Dateline

JAPAN’S CHEERLEADING GRANNIES.

REPORTER:  Dean Cornish

FUMIE TAKINO, CHEERLEADER (Translation):  Some people find Tokyo cold. In apartments you don’t know what your neighbours do. I think that is just how Tokyo goes.

In the world's biggest city, there are more than nine million senior citizens. Fumie is one of them, she's 86. Her generation places politeness and respectability at top of the agenda but Fumie is different. Tonight she is in a hurry and not letting anything get in her way. For Fumie, it's the best night of the week. Because it's cheerleading practice!

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): Japan Pom Pom is a senior cheerleading group.

Everyone in this squad is over 55. The average age is 70. It doesn’t matter if they’ve had a hip replacement or a heart bypass, all they need is a sense of rhythm.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): As long as you can dance normally, you’re okay. Sometimes, some people lack co-ordination. Apart from that there’s nothing. No height requirement. No need to claim you’re good looking, no requirements except the age.

Hello, is it the pizza shop?  A Margarita and a Quattro premium. See, all the Coca-Cola…and beer. Delicious!  Oh, it looks good!

Bad eating habits, booze and lycra bodysuits. Is she a granny behaving badly – or is she living life to the full?

REPORTER:  What did you imagine you would be doing in your 80s?

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): I didn’t think I’d make it to 80. I thought I’d die younger.  A beautiful lady dies young, as the saying goes.

Fumie was in her fifties when an unexpected event  turned her life around - her father passed away and she learned he was full of regret. She decided not to follow the same path - even if it meant going against the conventions of polite Japanese society.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): He passed away at 86.For the last six months or so he was bed-ridden. He had been saying he would enjoy his life until the very end, but then, he said his life was empty. He’d wake up disappointed he was still alive.  I thought I wouldn’t want to be like that, that is why I made a decision to walk out and lead my own life.

First she left her husband at age 52.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): Our relationship wasn’t working. I’d been putting up with it. I wanted to say at the end of my life “I’ve been happy. I’ve had fun. Thank you.”  So I left home.

Then she moved to the United States.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  I knew there were studies called gerontology in the US. So I went to the US to study, at the age of 53.  First of all it was so big. It was almost too big....They express their affections. Even old people do. I was so comfortable with their individualism, so I love the US.

For Fumie, America was full of new discoveries.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): It was a group called the Sun City Poms.  “Senior people can cheerlead!” I was so surprised.  “Why not in Japan?”  I thought.

The average age of the women in the Sun City Poms was 74 and their leader was Fumie's inspiration.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): I asked her what sort of music she used and what sort of dance they did, because I didn’t know anything about it. I asked her how I could start a group.  That was the beginning.

But audiences at home in Japan weren’t as appreciative as those in the United States.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): Well, 20 years ago, when our group performed, it was the first time in Japan. About a half of the audience didn’t like it. “Look at those old ladies showing off their legs.”  All our friends said it was good.  But probably...50 per cent of the audience, even more, I guess were disgusted because the Japanese expect old people to behave modestly.

Fumie just can’t understand why so many people criticise her and the group for showing a little skin.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): Since then, we’ve received many calls from the media. The first thing the TV crew did was to shoot only our legs and ask if we were embarrassed. Every single station shot our legs and asked if we were embarrassed. I found it shocking! They start with legs, idiots.

Over the last twenty years, the squad has gone from strength to strength, and last year Fumie achieved the once unthinkable, she led her group to the US Cheerleading Nationals as guest performers. The group will return to the United States early next year to perform and this time Fumie wants to push the squad with a more challenging routine.

REPORTER:  Is it very complex to learn the beats and the moves?

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  Once you learn it and it gets changed it throws you out. I love up-tempo music, I love quick movements, I can’t do them. But still…I seem to love trying what I can’t do.

To help them perfect the fast moves - Fumie has brought in a new coach with fresh, younger ideas. And they’ve upped the rehearsals to three times a week.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  Our first year we did weekly lessons, it was like a group of dementia patients but as we kept going… our level improved.  When challenged with a goal, people try to reach it. That's what I feel. 

Japan's population is ageing faster than any other country in the world. By 2060 – senior citizens will make up 40% of the population. In Tokyo's elderly mecca, Sugamo, also known as 'Grandma's Harajuku', people shop for old-age comforts. Clothing, traditional foods, and red underwear that is said to bring good luck. They also come to pray - perhaps for a quick and painless death. With so many people Fumie's age, in one street I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask what they think of Japan Pom Pom.

REPORTER:  So, what do you think of women in the 80’s dressing like this and dancing like this?

WOMAN (Translation):  How wonderful to do this at their age!

REPORTER:  Do you think this is appropriate behaviour for women in the 80’s?

WOMAN (Translation):  I think they are really stoic about themselves, I think that is good in a group. It is a different story if you did it by yourself. In a group it is fine.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  Did you hear we have got a new dance teacher? 

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   What is she like? 

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): She is so energetic.

Across town in the more youthful district of Shinjuku, Fumie is meeting her old friend, and former Japan Pom Pom member for lunch.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): The former instructor was… maybe I shouldn’t say this, not that enthusiastic.

Toshiko left cheerleading after an injury forced her to take up a more gentle form of dance.

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   Why don’t you belly dance?

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  I’m not cut out for belly dancing. Come on.

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   It suits you.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): No, no…

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   Put on dingle-dangles and beautiful things. But… so that you can seduce men.  She dumped her husband completely.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):   You too…

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   Once you become single you have many choices, believe me. No matter how old you are.

We set up for an interview in Shinjuku gardens, I had no idea what they were saying when we started filming.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): A lovely man is sitting next to us.

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   Yes, he is lovely. I might seduce him with my belly dancing.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  Really?

TOSHIKO MIOTA (Translation):   Yes, seduce him.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): I don’t care what other people say, that affects so many things. That’s the biggest thing I suppose. If you worry about what people or friends say you can’t do anything. Once you free yourself from that you can do anything you want. It’s good and bad, I suppose.  Anyway, that attitude is reflected in everything I do.

It’s the second rehearsal for the week and the squad is limbering up with the new coach.

MIKI NAGAMINE, DANCE TEACHER (Translation): I think it’s one of the solutions to the aging population. Not only does it keep them physically active to stay healthy, but it also offers a community to stay social. In that way, I think it’ll lead to a solution.

After a 2-hour rehearsal the ladies hit the pub.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation):  Every week our usual members gather and drink and eat and go home fatter!

It’s obvious the cheer squad all look up to their fearless leader.

CHEERLEADER (Translation):  She is my role model. I want to be like Ms Takino - so cheerful, positive and decisive.

A group of cheerleaders out on the town. 

REPORTER:  Who out of these guys can do the splits?

CHEERLEADER (Translation):   Do you want me to do it here?

It's inevitable they’ll attract some male attention.

REPORTER:  What do you think of ladies of such an elderly age doing this sport?

MAN (Translation): I think it is wonderful that there are people of that age still being active.

CHEF (Translation):  Women are stronger, explain for them. It is true in any part of the world.

MAN (Translation):  They are really amazing, I was so surprised.

Perhaps Fumie and her Pom Pom team have found the answer to long life and happiness. And the answer to Japan's old-age woes.

FUMIE TAKINO (Translation): No matter what it is or how old you are, I tell everyone to start something. Stop blaming your age for being unable to do this or that. Start something. It may change your life. That’s what I believe.