Let's Go Jets! by Encore Films

“We’ll win in America!” Nobody in school believed teacher Yuko Igarashi when she told them about this impossible dream she had envisioned for the school’s cheer dance team. In March 2009, the impossible was achieved when Jets of Fukui Commercial High School emerged champions for the first time in the Large Varsity Team Performance category at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Championship in the United States. Jets clinched the trophy again in 2011, and has been four-time consecutive champions in the International Team Performance category since 2013.

Producer Takashi Hirano, charmed by the Jets’ exuberant performance at the 2015 competition, decided then to put this small-town team’s inspirational journey on the big screen. The team was initially a baton performance group, before Igarashi reformed it in 2006 to become a cheer dance team. On the team name Jets, Igarashi said: “Three years of high school is short, and similar to jet propulsion, the school hopes to groom world-class students during this short period.”

She sought the help of Chiyo Maeda, the representative chairman of the Japanese Cheerdance Association who had led another Japanese high school cheer dance team to victory, to train the Jets. Maeda also did the choreography for LET’S GO JETS!, and is played by actress Hana Hizuki 阳月华 in the film. Yuki Amami 海祐希, who was voted ‘Most Ideal Female Boss’ for six consecutive years in Japan, was chosen for the role of the teacher.

The one and only choice for the lead role within the Jets team, for producer Hirano, was the spirited, young starlet Suzu Hirose 广濑铃, because “her smile leaves a great impression”. Ayami Nakajo 中条彩未, who is a highly sought-after commercial model, was chosen for the role of pretty, intelligent cheer dance team leader. Cheer dance is the dance aspect of cheerleading, which excludes tumbling and stunts. It consists of four aspects, namely pom dance, jazz, hip-hop and line dance.

Like the actual Jets team in the beginning, the cast are all inexperienced dancers, but instead of three years, the young actresses had to master all the moves in six months. They started off with the basics such as postures, standing positions, leg positions and stretches. Similar to her character Hikari, Hirose is also quite inflexible, but to do well in her role, she practiced aerobics and took dance classes for six hours every day, even during her own down time at home.

To show their support, the Jets team and Igarashi flew down from Fukui to Niigata to visit the cast and crew on set, and also gave a special performance that warmed everyone’s hearts after the tiring filming. In June last year, the cast and crew flew to San Diego to film the final competition scene. Said producer Hirano: “This is a story about winning in America. If we don’t film in America, there’d be no meaning!

Besides, the cast had put in a lot of hard work for their dance performances, so let this be their reward.” Staged at the San Diego State University, the production team also invited the top cheer dance team from Kansas to be a part of the filming. When the Jets’ victory is announced during a scene, the actresses shed real tears of joy, for all the hard work and good times they spent together for the past six months.

Genre: Comedy 

Language: In Japanese with English and Chinese subtitles 

Runtime: 121 mins 

Rating: PG

 Trailer: 

Exclusive interview:

Hirose Suzuki

1) What do you like most about your role this time? Please tell us the reasons.

There is a sense of desperateness in the character, and it represents a stage of youth. Looking at the character, I loved it and there was parts resembling myself. It was really interesting and I like it very much.

2) For people who would like to join cheerleading group in their schools, do you have any message for them?

Cheerleading is powerful, beautiful and full of charisma. I think it is not inferior to any kind of sports. Through the experience, you will also become stronger, and it adds on to your character. I think it is definitely worthwhile to join cheerleading! Please show your smiles to the many audiences who will be watching you!

Ayami Nakajo

1) Within a short span of half a year, what motivates you to learn dancing?

I want to become good in dancing! With the people who are getting better and better everyday, I do not wish to loose out to them. I have this strong feeling, and I do not want to loose.

2) What is the most difficult part during the learning of cheerleading?

Maintaining my smile from the very beginning to the very end. 

We have 2 pairs of movie pass to giveaway:

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3. Closing date : 16 March 2017, 23:59pm. 
4. Winner will have to be based in Singapore for tickets to be mailed to you.