Japan: Amusing Japanese TV

The first thing I see is a group of cheerleaders practicing (elementary-middle school age). Then they show the sport that they actually are cheerleading for.

Everyone starts in a line. There's a defense and an offense. The offense primarily has a bunch of nets and the defense has a bunch of huge Japanese traditional fans. A whistle blows and the offense runs to the other side while the defense takes strategic positions, one in front of a main offense player, we'll call the launcher, fanning his heart out. The launcher gets ready and throws his/her paper airplane over the defensive fanner; the launcher's teammate make a desperate effort to catch the airplane in their nets. If it falls, it's an Out (three outs and the round is over). If they succeed they get... a first down!

After the first down the positions are changed and the launcher has to throw a shorter distance (seems harder). Naturally, after the second and third downs, there's a Touchdown!

Very amusing to watch. They showed a coach talking to his team:

Coach: "Kami kami wa?" (Paper God is?)
Boy: "Omoshiroi!" (Interesting!)
Everyone laughs
Coach: "Iie, chigaimasu" (No... no... that's not right)
Coach: "Kami kami wa?" (Paper God is?!")
Everyone: "On our side!"

I actually got a video of it with my digital camera! Click Here to grab a video of this amazing sport!