WRITTEN BY CHERRYLLE URBANO
As a huge fan of Atarashii Gakko!, the dynamic Japanese girl group featuring Suzuka, Kanon, Mizyu, and Rin—I was excited to hear about their official music video coming out for “Omakase,” which was released in June for the album AG! Calling—the music video was released September 24, 2024. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it’s a direct translation of “I’ll leave up to you” in Japanese, which is often used in dining experiences to entrust the chef to order for you.
Atarashii Gakko! is widely known for their distinctive style, energetic dance routines, and innovative music. They constantly wear Japanese school uniforms to allow their listeners to be evoked with a sense of joy and nostalgia while serving as a reminder of discipline and conformity. Their performances are always fun and explosive, which compliments their infectious energy in the songs.
In “Omakase,” the group encourages listeners to loosen up their worries and embrace life’s pleasures, especially in light of the challenges we face. They constantly repeat the line, translated in English, “Leave it up to AG,” inviting fans to take control of their life. If you want to eat a ton of food? Do it! If you want to binge-watch your favorite show? Do it! Life is more than just worrying about the next bad thing. In their music video, there is a ton of inspiration for the popular cuisine of “omakase.” It reminds me of the last time I went to a sushi omakase-style restaurant, the girls dressed as chefs and created a variety of different versions of themselves—extending their meaning of doing what you want, in this case, wearing what you want!
What I particularly love about Atarashii Gakko! is their unique sound, which diverges from traditional J-Pop. Their songs are quirky, fun, and something you can dance to. While I could say they’re in their own genre, their sound has opened a lot of doors for many other Japanese artists to experiment with their own music and create a variety of different music.
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend checking out Atarashii Gakko! I’m excited to see more of their content posted on 88rising. They’re currently on tour throughout October, so don’t miss the chance to experience their electrifying performances live!
[Photo Credits: Image and posted by Lindsey Blane (@lindseyblane) | Official Instagram (Atarashii Gekko): @japanese_leaders]