"Seniors Take Over the Disco Festival: 'Only 50 and Above Allowed' [Mwonil Issyu]"

"Obaba Disco" Held in Toyama Prefecture
A Senior Event by Local Governments Bringing New Vitality

Editor's NoteThis is a weekly column from our international desk reporter based in Tokyo, sharing stories seen and heard throughout Japan. Updated every Saturday.

Last weekend, a disco festival was held in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. What stood out was the age requirement: only those aged 50 and above were allowed to participate. In other words, the event was open exclusively to the generation that remembers Japan's disco boom during the bubble economy era. It is quite amusing that participants joined the festival without worrying about "how can I dance at this age?" Recently, disco festivals have also emerged as a popular welfare initiative for older adults in local Japanese communities. This week, I will share stories about the disco trend captivating Japan's middle-aged and senior generations.

This festival in Toyama Prefecture was called "OBABA Disco." "Obaba" is a Japanese term for grandmother, so you could say this was a disco event tailored to the tastes of older adults. The promotional slogan was, "Forget about your age and let yourself go to the music of your memories."

Performance scene posted by DJ Tatezuka on his Instagram. Participants are dancing holding glow sticks in front of the DJ booth. Photo by DJ Tatezuka Instagram.

Typically, the real fun at festivals begins after dark, but this disco party was a wholesome daytime event divided into two sessions: the first from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the second from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both alcohol and smoking were strictly prohibited. To ensure the safety of participants, nursing staff were stationed onsite, considering the potential physical strain. The music was handled by "Tatezuka2000," a veteran DJ active since the 1980s. At the venue, participants waved glow sticks in their hands, danced to songs like "YMCA," and even belted out the choruses together flawlessly.

Why did they choose disco among all possible genres? This is because discotheques are inseparable from Japan's bubble economy era. It is said that, back then, young people would dance all night at discotheques, wave bundles of cash, and hail taxis home.

For example, "Juliana Tokyo," a discotheque that opened in 1991 and operated until 1994, was large enough to accommodate 2,000 people. Women in formal dresses fanning themselves while dancing disco is a scene that defines the era. The outfits featured in Celeb Five's remake "I Want to Be a Celeb" recreate the atmosphere of that time. Many of today's Japanese in their 60s and 70s were the ones who frequented these venues in those days.

Such disco parties have now become essential senior events organized by local governments across Japan. Last year, Ibaraki Prefecture hosted a disco festival aiming to bring renewed energy and joy to seniors in rural areas. In Osaka, similar events were held under the theme of reminiscing about their golden years.

The album cover of Celeb Five's "I Want to Be a Celeb," recreating disco boom outfits from Japan's bubble economy era. Melon.

Corporations are also showing interest. A matchmaking company catering to the senior generation held a "Disco Marriage Party" in Roppongi this February. The idea was to enjoy nostalgic disco music, foster camaraderie among people of similar ages, and help them find partners to share the next chapter of their lives.

Disco may now be considered "old music," but for some, it was the soundtrack of the most vibrant period of their lives. This disco party is not a festival of old age, but rather another name for a youth that never ends.

This Week's Japan Economy & Industry Briefing

▶Nikkei Index Breaks 60,000 Yen for the First Time
On April 23, the Nikkei 225 average in Tokyo surpassed the 60,000 yen mark for the first time in history. Artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor stocks are driving the market. Investor funds that had left due to concerns about the Middle East situation are now returning as the ceasefire has been extended.

▶Japanese Government Abolishes 'Five Categories' Restricting Lethal Weapon Exports
The Takaichi government has decided to permit, in principle, the export of weapons with lethal capabilities. Until now, the government had restricted exports to five categories: rescue, transport, surveillance, monitoring, and mine clearance. With the abolition of this "five categories" rule, the export of weapons with lethal capabilities will now be allowed. While there have been criticisms within Japan that the policy hindered domestic defense companies from expanding into overseas markets, there is growing concern that this move could effectively turn Japan into a country capable of engaging in war by strengthening its military capabilities.

▶Bear Attacks Resume... Even Police Officers Targeted
On April 21, a police officer searching for a missing person in a valley in Iwate Prefecture was attacked and injured by a bear. A body, believed to be that of a person killed by a bear, was found not far from where the police officer was attacked. Every year, bears attack shops and private homes, causing economic damage. As this is the season when bears awaken from hibernation, local governments are facing increasing challenges in addressing the issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.