Japanese grannies bitten by cheerleading bugCHIBA, Japan -- 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, 84, has spearheaded the group of more than 20 bubbly seniors for some two decades, founding the "Japan Pom-Pom" squad after being bitten by the cheerleading bug — despite it traditionally being the preserve of teenage girls — in her sixties. "You have to be 55 or older," Takino told AFP, referring to the qualification for joining her team, the average age of which is 70. Japan is renowned for its spritely pensioners: Women live for an average of 87 years and men to 80. "It blew my mind," said Takino, who immediately rounded up five friends to start her own troupe after first hearing about cheerleading.

Source: The China Post September 16, 2016 16:18 UTC