BY SOPHIE HIRSH From Mashable

When you picture cheerleaders, visions of high school, ponytails and movies like Bring It On probably come to mind.

However, in Japan, a dazzling cheerleading troupe called Japan Pom Pom is entirely made up of fabulous women who are all senior citizens.

Japan Pom Pom performing at the national cheerleading and dance championship of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo.

Fumie Takino, 84, founded Japan Pom Pom about 20 years ago. She told the AFP that cheerleading has helped her stay in shape and keep her mind sharp. “It blew my mind,” Takino said, about when she first discovered the sport.

Members of the middle-aged and elderly women cheerleading group “Japan Pom Pom” perform during the national cheerleading and dance championship 2016 of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo. Strutting her stuff in a gold-hemmed mini-skirt, white leather boots and shaking silver pom-poms, octogenarian Fumie Takino has discovered her elixir of youth — cheerleading. Takino and her troupe of spirited grannies tweak the nose of old age, even if their rambunctious routine to the song “Dreamgirls” leaves them painfully out of breath and their pink tank tops dripping with sweat.

Takino told the AFP that while the minimum age requirement for her team is 55, the average age is 70.

Shinko Kusajima, who is in her late sixties, hopes to join the squad. “When you get old, you keep losing friends,” Shinko Kusajima told the AFP. “But you always have mates here to share a good time.”

In  picture attached taken on March 26, 2016 84-year old Fumie Takino (2nd R), leader of middle-aged and elderly women cheerleading group “Japan Pom Pom”, and members perform during the national cheerleading and dance championship 2016 of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo. Strutting her stuff in a gold-hemmed mini-skirt, white leather boots and shaking silver pom-poms, octogenarian Fumie Takino has discovered her elixir of youth — cheerleading. Takino and her troupe of spirited grannies tweak the nose of old age, even if their rambunctious routine to the song “Dreamgirls” leaves them painfully out of breath and their pink tank tops dripping with sweat.

At this year’s national cheerleading and dance championship of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan, which were in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo, Japan Pom Pom performed an uplifting routine to Dreamgirls’ titular song.

God, I hope I’m thi cool in 50 years.

IMAGES:

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

AFP / TORU YAMANAKA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: “JAPAN-ELDERLY-CHEERLEADING” FEATURE by Harumi OZAWA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)
IMAGE: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Japan Pom Pom performing at the national cheerleading and dance championship of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo.
IMAGE: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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