In the long 64-year history of the Kobe University Cheering Squad, a group of students typical to Japanese universities who are dedicated to supporting the university’s sports teams and promoting school spirit, only two women have served as captain for an entire year. KAWAMURA Manana, the captain of the 64th captain and a senior in the Faculty of Letters, has been leading the squad and conducting cheerleading activities since January 2024. She quietly fuels her fighting spirit as she prepares for the “Shōyōsai” festival in December, which will be her final performance.

Leading the cheer squad in a suit

Kawamura leads a cheerleading squad of nine members. The entire cheering squad, including the brass band, comprises approximately 140 members. The cheering squad is divided into two groups: leaders and female cheerleaders, with Kawamura being chosen from the cheerleaders. Traditionally, the cheer captain, selected from the leaders, wears a school uniform with a standing collar (“gakuran”). However, Kawamura sends her cheers dressed not in a gakuran, but in a suit.

The cheering squad has two busy seasons each year, in spring and fall. During the league matches of various athletic clubs such as baseball, American football and lacrosse in March, April and September, they may go out to stadiums and sports fields up to 15 days a month to cheer for their school teams. The captain delivers cheers before and after the games to boost the morale of both the players and the crowd. Kawamura, however, takes it a step further. After sending cheers in her captain’s suit, she changes into her cheerleader uniform during the games to cheer on the players, embodying a dual role in her support.

When people think of a cheer captain, they often imagine a burly figure, but the slender Kawamura, standing at 162 cm, presents a stark contrast. In her everyday life, she’s just like any other university student on campus. However, once she dons her suit, she transforms into a dignified cheer captain with an authoritative voice and commanding choreography. She has also taken the stage at university events such as entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and the Homecoming Day ceremony at the end of October, delivering cheers to new students, graduates and alums.

Reluctant to take on leadership, yet chosen

When Kawamura entered the university in 2021, it was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall of her first year, when in-person classes resumed, a senior she was close to encouraged her to join the cheering squad. In the summer of her third year, while discussing with her classmates whom to recommend as the next cheer captain, Kawamura, who had joined the cheering squad the earliest, was chosen to take on a leadership role.

In fact, Kawamura had avoided leadership roles ever since she was traumatized during her time as a leader in her middle school’s brass band, where she struggled to effectively guide members who didn’t practice. Reflecting on that time, she shares in her husky voice strained from cheering, “I think the study abroad plans of my peers also played a role, but perhaps I had the strongest passion for cheering.”

Cheering squad’s hiatus and revival

The cheering squad, now actively engaging in various activities, faced a period from 2015 when it had zero members and was forced to take a hiatus for about three years. The 59th captain, MIYAWAKI Kenya, took it upon himself to revive the squad single-handedly. Reflecting on the history of the squad’s hiatus and revival, Kawamura says positively, “I think it was actually a good opportunity. Recently, cheering squads at various universities have been experimenting with what values need to change and what core spirit must remain unchanged. For Kobe University, the hiatus allowed us to create many new things, which might have been beneficial in that regard. We must skillfully balance the traditions we want to uphold with the changes we need to embrace moving forward.”

As she approaches the one-year mark since becoming captain, Kawamura reflects on the challenges she has faced. One of the most difficult aspects was the initial struggle to decide on the direction of their cheering activities right after her appointment. Additionally, with the hiatus causing a break in the handover from previous seniors, the current leaders had to make many decisions on their own. “We can’t just stick to routine in our cheering style; we need to give meaning to each action we take. For example, in baseball, our cheering must match the situation, whether it’s a crucial moment where we might score or a critical defensive play,” she revealed, showing her diligent and meticulous approach.

“Until now, due to my personality, I rarely consulted with others. But since becoming captain, I’ve started seeking advice from many people, including seniors and fellow students. I’m not the type to lead by example, but I’ve found that if I take the initiative, those around me also change,” Kawamura reflects on her 10-month tenure.

Specializing in arts, passionate about musicals

Born and raised in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, Kawamura is a true Kansai native. She describes her personality as easygoing, but she also has a competitive streak and tends to become deeply immersed in her interests. She started classical ballet at the age of three and continued through elementary, junior high and senior high school, and she still enjoys it as a hobby. She began playing the flute in junior high school and is currently a member of the Minoh Youth Band, which she joined in senior high school.

In the Faculty of Letters, she specializes in arts studies, focusing intensely on her love for musicals. Her hobby is also watching musicals. “The Phantom of the Opera” is her favorite, and she enjoys comparing the original novel to the musical to see which parts have been adapted. She meticulously examines which dialogues have been turned into songs and analyzes the effects this transformation creates. As she prepares to write her senior thesis, she is approaching a critical phase in her academic journey.

Approaching the final performance in December

On December 21, Kawamura and her fellow 64th-generation leaders will host the “Shōyōsai” festival at the Cultural Center in Kobe’s Nagata Ward, marking it their final performance. They will express their gratitude with cheers to the athletic club members they have supported, cheerleaders from other universities, and alums, culminating their tenure on a high note.

Next year, the cheering squad will celebrate its 65th anniversary. As Kawamura passes the baton in December, she offers some heartfelt advice to her successors: “When you think about it, a year is really long, and it would be tough if you stayed on edge the whole time. It’s important to do your best, but I hope you also find joy in what you’re doing. It might sound pretentious, but this is actually something a former captain told me,” she shares, sending a warm cheer to the next generation.