\u30a2\u30e9\u9084 (arakan<\/em>) describes Japanese around 60 years of age, and it comes from (\u30a2\u30e9\u30a6\u30f3\u30c9\u9084\u66a6 or around kanreki<\/em>).\u00a0 \u9084 As you might expect, like baby boomers here in the States arakan <\/em>are not taking aging lying down.\u00a0 A segment in this morning’s news featured a 64-year old grandmother of 3 who is also a model on the side.\u00a0 Evidently, the modeling business has become a bit of a boom for those 60 and above.\u00a0 Many of those interviewed expressed the desire to “be beautiful\/stay pretty” and modeling enables them to do this.\u00a0 There are special modeling agencies targeting this older clientele, and there is an involved application that must be accepted before auditioning.<\/p>\n This grandmother keeps herself in shape for modeling by taking care of her grandchildren.\u00a0 She is not just a passive caretaker, carrying out a variety of roles such as changing diapers, car pick-up and drop-off and playing in the park.\u00a0 One shot showed her on the pull-up bar next to her grandson!\u00a0 When asked about her exercise regimen, she replied with a smile,\u00a0 “I don’t just watch them, this is my exercise!”<\/p>\n Other arakan<\/em> are becoming involved with more organized forms of exercise.\u00a0 Recently, boxing and kickboxing classes for seniors have been in vogue as many people consider beauty to be strength.\u00a0 According to one older participant, “If I come to class regularly, I stop saying \u300c\u3088\u3044\u3057\u3087\u300d (yoisho)<\/em> as much.”\u00a0 I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about Japanese obaasan <\/em>is their yoisho<\/em>!\u00a0 However, it is interesting to see them taking such an interest in their physical fitness when the typical portrayal of obaasan<\/em> exercise is running for discounted items in the supermarket.<\/p>\n Another market that is looking to capture these arakan<\/em> consumers is cosmetics, as this age group comprises 105 billion yen or 1\/3 of their sales.\u00a0 Chicca is one company that provides makeup items enabling them to preserve their youth, offering 46 products of 132 different types at department stores such as Takashimaya.<\/p>\n It seems that this arakan <\/em>phenomenon is changing not only the women themselves, but their husbands as well.\u00a0 The grandmother’s 71-year old husband said that seeing her work so hard at herself has inspired him to work hard at his job. \u00a0 He also shared that he was chotto ureshii<\/em> regarding his wife’s youthful appearance which people had begun commenting on.\u00a0 Perhaps this will add sparks to arakan<\/em> marriages as well!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.inmagine.com\/img\/makunouchi\/maku055\/maku055070.jpg\")
\u66a6 (ka<\/em>nreki<\/em>) refers to one’s 60th birthday celebration.\u00a0 This buzzword is picking up on the previously popular \u30a2\u30e9\u30d5\u30a9\u30fc (ara fo-<\/em>), coming from the phrase \u30a2\u30e9\u30a6\u30f3\u30c940 (Around 40) which was also the title of a 2008 drama regarding this time of life.\u00a0 This phraseology can also be applied to other decades as well.\u00a0 For example,\u00a0 instead of disclosing my age I can simply reply that I am \u30a2\u30e9\u30b5\u30fc (ara sa-<\/em> or around 30).<\/p>\n