What began as a chance encounter in a karaoke bar in Tokyo has grown into a cross-cultural story of devotion that bridges Wisconsin and Japan through the Green Bay Packers.
The documentary film “No Packers, No Life” follows the journey of a fan group in Tokyo whose enthusiasm for American football rivals that of any crowd in Lambeau Field’s frozen stands.
The film’s creator, Wisconsin native Ty Morse, first stumbled across members of the Japanese Packers Cheering Team in 2017 while traveling in Japan for business. He noticed several people in player jerseys singing in a Shibuya karaoke bar, an unlikely scene for one of the most densely populated entertainment districts in Tokyo.
Intrigued, Morse introduced himself, learned about their organized fan club, and soon began documenting their gatherings. That spontaneous meeting set off a seven-year effort that would eventually evolve into a feature-length documentary.
The Japanese Packers Cheering Team represents a dedicated community that meets regularly to watch games, study team history, and share a sense of belonging rooted in a sport most of their neighbors know little about.
Morse has said that the commitment reminded him of the identity and loyalty that define Wisconsin’s football culture. Moved by their dedication, he arranged for two dozen members of the group to travel to Wisconsin to attend a home game in September 2017, where they experienced Lambeau Field for the first time. Subsequent visits over the following years strengthened the bond between the two fan bases.
Produced by Time Horse Productions, Morse’s Chicago-based company, and supported by Songwhale, an interactive technology firm he co-owns in Minneapolis, the film spans multiple trips across the Pacific.
The production required extensive translation work, travel logistics, and coordination with the team’s schedule. Morse financed the project himself, relying on a small crew that included colleagues with backgrounds in public broadcasting.
The film’s long timeline reflects not only the challenge of following its subjects across continents but also the complexities of editing, licensing, and ensuring cultural accuracy in the finished work.
“No Packers, No Life” premiered on October 17 in Marcus Theatres across Wisconsin, including locations in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, and La Crosse, as well as Gurnee, Illinois. Its debut coincided with the Packers’ October 12 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. That turned out to be the same opponent that marked the Japanese cheering team’s first in-person experience years earlier.
The documentary captures not only the fandom but also the emotional power of connection across distance and language. One of its most moving moments occurs when Masahiro Sugizaki, known among the group as Suh, finally meets his football hero, longtime Packers kicker Mason Crosby. The meeting, filmed during one of the group’s trips to Wisconsin, reflects the devotion that has defined the cheering team since its founding.
Crosby, who remains Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer and holds the franchise record for consecutive games played, stands at the center of a scene that encapsulates what Morse calls the heart of the story, the idea that loyalty and shared purpose can transcend culture.
The film’s tone blends travelogue, sports chronicle, and cultural study. Viewers follow the Japanese group through social gatherings and viewing parties in Tokyo, where fans stay up late to catch live broadcasts despite the time difference. The narrative also focuses less on celebrity or game highlights than on the friendships formed through a shared obsession with Wisconsin football.
Morse said the process of filming took far longer than he expected. Each visit to Japan required new coordination, from translators to permissions for filming in public spaces. The editing and licensing phase lasted more than a year, as the production team worked to secure rights for archival material and finalize subtitling for Japanese and English audiences.
Despite the scope, the project remained an independent production, sustained by Morse’s persistence and the cooperation of fans who volunteered their time.
Screenings in Wisconsin have drawn interest from both sports enthusiasts and cultural organizations. The release coincided with a period of renewed attention to international fan communities, and the film has been praised for illustrating how American sports can take root in unexpected places.
Audiences in Green Bay and Milwaukee have noted the respect and sincerity with which the Japanese fans approach a team most associated with small-town Midwestern pride.
Beyond its football theme, “No Packers, No Life” offers a glimpse of how identity can be formed through admiration and shared ritual.
For Morse, the story returns full circle — from a karaoke bar in Tokyo to a packed theater in his home state — reminding viewers that enthusiasm, no matter where it begins, can travel farther than any single game’s scoreboard.
AloJapan.com