In Photos: Cosplayers animate 2025 World Expo venue in Osaka
A visitor to the 2025 World Expo in Osaka dressed as the official mascot Myaku-Myaku joins people for a commemorative photo, at the Expo venue in Osaka's Konohana Ward on April 25, 2025. (Mainichi/Takehiko Onishi)
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SoraNews24
6 hours ago
- SoraNews24
Osaka granny idol group Obachaaan is here to cheer you up in newest song 'Overpower'
When life gives you lemons, these Osaka obachan are here to 'give you that power.' Osaka's self-proclaimed oldest idol group, Obachaaan, released its first new song in six years this spring. With the average age of the members being over 70 years old, the group's name is a nod to the Japanese word for an older woman. The group originally formed 12 years ago, releasing its debut song 'Obachaan Theme' and dropping new bops every few years, often with an eye towards helping the community. In true Osaka fashion, the members wear flashy, animal-print shirts, sprinkle in words in the Osaka dialect, and move with a powerful flair, not letting age get in the way of their ambitions. The uptempo new song titled 'Overpower' is a song of empowerment which also incorporates a pun in the way that the word is pronounced in Japanese–'obapawaa,' which sounds like 'oba power.' As the group's first official release since the COVID pandemic, layered with general anxiety about the state of the world, rising prices in Japan, and so on, this time the members wanted to dispense words of encouragement (along with free candy) such as 'overcome every storm with a smile' in the lyrics. 77-year-old Eiko Funai, the main visual granny in the group with her trademark red waist scarf, shared, 'It's a song that can give anyone strength. We hope that you listen to this song when you feel down and cheer up.' Adding to that sentiment is producer Yusuku Hiza, who said, 'I thought that we need meddling and nagging old women like them in today's age.' ▼ 'Overpower' official music video Just check out this powerful earworm of a chorus, which you should repeat to yourself whenever you're feeling a bit blue: 'Overpower Obachaaan power Overpower We give you that power Overpower From Osaka Overpower Over the world' Another fun piece of trivia is that the dance moves for 'Overpower' were choreographed by Osaka-native Akane, the genius behind the famous Tomioka High School Dance Club's 'bubbly dance.' The music video is super fun as well, incorporating visual effects such as Eiko essentially making a Dragon Ball -style Spirit Bomb heart and a background of exploding rocks at one point (just in case you still needed convincing that the ladies are here to rock your world). While the release of a new song was long overdue in our book, Obachaaan is also being strategic with its timing since the 2025 World Expo is currently taking place in Osaka. In the words of the members, while the Expo ('banpaku') is great and all, they also hope that there will be an opportunity for them to perform at the 'obanpaku'–another pun on 'obachan.' We can only hope that the Expo organizers will take the hint so that the world can be showered with 'obachaaan power.' Source: Yomiuri Shimbun Top image: YouTube/オバチャーン Obachaaan Osaka granny idol group ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Temple in Kyoto Pref.'s Uji Features Artwork of Myaku-Myaku Made with 800 Hydrangeas
The Yomiuri Shimbun An image of Myaku-Myaku made with about 800 pots of hydrangeas is seen at Mimuroto Temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. UJI, Kyoto – A hydrangea artwork in the shape of Myaku-Myaku, the official character of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, is being featured at Mimuroto Temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The artwork will be at its best until this weekend. Every year, the temple uses a popular topic as the pattern for the artwork, and this year, with the hope that tourism in the Kansai region will be boosted, Myaku-Myaku was depicted using approximately 800 pots of red, white and blue hydrangeas. Many visitors took pictures with their smartphones on the stone steps in front of the main hall. 'I wondered what it was from the entrance, but when I got closer, I was surprised to see Myaku-Myaku,' said a 37-year-old woman from Kanazawa who visited with a friend.
The Mainichi
8 hours ago
- The Mainichi
The Mainichi News Quiz Answer for June 5
Why has Tomiyo Yamada, nicknamed "Expo lady," made headlines at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai? A) She designed the official Expo mascot. B) She visited every pavilion in just 46 consecutive days. C) She works as the oldest volunteer at the Expo. D) She introduced traditional Aichi cuisine at the Expo. Correct Answer: B) She visited every pavilion in just 46 consecutive days. Tomiyo Yamada, a 76-year-old woman nicknamed "Expo lady," made headlines by completing visits to all pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai in 46 consecutive days since its opening. Yamada is widely known for her dedication to attending Expo events, previously visiting Expo 2005 Aichi every day and attending subsequent Expos abroad in Shanghai and Yeosu, South Korea. She now aims to visit Expo 2025 on all 184 days until the event's conclusion on Oct. 13.
