Salarymen work hard, cheer harder


Cheering through the grind: Members of Cheer Re-Man’s performing at ‘Cheer Up Japan’ in Tokyo. — Reuters

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.

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