Cheer Re-Man’s performances challenge traditional perceptions of Japan’s stoic salarymen? 

2. In what ways do the group’s choice to wear suits during performances symbolize the contrast between their professional and personal identities? 

3. How has Cheer Re-Man’s unique blend of cheerleading and corporate culture gained attention from both the public and advertising industries?