This feeling is addictive, I tell ya!

ONE VOICE, a rock 'n' roll chorus group with an average age of 70 that began in Okinawa, is now gaining a bit of local fame. When visiting Okinawa, if you ask at restaurants, "Do you know the chorus group made up of grandpas and grandmas?", you'll often get a cheerful reply like, "Oh, yeah! I saw them on TV the other day!"

Thanks to local media coverage since their formation, their presence seems to be gradually spreading. Recently, they've even appeared in QAB (Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting) station campaign commercials, increasing their visibility even more.

My book , Grandpa and Grandma's Okinawan Rock 'n' Roll ( Poplar Publishing ), which traces the chorus group's activities, is now available not only in bookstores but also in convenience stores across Okinawa. It's been featured in rankings at major bookstores and reviewed in local newspapers. It's truly heartwarming that people are learning about ONE VOICE through this book.

■When Your Body Changes, Your Mind Changes Too

Over the nearly year since last December, spending time with the grandpas and grandmas in the group, one thing has clearly changed: their clothing. Their appearance has become brighter and more distinctive, making them look increasingly youthful. Each member has started paying more attention to fashion and personal grooming in their daily lives.

Even with just weekly practice sessions, having the opportunity to go out and sing in front of members seems to have sparked this awareness of personal presentation. Furthermore, the mindset that ONE VOICE isn't just a hobby or club activity, but artists who stand on stage to give courage and energy to everyone, has taken root. This likely strengthens the feeling that since they're standing in front of people and being seen, they need to dress stylishly too!

There's footage capturing how things were in the beginning. This shows the members before they ever wore costumes on stage, sang in front of people, or received applause and cheers. It was before they started getting recognized walking down the street like they do now. They were full of hope, but it was a time when neither the staff around them nor I had any idea what the future held.

 

Through various experiences, their clothing changed first, then their overall impression shifted, and even their expressions gradually transformed. Incorporating hip-hop dance into every practice session also seems to have straightened their backs, improving their posture and making their standing poses look sharper. As their bodies changed, their attitudes shifted too. This synergy appears to be working well.

Now, let's explore what experiences led the chorus members to become who they are today.

■Singing in 'Rock-Inspired' Attire

There was a major turning point regarding their style. It happened during a special practice session held for the first time this past March.

Like kids on a school field trip, the members were looking around excitedly, full of anticipation. This practice was different from usual—the venue was a long-established live house in Chatan Town, Okinawa Prefecture. They would practice on the stage where popular local musicians perform.

Until then, we'd always practiced in a studio in Urasoe City, but we'd just been confirmed for an event in Naha a month later. Getting on stage and singing in front of an audience was a first for the grandpas and grandmas.

"It's better to have a real-life experience first." Chorus director Hideki Karimata (49) thought it would be too much for the members to suddenly go on stage. He decided to have them sing along to a live band in a live house setting.

Furthermore, one week before the special practice, Mr. Karimata made a proposal to the members. "Since we're doing something we don't usually do, let's change our appearance too." "Please come dressed in clothes that embody the image of 'living rock'."

The elderly members were completely baffled by this sudden request, looking utterly bewildered. Seeing their reaction, Karimata felt a twinge of anxiety. However, as if to dispel that worry, the members who gathered at the live house on the day were dressed in their own interpretations of "living rock," and they looked incredibly happy.

Maekawa Tomokatsu (65), an original member who sings ONE VOICE's signature song "Be Kind to People" (by The Blue Hearts), shared: "I'm usually restless enough on Wednesdays for chorus practice, but this time I was excited even while shopping for clothes at the vintage store!" He told me, his eyes wider than usual, that putting on the jeans he bought really boosted his mood.

Members who initially seemed shy seemed to let go of their inhibitions after dressing up, taking the stage, and singing their hearts out, savoring that wonderful feeling of exhilaration. This special practice remarkably shifted the grandpas' and grandmas' mindset, transforming both their dedication to the singing and how they presented themselves on stage.

