Kihiro Yuasa: As a Cheer Dancer, Heading to the Dream Stage of the NBA Finals

Yes. I entered the Faculty of Pharmacy and transferred to the Department of Applied Chemistry in the Faculty of Science and Technology in my second year. Since I was originally good at chemistry, I wanted to work on creating new medical treatments using technology in the future. Later, I transferred to the Faculty of Science and Technology where I could study in a field I was more interested in.

That's right. I had a strong interest in things like changing people's experiences or moving their hearts through my own efforts. That also connects to why I continue cheerleading.

I remember that class vividly. Professor Ushiba was trying to do new things with technology by facing people directly, and I was shocked that he was researching with the goal of social implementation beyond that. After hearing the lecture, I thought this was exactly what I wanted to do, so I changed labs for graduate school.

I think the excitement was greater. Rather than anxiety, I had the joy of thinking, "I can do things like this." Once I actually entered the lab, there were many difficult things too (laughs).

As soon as I entered, I joined the UNICORNS Songleaders, which operates as an independent officially recognized organization. My high school didn't have a cheer club, so I started as a complete beginner in dance.

Yes. I was chased by assignments and experiments; it was a battle of time and physical strength.

Time management was a given, but I also had the mindset that "doing both is what makes me who I am," so I made an effort to gain understanding from those around me to balance them. I shared with my cheer peers what kind of research I was doing so they would get interested, and I actively talked about cheerleading in the lab as well.

The members of the Ushiba Lab were all very lively. I was also inspired by how Professor Ushiba conducted research while building relationships with people outside. Since I could get inspiration from various people, I naturally felt like doing my best.

I often remember going to the cafeteria with everyone. It was a good environment where I could be stimulated by conversations other than research.

Since it's a lab that aims for the social implementation of technology on a foundation of basic research, there was a culture of thinking specifically about "this kind of plan" when talking about dreams. Because I had such colleagues, I think I acquired the ability to think "I will do this" and the power to execute it.

There were two points. One was being able to do work where I could move people's hearts by creating new experiences using technology. The other was being able to do cheerleading seriously. Since I wanted to aim for America eventually, I was conscious of creating an environment where I could balance work and cheer.

After receiving an offer from Panasonic, I passed the audition for the Gamba Osaka cheerleaders, and I told them from the beginning that I was doing cheer and was interested in American cheerleading. Because of that, I was grateful to be accepted as the "cheer person."

Since I was originally interested in the social implementation of technology, it was very rewarding to be involved in the actual sites where people use it. Being able to challenge myself with how to overcome the issues that arise there was also a blessed environment.

Since I was in a new business department, we often talked about trying to think of things we had never done before. For example, what would happen if we redefined our own home appliances with a completely new concept, or what kind of new functions would be good to add.

It wasn't something I could decide immediately, and I really agonized over it. While being prepared for the social situation and constraints, I ultimately chose cheer. I had made balancing research or work with cheer my duty since my student days, but I thought it would become difficult to take on a big challenge in cheer as I got older, so I finally decided to give cheer my all.

I was with Gamba Osaka for four years and served as captain for the latter two. At that time, I had the image of having fully completed what I really wanted to do.

The American cheerleading I learned about around then had a wide range of activities and was a social role model that contributed to the messaging of the region and the team. I felt that the J-League hadn't reached that level yet.

The reason I wanted to challenge myself in America was because I saw further potential for Japanese cheerleading. I wanted to know the local activities, learn the reality of the field, and ultimately contribute by applying those lessons to Japan.

I became interested when I learned that cheerleaders in the professional basketball league (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) have community contribution activities called "appearances." One reason I wanted to try for Gamba Osaka Cheer was that someone who had previously been active in the NFL was serving as the director. Having someone close by who could teach me about American cheerleading was very significant.

In addition to language ability and dance skills, obtaining a visa was difficult. I had to hire a lawyer myself and prepare the documents. I didn't know any lawyers, so I asked friends who graduated from the Faculty of Law or was introduced through cheer seniors. I realized the importance of human connections.

Before passing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, I had already been rejected by many teams. Since I had quit my job and come with determination, this period was very painful. I was in a situation where I had to do it with no way back, yet I couldn't move forward; that state continued for nearly half a year.

More than I can count on one hand. Announcements appear on social media or websites, but auditions are only held once a year per team. I was looking for and taking auditions for teams where the dates didn't overlap and that could fulfill the purpose of my challenge.

Indiana in the east and California in the west. There are no direct flights from Japan to Indiana, and there were accidents like a connecting flight being canceled and having to stay at the airport.

I was very nervous when the results were announced. The team announced, "We will announce on Instagram at [time] on [date]," and I just kept refreshing my smartphone screen. Eventually, the "This Year's Team Announcement" video started playing, but my name didn't appear at all. At the very end, "Kihiro" was displayed, and my emotions overflowed and I cried.

No, none of the teams do that. I had to analyze it myself, and when I failed, I had no choice but to analyze "I was lacking here" based on the movements of the people around me.

What I realized after joining the team is that there are overwhelmingly more activities in the community than games. We rarely perform dances at "appearances." We connect with the community in various ways, such as participating in local Chamber of Commerce events or visiting schools and hospitals to encourage people. I realized I could do much more than I imagined.

Yes. Performing dances at games is only a small part of the activities. Rather, what is required is how much you can connect with and energize the community as a representative of the team. In America, I felt that cheerleaders play a role as ambassadors for the team.

That was exactly what I wanted to learn in America, and in that sense, I think I was able to experience even more than I expected. The first appearance I participated in less than a month after passing was a networking event for the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and it was an eye-opening and valuable experience from the start.

Oklahoma is located in the central part of the U.S. and is an area with a large white population. In that context, Asian people would say to me, "I'll do my best too," or children would cheer with smiles. Precisely because I was in a minority, being able to give inspiration to the Asian people working hard there was a very significant experience.

To be honest, when I took the audition, I didn't imagine the Thunder would become champions. It's the only professional sports team in Oklahoma, and since it was the first championship in history, the whole city was really excited.

Everyone loves the Thunder, so the city gets excited whenever the team wins normally, but as we advanced through the playoffs, the whole city became obsessed with talking about the Thunder. Graffiti art increased in the city, restaurants served special menus, and everywhere you went was all about the Thunder. So many people gathered for the victory parade that I thought, "I didn't know there were this many people in Oklahoma!"

It was a moment where I could feel the city becoming one through sports.

It was an excitement beyond words. I myself felt a bit lightheaded, as if I were in a dream. Being able to dance in an atmosphere unique to the Finals—completely different from usual, with media gathered from all over the world and cheers roaring so loud it didn't seem real—became an unforgettable memory.

Even weeks after the Finals stage ended, the celebratory mood of the whole city continued. Everyone looked happy, and a positive aura was overflowing. I was approached a lot at appearances, and I think the distance with the fans shortened even further.

My ultimate goal is to bring back my experience in America and realize a vision in Japan where sports and the community become one. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to serve as the Cheer Director for the J-League's Vegalta Sendai starting in 2026. Vegalta Sendai was the team that first got me into cheerleading, and my heart is burning for this new challenge at my starting point. I want to use what I've learned to create a city where sports are more deeply rooted, from the perspective of cheer and sports entertainment in Japan.