Photo= "Waterboys" by Yamashiro High School's swim team, who gave a perfectly synchronized performance (September 8, Kita Ward, Kyoto)

"Waterboys," a synchronized swimming performance by male members of the swim team of Yamashiro High School, was held on September 8, at the same high school, in Kita Ward, Kyoto. This year marked the 15th anniversary of the performance. Twenty-nine students successively showed their perfectly synced moves in time to approximately 20 songs, including J-pop and anime songs. The performance was the culmination of the school festival's finale.

Since the movie "Waterboys" released in 2001 inspired team members to propose doing the same, the synchronized swimming has been a regular part of the school festival. After the end of summer swim meets in late July, they devote themselves to practicing. Selection of music and choreography are all done by students.

Amid the shouts of "Synchro!" from about 450 student spectators, the male students in orange swimsuits dashed out to the poolside. They wowed the audience with their acrobatic performances, such as making a human tower, jumping in unison, as well as with comical movements harmonizing with anime songs.

Shuhei Hashiguchi, team captain and a third-year student, said with a radiant face, "We wanted give the best performance of these 15 years, so we took time off from our preparation for university entrance examinations to practice. We got a good result."