Right now, in the thick of youth

They took the stage at the Okinawa International Movie Festival just five months after forming. Two months later, they performed alongside BEGIN, and in October, they held a street live performance on the bustling Kokusai Street, packed with tourists. The momentum of this chorus group of grandpas and grandmas, with an average age of 70, shows no sign of stopping.

Beyond these vibrant activities, they consider visiting local schools and senior care facilities to deliver energy and courage through song an equally vital role. They have performed songs and dances for many people, participating in events like the "Peace Class" at Yonashiro Elementary School in Uruma City, events at nursing care facilities in Urasoe City, and concerts at churches within Kadena Air Base.

It's becoming a tradition that it's not just a one-way performance; by the end, the audience joins in singing and dancing, creating a lively atmosphere. Watching the grandpas and grandmas sing with such dedication naturally brings smiles, a sense of healing, and a heart-warming feeling. Soon, you find yourself wanting to tap along to the rhythm and sing. Before you know it, you're moving your body and dancing too. That's the scene unfolding right before your eyes.

Afterwards, people exclaim, "I feel energized!" or "I feel rejuvenated!" and both the members and the surrounding staff beam with even broader smiles. Through daily practice and these special experiences, the members themselves have changed dramatically.

In my book , Grandpa and Grandma's Okinawan Rock 'n' Roll ( Poplar Publishing), I introduce several members. They all shared how participating in this chorus group has uniformly restored their vitality, health, and sense of purpose. The stimulation from the structure and moderate tension in their lives, combined with the joy of interacting with others and feeling useful to someone, has undoubtedly brought about significant change.

While this isn't medically or scientifically proven, after interacting with the members for nearly a year, there's no doubt they've truly begun to shine with renewed vitality. It was astonishing to see how much people can change, even in old age. Here are a few such stories.

■Giving up on singing

Hideyo Yamauchi (66) effortlessly belts out the solo part of ONE VOICE's assigned song, "Funky Monkey Baby." Usually quiet and reserved, he's the uncle who catches the staff's attention with his witty remarks and eccentric outfits.

Hearing his story, Yamauchi-san's life unfolded like a dramatic manga. He attended university in Kyushu and after graduating, joined a bank in his hometown of Okinawa, working in the systems department. After work ended at 5 PM, he would drink alone, finishing an entire bottle of whiskey in just two hours and smoking five packs of cigarettes – his lifestyle was anything but healthy.

Then, just before his 65th birthday and mandatory retirement, he developed a stomach ulcer. He endured the ordeal of major surgery on his jaw and another serious illness in quick succession. "Honestly, I had given up on ever being able to sing again. But after joining ONE VOICE and practicing every week, I started being able to open my mouth and my voice came back. Before long, I could even speak again. I'm amazed at myself."

Mr. Yamauchi says, "Even now, I still can't pronounce the 'ka' row properly." After undergoing major surgery to remove part of his upper palate, he could only open his mouth slightly and couldn't speak when he was discharged from the hospital. By chance, a high school classmate was a member of the chorus group and invited him, saying, "Why not try singing as part of your rehabilitation?"

Rock 'n' roll? Singing? He never imagined himself doing that. Especially when he could barely speak normally. If he'd thought, "I'm too old for this," or "Leave that to the young people," this miracle never would have happened. Age doesn't matter when it comes to taking on a challenge. That's what this story teaches us.

As for the man himself, he jokes about being bad at dancing, saying, "I'm good at cheek dancing though," acting as if nothing has changed. After a difficult life—a self-destructive salaryman existence, recovery from serious illness—joining ONE VOICE seems to have restored his natural playfulness. He appears to be enjoying his "sunny days" in this second chapter of his life.

■Exchange between the son and fellow artists

The energetic twist dancer at the heart of the chorus group's dance section is Masako Tomikoshi (74). On stage at events, she's right at the front, knees swaying, hips swinging. Occasionally, she gets carried away and bumps into others, or gets winded and trips over her own feet, but she keeps the stage lively with her innocent laughter.

"I get so into it, I forget my knee hurts," she says with a shy smile, "and I even jumped twice..." Yet she always seems to be having fun. Tomakoshi's knee pain stems from a serious injury about a year ago. She accidentally lost her footing, fell down stairs, and fractured her leg. She was hospitalized for 50 days and couldn't walk when she was discharged, requiring a wheelchair.

When she finally regained the ability to walk, her son, a musician, suggested she join ONE VOICE, saying, "Try it as part of your rehab." He had always seen his mother enthusiastically attending his concerts, dancing along and energizing the venue. Witnessing her struggling just to walk, he must have wanted to help her somehow.

And so, Ms. Tomakoshi became a member of the chorus. Before she knew it, she had stopped going to the hospital for rehabilitation after just three sessions. Singing and dancing seemed to become her rehabilitation. Now, she even invites members to attend her son's live shows. Her son also participates in ONE VOICE practices and goes to see their event stages, creating a parent-child relationship that feels like the interaction between fellow artists.

Like Mr. Yamauchi, I'm impressed by Ms. Tomakoshi's hidden spirit of challenge. If I were to face illness at this age, would I dare venture into such an unknown world? The me before encountering ONE VOICE certainly wouldn't have made that choice. I couldn't take that step into the unknown. But now it's different. If I ever face such a situation again, I think I'll remember the chorus group and feel like the members would give me a push.

■Becoming the kind of presence that makes everyone want to sing and dance

Maehana Tomokatsu (65), lead vocalist for ONE VOICE's signature song "Be Kind to People" (by The Blue Hearts), says, "I can't wait for Wednesday practice. I get restless starting Monday. I always make sure to go to bed early on Tuesday nights. When there's no practice one week, I feel lost and troubled."

Since the chorus group also tackles hip-hop dance, he notes, "You need stamina," and now does sit-ups every morning. Thanks to this, his weight is steadily decreasing, and he says he's "getting younger by the day." His adorable, sparkling eyes as he talks about it are so innocent, like a young boy, and it makes you feel energized too.

Masako Tamaki (69) , who used to be scolded constantly by her 4-year-old grandchild, apparently couldn't live without medication to control her high blood pressure before joining ONE VOICE. Now her blood pressure has dropped to normal levels, and she no longer takes medication. Her cholesterol levels have also decreased, and she's lost 2 kilograms.

"Before, I never laughed from the bottom of my heart, but now I always catch myself smiling naturally. My home has become brighter, and right now, it feels like I'm in the midst of my youth," she says with playful mischief. Among the members, "Let's get young again!" is their motto.

They challenge songs they've never heard before, practicing passionately through repeated failures. They sing in front of others and receive applause. They share that joy with their friends. This moves their hearts, changing not just their expressions and gestures, but the very atmosphere they radiate, bringing vitality and health.

Watching the chorus members sing with such genuine joy, I can't help but feel deeply: "People can truly shine this brightly. And it doesn't matter how old they are." Even when they miss lyrics or hit the wrong note, just watching them somehow tickles your heart, giving you energy and courage. Beyond skill or lack thereof, the earnest dedication of these grandpas and grandmas is simply refreshing.

I often share this dream with my longtime friend, chorus director Hideki Karimata (49). I hope ONE VOICE doesn't just end as a unique artist, but sparks a social phenomenon where many seniors sing and find renewed energy. I imagine a future where groups like ONE VOICE are replicated all over Japan.

"We don't just want to be fun to watch; we want to be the kind of group that makes everyone want to sing and dance along," says Mr. Karimata, his eyes sparkling like an innocent boy.