■Performing on stage in front of an audience became their motivation

April 22, 2016, was a memorable day for ONE VOICE. They took the stage at the Okinawa International Movie Festival event in Naha City, singing in front of an audience for the very first time. Despite having practiced for less than half a year, they were given this opportunity to showcase their progress before the audience.

For the chorus group's debut, Chorus Director Mr. Karimata consulted me about stage costumes. We decided on a simple style that wouldn't be limited by personal taste or age. The overall color scheme was unified in monochrome black and navy tones to accentuate the dignified elegance of our grandpas and grandmas. They wore black V-neck T-shirts, with navy scarves wrapped around their necks to complement their physiques, and topped with hats to create the iconic symbol of ONE VOICE.

When the members actually wore them and lined up, the strong sense of unity as a team came through just as I'd imagined. Above all, the expressions on the grandpa and grandma's faces were genuinely happy and proud. Staff nearby couldn't help but exclaim, "Cool~" and "So classy~," and the members themselves seemed to gain a much stronger sense of purpose. You could really feel their determination to finally stand before an audience and sing.

After successfully completing the performance and coming off stage, the members were more talkative than usual, and the dressing room was in an uproar. They were still buzzing with excitement, their faces flushed. And I'll never forget their bright, radiant smiles, overflowing with the satisfaction of having achieved something, as if saying, "When we do something, we really do it."

Later, they also performed at BEGIN's "Song Day Concert," and standing on stage in front of an audience seems to be a huge motivator for these grandpas and grandmas. Early member Teruyo Kawanabe (75) shared with a beaming smile, "Stepping onto a big stage is terrifying, but somehow it makes me so happy. This thrill... I might just get hooked on it."

■Each Member's Signature Item

 

While these special experiences are major catalysts, they aren't the only factor. Through regular practice, many members are beginning to realize that expressing themselves through ONE VOICE isn't just about singing—it's equally important through facial expressions, gestures, and even clothing.

During practice, they want to wear their favorite items and give it their all. Or, they want to completely shift their mindset by wearing something they wouldn't normally choose. From a certain point onward, among members who felt this way, "lucky items" started becoming noticeable.

These are small accessories they always bring to practice. Worn repeatedly, they seem to have become good luck charms within the chorus group. Maehana-san's trademark is a twisted towel headband. Since her very first practice, she's always worn it tightly tied around her head while diligently practicing dance and song. Her mannerisms and poses have a distinctly "Okinawan grandpa" feel to them, which is quite endearing. During interviews with local TV stations and such, footage of Maehana-san like this is often featured.

Ms. Masako Tamaki (69), who runs a bingata workshop with her family and has a slightly airheaded charm, initially wore glasses. But before anyone noticed, she switched to contacts and started wearing full makeup. She looks like she's right in the middle of her youth.

When performing at outdoor events, there's a lot of moving around and climbing stairs. Since they dance and lightly jump on stage too, most people wear comfortable sneakers. Among them, Akagi Kyoko (67), who works at a judicial scrivener's office, is the only one who confidently rocks high heels. They're bright red or shiny silver. She's fashion-conscious in her daily life, but it seems she's especially fired up for the actual performance, wanting to make a statement with her signature piece and be true to herself.

■The "Kawai-ness" for Enjoying Your Second Life

Watching these grandpas and grandmas become vibrantly rejuvenated and energetic in less than a year taught me many things. Among them, the most noteworthy is the crucial secret to connecting with a wide range of generations around them: possessing charm.

Even if they weren't perfect or a bit clumsy, the members of ONE VOICE, who threw themselves into their activities with innocent enthusiasm without shame, were—pardon the expression—adorable and charming. They truly had that "charm" that made you smile involuntarily and feel cheerful. When that happens, you naturally want to support them and help them.

I learned firsthand that to fully enjoy your second life, it's vital to be seen by others as a "cute grandpa." Can I really acquire that kind of charm...? I'm still uncertain, but I feel like I've clearly grasped the outline of how I should be.

 

This is the final installment of the series. Thank you for reading to the end. If you'd like, please watch this video again. You'll be soothed by the adorable sight of the grandfather and grandmother, and you'll surely gain energy and courage.

And while ONE VOICE is still just getting started, we'd be delighted if you'd keep an eye on us going forward.