LONDON, May 20 (News On Japan) - A group of Japanese office workers known as the "Cheerimans" has advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious talent competition show Britain's Got Talent. The team, made up entirely of former members of the Waseda University cheerleading squad, is now aiming for the top prize on a global stage.
Cheerimans, also dubbed the "flying suits" squad, first appeared on the show in January and successfully passed the audition round. Just two years after their formation, the group has reached the semifinals of one of the world's most-watched talent shows.
The 36 members all hold full-time jobs during the week and dedicate their weekends to high-energy cheerleading performances. Collectively, they boast over 520,000 social media followers, and their videos have surpassed 185 million views.
"The fact that they work full-time and still give it their all in cheerleading—it’s really energizing," said one fan. "Just watching them lifts your spirits."
The group’s long-held dream had been to perform on Britain’s Got Talent, and advancing to the semifinals brought them one step closer. With limited time, they quickly organized a training camp over the weekend to prepare for the new judging system. Unlike the audition round, the semifinals are broadcast live and include audience voting. Out of 40 acts, only 10 will move on to the finals.
With "fun" as the theme for their routine, the Cheerimans focused on three performance highlights: a barrage of high-flying acrobatic stunts, engaging comedic choreography, and ending with their most difficult move—an aerial twist called the "X Twist 2".
This move involves forming an X shape midair and twisting while reaching the second tier of a stunt formation, a highly technical maneuver. The responsibility for pulling it off fell on Taniguchi, who said, "Landing the X Twist 2 is my main goal this time." At practice, he had an 80% success rate.
Even during meals, the group kept spirits high with TikTok-style jokes and hearty meals. After two days of intensive training, it was back to their regular jobs. Taniguchi, who works at a major corporation managing commercial facilities, expressed mixed feelings about taking time off during the critical mid-year business period. "It felt like bad timing, but everyone at the company knows about us—from the executives to the president. They’re all rooting for us to win," he said.
With the final preparations complete, the team departed for London, where they held practice sessions in a local park. However, an unexpected challenge awaited at the actual venue: a 40 cm bump in the center of the stage, which could interfere with their choreography. That night, the team adjusted their formations and held a late-night strategy meeting to recalibrate their routine.
By the next day, after fine-tuning their stunts and boosting morale, they resumed practice. A high-speed camera showed that their early acrobatic moves had the necessary height and distance. Still, the final move—the X Twist 2—was inconsistent, with a success rate dropping to about 40%.
Taniguchi revealed he had been battling pain in his left leg, but remained determined: "All that’s left is to trust our training and go all out."
As the audience gathered for the live broadcast of the semifinals, tension and excitement filled the venue. The group launched their routine with a powerful leap over stage lights, dazzling the crowd with synchronized acrobatics and playful movements. When it came time for the climax—the X Twist 2—Taniguchi successfully executed the move despite a slightly shaky landing. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.
"The way they turned the daily life of salarymen into a dance performance was brilliant," said one viewer. "They were my favorite group." Another added, "It was amazing that they were dancing in suits."
During the results announcement, only three out of eight acts were selected for the final round. Although the Cheerimans placed third and narrowly missed the cutoff for the finals, they remained positive. "Of course we’re disappointed, but we gave it everything we had," said one member. "This isn’t the end—we’re not giving up."
Their determination and high-level performance received strong praise in the UK, and the Cheerimans’ challenge is far from over.
Source: TBS
