
Ojiqun members shoot a TikTok video in Wake, Okayama Prefecture, on April 10.
13:26 JST, June 5, 2022
WAKE, Okayama (Jiji Press) — A group of four “ojisans,” or middle-aged men, dancing in hopes of revitalizing a western Japan town suffering depopulation, has captured the attention of Japanese youths on TikTok.
The ojisans’ group, or “Ojiqun” on TikTok, has amassed over 16 million views in total, with many users of the short video app commenting how “cute” they were on their videos.
The group from the town of Wake, Okayama Prefecture, was formed with a wish to bring a smile to people’s faces with videos of middle-aged, suit-clad men dancing.

Ojiqun members pose for a photo.
Spearheaded by 52-year-old Takumi Shirase, head of a web content distributor, the group was created in January. The other members are Kenji Odomi, 52, who runs a tatami mat wholesale company, as well as 66-year-old Ryoichi Kanzaki and 67-year-old Minoru Yamamoto, both Wake assembly members.
The four wear different colored “haramaki” belly warmers.
With the help of their family members, the four shoot TikTok videos at various locations around the town, including a closed elementary school.
The group’s TikTok account only had around 800 followers initially. The number has now surged to around 33,000 thanks to a video posted at the end of March, which scored over 4.4 million views in a day.
“I was surprised,” Yamamoto said. “I am a bit shy about being called cute, but I’m pleased.”
Around 40 pct of the town’s population is aged 65 or over. The population is expected to fall from the current 13,500 to around 8,000 by 2045.
“We hope that [our TikTok videos] attract tourists and new settlers, so that the town turns into a municipality that can make money,” said Shirase, the group’s leader.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Over 300 Earthquakes Rumble in Sea Off Japan’s Kagoshima Pref. Islands, Putting Residents on Alert
-
Typhoon Sepat Forms near Ogasawara Islands
-
M5.1 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture Islands
-
46-year-old Man Killed by Bear in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture; 2nd Man Sustained Minor Injuries
-
22 Mil. Admissions Needed for Osaka-Kansai Expo to Be Profitable, Organizer Says; Average of 130,000 Visitors Necessary Per Day
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
Japan’s Agriculture Ministry Starts Survey of Rice Farmers Across Japan on Production Outlook
-
Japan Eyes Hosting Major International Standards Conference in 2029; Govt Making Plans to Host IEC Event in Yokohama
-
Agriculture Minister Considers Review of Japan’s Rice Harvest Statistics (UPDATE 1)
-
Japan’s Core Inflation Hits 2-year High, Keeps Rate-Hike Bets Alive
-
Carmakers’ Anxiety Grows as U.S. Tariff Talks Stall;Japan Exporters May Have No Choice But to Raise Prices