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| Age Is Just a Number: How One Grandmother Turned Office Days into Idol Nights (Yahoo JP) |
While idols are usually expected to be fresh-faced, young, and definitely not dating, one woman is rewriting the script completely. Say hello to Fujiko-chan — 44 years old, a proud grandmother, and a rising star in Hiroshima’s local idol group Akujo Jidai (悪女時代).
And no, she’s not doing it for clout. She’s doing it because she bloody loves it.
🌸 From Strict Parents to Stage Lights
Fujiko’s early years? Far from glittery. Born in 1981, she grew up under strict rules — think no detours after school, no fast food, and no fun. Her life changed course at 17 when she got pregnant and married, only to divorce two years later. What followed was a hectic two decades of raising two kids as a single mum, juggling everything from bookshops to ramen shops and even working front desk at a big-name telecom company.
But the dream she didn’t know she had? That came much later.
💃 How It All Kicked Off
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A few years ago, Fujiko joined a local dance collab where she shared a stage with idol group Akujo Jidai. The sparkle caught her off guard — “They were just glowing,” she recalls. Soon after, she was invited to audition. She passed, joined the group, and — surprise! — became their very first member with a grandchild. (Her daughter had just given birth at the time.)
Today, that grandchild’s three years old. And Fujiko? She’s still dancing, still glowing.
💼 Day Job? Yes. Idol? Also Yes.
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| She single-handedly raised two children |
By day, she’s an ordinary office worker. By night, she’s kawaii on stage — the group's official “heart-throb” type. But here’s the twist: her co-workers don’t know a thing.
“It’s still a bit of a secret,” she admits with a sheepish laugh. “Can’t risk the eyebrows raising too high.”
🎤 Idol Life After 40: “Younger Girls Can’t Fake This Warmth”
Fujiko knows she’s not your average idol — and she’s more than okay with that.
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| She became a grandmother shortly after joining Akujo Jidai |
“I’ve lived through things, yeah. That shows when I sing or dance,” she says. Her fans — mainly in their 40s and 50s — adore her for that realness. “There’s a depth that youth can’t copy. And honestly, that’s my biggest weapon.”
The group’s concept is built around exactly that: no age limits, no expiration dates on dreams. In fact, Fujiko’s part of an around-forty idol unit that once had a track produced by none other than Tsunku♂, legendary producer of Morning Musume. (She wasn’t in the group yet, but fangirled from afar.)
Funny enough, people used to say she looked like Goto Maki. “Random aunties would say ‘Are you on telly?’ — turns out they meant her!”
🧸 Gran Goals, Idol Dreams
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| Fujiko with her 3-year-old grandson |
These days, Fujiko balances gigs, family life, and office work without ever missing a beat. Her kids, now well into their twenties, were cool with her new idol life — even if they’ve never shown up to a live show. “They just said ‘Oh, okay’,” she shrugs.
Her grandchild though? Absolute number one fan. “Came to the show with my youngest — that made my day.”
As for her parents? “I think they’ve just accepted it,” she laughs. “But they did come to watch me perform recently. That meant a lot.”
💭 What’s Next?
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| Fujiko and the daughter who made her a grandma |
Her dream’s simple — but massive.
“I want to stand on the Kohaku stage. With all the members. That’s my goal.”
And with the energy she’s bringing, who’s to say she won’t?
She’s also keen to publish a photo book while she’s still got the vibe, and maybe have a proper chat with Tsunku someday. “He produced a song I didn’t get to sing on — but one day, I’d love to share my story with him. Maybe even joke about that Goto Maki thing!”
🪩 No Expiry Date on Dreams
What makes Fujiko shine isn’t just the cute outfits or bubbly charm — it’s her lived-in warmth, her open heart, and the sheer joy she brings to the stage.
“I want to grow into a slightly smarter, still cute old lady,” she says. “And when I finally turn my back after my last performance, I want to collapse dramatically. That’s the idol ending I dream of.”
📌 Quick Facts
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Stage Name: Fujiko-chan
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Age: 44
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Group: Akujo Jidai (悪女時代), Hiroshima-based local idol group
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Occupation: Office worker by day, idol by night
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Grandchild: One, currently 3 years old
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Signature Role: “Kyun-kyun” (cute) type in the group
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Life Goal: Perform on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen
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Idol Motto: “There’s no age limit on chasing dreams.”