Taiwan's most recognizable baseball cheerleading squad is crossing the strait for a marquee appearance at one of Japan's most iconic sporting venues.
Rakuten Group has confirmed that the Rakuten Girls, the official cheer squad of Taiwan's Rakuten Monkeys, will perform at Tokyo Dome on June 22 during a Pacific League matchup between the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Saitama Seibu Lions. The event, branded as the "Rakuten Super Nighter," marks another chapter in the growing cultural exchange between Taiwanese and Japanese baseball fans.
From Taiwan Series Champions to Tokyo Dome
The Rakuten Monkeys claimed the Taiwan Series championship last year, and their cheer squad has built a reputation that extends well beyond the ballpark. Taiwanese cheerleaders first caught Japan's attention through international competitions like the World Baseball Classic, where their precision choreography and high-energy performances set them apart. Since then, demand for their appearances in Japan has grown steadily.
The Performers: Who's Coming to Tokyo
The Rakuten Girls currently field a 27-member roster that includes Japanese nationals, though only a select group will make the trip for the Tokyo Dome event. Among those confirmed to perform are Ruo Tong, one of the squad's founding members; Ying Le, who brings an unusual backstory as a former lifeguard; and Yu Han, who spent roughly a year studying in Japan and is comfortable performing in Japanese — a detail likely to resonate with Tokyo Dome's home crowd.
A Soft Power Bridge Between Taiwan and Japan
The squad's Japan presence is not new. Last year, the Rakuten Girls appeared at events in Kumamoto Prefecture, a region in the spotlight following TSMC's major semiconductor manufacturing expansion there. Those appearances positioned the group as informal ambassadors for Japan-Taiwan people-to-people ties at a moment when that relationship carries particular economic and geopolitical weight.
The June 22 performance offers another opportunity to cement that role — this time on the biggest stage Japanese professional baseball has to offer. （Related： JR East, Itochu Create Joint Real Estate Firm Targeting $1.7 Billion in Five Years ｜ Latest ）
