Gaudy grannies of Japan's ‘most elderly idol group' are back
OSAKA—The Osakan 'obachan' are back with their first new song in six years, showing off more leopard print than fans can shake a cane at.
Obachaaan, whose 14 members average 72.5 years of age, bills itself as the most elderly idol group in the country.
Some members are also itching to perform at the Osaka Kansai Expo, a stone's throw from the group's home turf.
The group's name derives from the word obachan, meaning a middle-aged woman. Obachan of Osaka have a particular reputation for being brazen and meddlesome and rocking gaudy clothing.
Obachaaan was formed in 2011 as a seven-member group on a mission to liven up the world with the unique power of Osaka's fabulous obachan.
The group's seventh single, 'Overpower,' was released in March and rose to the 21st spot in the 'Weekly Usen Hit SNS Ranking' on April 2.
The music video, which is available on YouTube, shows the tireless grannies dancing up a storm, many clad in leopard-print tops, a signature outfit for Osaka's obachan.
To commemorate the single's release, a live performance was held in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in late March and in Osaka's Shin-Sekai district, the group's home base, in early April.
The choreographer 'akane,' who staged the prize-winning 'Bubbly Dance' routine performed by high school students in 2017, took 'Overpower' under her direction.
'(Meeting her requirements) was tough, but I now feel 10 years younger,' said Eiko Funai, 77, who has regularly performed at the center of the stage since the group's founding.
Hisako Uko, 78, another founding member, said, 'It's important to 'take it easy' as it says in the song's lyrics.'
Obachaan also released its first album to global audiences on May 1.
Producer Yusuke Hiza said Osakan obachan may be nosy and nagging, but they are needed in this day and age when people increasingly communicate through smartphones.
'I am hoping to see more cheerful obachan directly connecting people together,' Hiza said.
Currently, the group's members range in age from 63 to 82. Its YouTube videos have been viewed more than 3 million times.
Funai said her dream is to participate in 'Kohaku Uta Gassen,' the annual song contest broadcast on New Year's Eve on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK).
She added that she wants to perform at the Osaka Kansai Expo, which opened on April 13 and runs through Oct. 13, since 'Overpower' was released in time for the event.
'We have not been invited yet, but we might be because the expo will be open for a while,' Funai said.
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