I found it interesting how different things can be in two cultures. When one thinks of cheerleaders in the U.S.A., we associate the stereotypical popular female in high school. Kind of a symbol of popularity and femininity.
Although this kind of cheerleader also exists in Japan as it modernized and adopted more Western cultural practices, its traditional Ouendan (???) style of cheer leading is held by men and they were seen as masculine and cool.
Here is video of them at work. It usually involves shouting to a drum beat and intricate hand movements.
I also included this stark comparison within the "Nihontown" illustration.
Also filed under "Works in Progress" because this is the story behind the image.