In Tokyo’s Shinjuku Chuo Park, even a typhoon and heavy rain have not deterred Toru Utsumi, a 60-year-old management consultant known as Japan’s “dancing salaryman,” from performing spirited dance routines. Wearing a suit, red tie, and sneakers, Utsumi continues to captivate audiences with energetic displays reminiscent of classic musicals, standing out in Japan’s typically reserved corporate environment.

Utsumi has amassed a following of more than one million on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where he shares short videos that contrast sharply with Japan’s traditionally controlled and quiet public culture. His performances span a wide range of settings, from train stations and rooftops to castles and beaches. He dances to diverse music genres, including Buena Vista Social Club and J-pop, often incorporating acrobatic moves like cartwheels, splits, and butterfly jumps. To maintain variety, Utsumi catalogues over 1,000 songs, ensuring his routines rarely repeat.

Despite his popularity abroad, Utsumi has at times been criticized in Japan for his unconventional and exuberant style, with some viewing him as undisciplined or inappropriate for his age. Nevertheless, his international fans embrace his joyful approach—among them Italian lawyer Roberto Cimmino, who recently traveled to Japan and danced alongside Utsumi at Tokyo Station. Cimmino praised Utsumi’s videos as uplifting antidotes to pervasive global anxiety, describing him as a “joy machine.”

Raised in Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan, Utsumi experienced a somewhat unconventional upbringing, moving frequently due to his father’s work as a Lutheran minister. His dance interest began early, inspired by ballet performances at his family’s church, and grew through his youth in the 1980s amid Japan’s vibrant street-band and nightlife scenes. During this period, he embraced styles ranging from heavy metal to reggae, drawing inspiration from artists like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Professionally, Utsumi climbed the corporate ladder initially as a copy machine salesman before transitioning to management consulting, where he promotes empathetic leadership. In 2018, at age 52, he enrolled in dance classes to hone his skills, aligning with a growing social dance trend among Japan’s middle-aged and older populations.

Sachiko Nagatomo, one of his dance instructors, highlighted Utsumi’s improvisational flair and ability to deeply engage audiences despite challenges in adhering strictly to choreography, crediting his success to his “completely funky and free” style.

Utsumi began sharing dance videos online in 2023, committing to frequent postings as a form of self-discipline and improvement. His public presence has since expanded to commercials and short films, though he keeps his performances largely separate from his consulting work. Colleagues accept his dancing as part of his personality, while many clients remain unaware of this creative side.

Although he still experiences nerves when dancing in public, Utsumi quickly disperses into the crowds after recording. He does not harbor ambitions to instigate broad social change but hopes that his visible enjoyment encourages others to pursue their own interests.

“If people see me having fun and decide to try something themselves, that’s enough,” he said.