Tokyo: A 60 year old Japanese management consultant has gained an international following through social media videos in which he dances in public and challenges expectations surrounding corporate culture in Japan.
Toru Utsumi, a management consultant, spends his days off recording dance videos he shares on TikTok and Instagram.
His content has attracted more than one million followers across the two platforms, with audiences responding to his performances and his departure from the behaviour traditionally associated with Japanese office workers.
Utsumi's videos often contrast with Japan's workplace culture, where discipline, professional conduct and adherence to social expectations are widely emphasised.
However, his performances have also attracted criticism from people who consider his behaviour inappropriate for someone of his age and profession.
According to The New York Times, Utsumi has faced comments describing his dancing as undisciplined and attention-seeking, while others have questioned whether a 60 year old office worker should perform in public.
Utsumi acknowledged that his activities set him apart from other professionals in Japan.
"I know I stand out," he told The New York Times, explaining that performing this way was difficult for someone in a conventional corporate role.
Despite criticism at home, Utsumi has built a following outside Japan, where his videos have attracted viewers drawn to his approach to dance and self expression.
Some followers have travelled thousands of miles to meet him and join him in dance videos.
His growing popularity has also highlighted the contrast between Japan's corporate expectations and the forms of expression social media enables.
Utsumi continues to work as a management consultant while producing videos in his free time.
His online presence shows how social media platforms can draw international attention to individuals whose activities differ from the expectations tied to their professions and age.
