Do you know those Ojis who wear the zipper jacket, the working man’s pants, and the flat brimmed US naval vessel ballcap?
I still can’t comprehend the US naval vessel ballcap. I saw them at Ameyoko near Ueno. But I’ve been to far flung small places North and South in Japan and found Ojis wearing these things. And the whole outfit.
In these far flung places, Ojis sing those old school karaoke songs. Pre-pop. I’d say Pink Lady and Candies are like proto-Pop for Japan, but before them it was folksy pop. And there was a working man’s version and a female Cantor version.
I have been in snakkus in small ass villages all over where very geriatric Ojis show up in their USS Vincent LeFebre ballcaps, to sing about the love you find while fishing or working the mill. It’s not a meme, it’s very real.
It’s possibly my favorite vibe from Japan. And I’m sad because even though it’s everywhere, few people are aware of it, let alone appreciate it. And these dudes are dying. I don’t think I can show up in 20 years and rock the Oji vibe. No one would care. They’d be singing J-Pop boy band shit.
Anyway, just reaching out for people who feel my vibe here. And if you can recommend songs I’d appreciate. I’ve found one lousy YouTube with this vibe and it sucks
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DnimudvZEs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DnimudvZEs)
I’ve heard old Oji’s ROCK this type of song, with the cheesy 1990s video, and then the Auntie now late 40s Snakku girls KILL with amazing voices.
Call me a snob, but this vibe is in my opinion the height of what’s most comfy and best about Japan. It’s in the June rain, the Northern early snow and southern May winds.
On a more serious note, I deeply appreciate Nakajima Miyuki although her weird musical experimental folk plays are her strongest, but I appreciate what she’s aiming for and trying to elevate.
Still, I’m sad because I always wanted to wear the “Oji costume” and show up to sing at a Snakku and time is no kidding running out.
Anyone feel me and can recommend karoake tunes?
I feel like America has only a couple decent songs of this variety and this is one:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1lqEQFVUo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1lqEQFVUo)
Sing it at your next Snakku expedition.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/wex7p3/the_dying_but_awesom_ojivibe_fashion_thing/
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Looking this up on YouTube REALLY bothers me. You have “Japanese folk karaoke” which universally produces “Sakura Sakura”. Then there’s “1960s music” which is either Kyo Sakamoto or weird ripoffs of US or British style 60s music. As if Japanese didn’t have 60s folksy J-pop.