Fumie Takino, 79, is the founder of the Japan Pom Pom cheerleaders, a group of 28 women, with an average age of 67, whose decades-defying energy would give any cheerleader a run for her money. Established in 1996, the group have now been performing wild dance routines to club music for 15 years.

They dress in matching sequined leotards and wigs and kick their legs in the air while swirling giant gold pom-poms in unison. But these women are very much individuals. Though none have formal athletic experience, encouraged by Takino they greet each new challenging routine with enthusiasm — and another set of pom-poms. That's something to keep cheering on! And you can you do so at their Charity Show to raise funds for Tohoku, which will be staged at Nerima Bunka Center in Tokyo on Nov.19 from 1:30 p.m.

Don't worry about what people think, especially when they disagree with you. People are often conservative. Even the young think that older people shouldn't wear miniskirts, go on dates or get tipsy. They assume that retirees don't fall in love or make love. Sadly, most children would rather see their widowed parents die alone than remarry. But who cares what they think? I don't. I just wanna have fun. And they should, too!