According to Reuters, Japan expects over a quarter of its citizens to be age 65 and over by 2015. This estimate might explain why seniors are cheering themselves young again. Waving gold pom-poms and bouncing to the rhythm in shiny red sequined costumes, the silver wig wearing Japan Pom Pom Club is taking over. The 20 members of this elderly cheerleading squad have an average age of 66 and their years add up to a whopping 1,520. After practicing two hours a week and having performances at children’s hospitals as well as nursing homes, Fumie Takino, the 78-year-old leader and founder of the club mentions that her “main goal is to have fun. I started cheerleading when I was 63 and I think I can dance much better and have made some improvements. Anybody can improve even if you are old.”
This teams enthusiasm is catching on because in Tokyo’s bustling business district people have been dancing on a street every morning to the 1980s pop song “Mickey” for seven months as commuters rush by to work.