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Japan Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Osaka granny idol group Obachaaan is here to cheer you up in newest song 'Overpower'
By Krista Rogers, SoraNews24 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 Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Osaka's aged idol group Obachaaan still on fire, also helping prevent fires -- YouTube goes crazy for 'Bubbly' high school girls' amazing retro '80s dance routine 【Video】 -- Osaka Obachan are here to rock your world, make sure you don't go hungry External Link © SoraNews24
Japan Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Japanese Bake Cheese Tart chain reopens with an even cheesier menu of sweet cheese treats
By Krista Rogers, SoraNews24 Given the relative lack of cheese choices in a typical Japanese supermarket, it's easy to forget that Japan can make some really good cheese-based desserts. From the cat-shaped Neko Neko Cheesecake to Criollo's Phantom Cheesecake – heck, even Starbucks' Baked Cheesecake Frappuccino a few years back–we've never encountered a cheesecake that we didn't like there. Cheese confectionary specialty shops even exist, too. For instance, the first Bake Cheese Tart shop opened its doors in 2014. Beginning on April 12, locations of the chain within Japan have rebranded under a revamped image that's sure to make cheese lovers everywhere have an un-brie-livably gouda day. From here on out, the store won't just sell its classic cheese tarts, but has expanded to offer a variety of cheese-based sweet treats. We finally got a chance to swing by a location to see the new menu for ourselves on a recent day. Specifically, we stopped by the shop inside of JR Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture. The exterior of the shop was painted in a lovely lilac blue color. It was clear that the chain is really leaning into the rebranding angle, using fancy, literary-sounding words in its advertisements, too. Its logo is also simple yet stylish. The display case was a feast for the eyes in itself, featuring standard freshly baked cheese tarts as well as rotating, limited-edition versions such as the Milky Matcha Cheese Tart and the Rich Blueberry Cheese Tart that will be available until the end of this month. Our mission, however, was to sample the three permanent cheese tart fixtures on the menu. We were especially eager to try the new Burnt Caramel Baked Cheesecake Tart (351 yen), which made us salivate simply from the sound of it. The heavenly, rich aroma of burnt caramel over a bed of Hokkaido-sourced cream cheese mousse wafted from the cake. Taking a bite, it was an exquisite balance of crispy crust and soft interior. The slightly bitter caramel also added the perfect accent, making it a divine treat for grown-ups. Next, we couldn't help but lap up the sight of the new Milky Mascarpone Cheese Tart (351 yen) with our eyes. Made using Hokkaido-sourced mascarpone cheese, this tart has an elegant, petal-like outer contour. In contrast to the bitter edge of the previous tart, this one consisted of an overall milky flavor with a gently sweet milk sauce and an incredibly smooth texture with just the right amount of crunch from the crumble topping. It was a light but fully satisfying dessert. Finally, we couldn't pass up a chance to sample the beloved Original Cheese Tart (250 yen), which hasn't undergone any changes in the midst of the brand's renewal. It also still remains the brand's No. 1 most popular menu item. We have to say – we have absolutely no problem going back to the basics in this sense. The original tart was soft, delectable, and perfection in a tart. It seems like the ultimate comfort food for when you need a little pick-me-up. By the way, baked goods aren't the only thing on sale at Bake Cheese Tart. For instance, you can also enjoy this soft serve ice cream (6.5 swirls!) as featured on the Japanese talk show Matsuko no Shiranai Sekai. In addition, boxed cheese cookies and souffle cakes make perfect small gifts for friends or yourself after a long day. A list of all Bake Cheese Tart locations can be found on its official website here. Beginning on June 1, the store will also swap out its current limited-edition flavors and will begin selling Chocolate Banana Cheese Tarts and Honey Lemon Cheese Tarts. Reference: Bake Cheese Tart, PR Times All images © SoraNews24 Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Randy's Donuts opens first-ever branch in Japan, brings L.A.'s donuts to Tokyo【Photos】 -- Mini Japanese cheese tarts from Pablo are the sweets we've all been searching for -- How to customise Starbucks Japan's Baked Cheesecake Frappuccino and give it the taste of tiramisu External Link © SoraNews24
