Yatta! at Fanime2002

I thought I was going crazy. At fanime 2002, girls were requesting for
Yatta! Hmm...I was wondering what the hell everyone was talking
about....that was until I heard a few seconds of the opening song and then I
knew....as I looked at what the girls were screaming for... a group of guys
were taking off their pants and showing off their underwear in front of an
audience singing the Japanese song "Yatta" by Happatai (a group which
features six dudes - popular Japanese comedians). Many of you probably
seen all of them on kakushige or on uchan nanchan.

http://www.slackstreet.com/media/images/ss20_happatai11.jpg

This song was sung a few times by different groups.... guys taking their
pants off, with a leaf on the front singing this song, choreographed to the
dance moves of Happatai. No...these guys weren't drunk, it's becoming a
trend that's raising eyebrows. I don't think any Japanese song since "Ue o
muite aruko" was popular in the US have I seen/heard many Americans who
don't know much about Japanese music embrace a song with such fervor and
applause.

People are also buying the t-shirts:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=yatta

I get a feeling, although the song is a year old...that the way this song is
catching on with people...as mind nerving as "the chair" or "box" chants
that through these anime cons... fans of Japanese music all over are going
to embrace these people performing this song.

Yatta! - Coming to a con near you.
=========================================================
Everybody say YATTA! - はっぱ隊 (Happatai)
from Slackerstreet
http://www.slackstreet.com/content/20011029.htm

Yatta is defined: Japanese short form for "yarimashita" meaning "did it".
When used as an exclamation Yatta! it has the meaning of "I did it!" -From
the Anime Encyclopedia.

Why is this important? It's the title of a popular song in Japan, performed
by six men who wear nothing but (ahem) fig leaf-adorned underwear. The Yatta
video is making the rounds on the U.S. underground circuit-- a live
performance encouraged by thousands of screaming, singing fans.
http://www.penismightier.com/jimbo/yatta.asf

To get a full appreciation of Happatai, mix a little Villiage People disco
flavor with a double shot of Spinal Tap. And don't forget the green leaves.

Many rumors exist about the origins of Yatta! including one that claims it
was intended to add levity in the shadow of Japan's recession. Other more
credible sources indicate that Happatai is part of a higher source-- a
variety show-- and created in a similar fashion to Spinal Tap or the
Gorillaz.

Although the single was released in early 2001, it's not immediately clear
how much this craze will take off. However, it would be reasonable to assume
that Yatta! carries more stage props than the Macarena.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/apita/448702/453285/457512/

Once you are decked out in your new Happatai gear, you can begin your
Yatta! dance lessons and be the life of the party. Just learn the lyrics
and you're on your way!
http://ha6.seikyou.ne.jp/home/moko2/HP/08/event29.htm

=======================================================================
YATTA! (All right!)/Happa-tai (Leaf Team)
Released April 18, 2001

G R Double-E N Leaves
G R Double-E N Leaves

It's so easy! Happy-go-lucky!
We are the world! We did it!
Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! (Unh!)

All right! All right!
We're doin' great in college!
All right! All right!
Made president at our jobs!
Long as we've one leaf on, we're doin' fine! Hey, we're lucky just 'cause
we're alive!

All right! All right!
We've been confirmed for the prize!
All right! All right!
We're representing Japan!
We're so healthy, it just makes ya sick!
Everybody say "All right!"

Japan's got crises (but)
Tomorrow's wonderful
Even if somebody's mean to us, we just go to bed and
Snore! Snore! Snore! Snore! Pass! Pass! Pass! Pass! (Good morniiiiing!)

All right! All right!
We got nine hours of sleep!
All right! All right!
Woke up and jumped outta bed
What kinda great things might await us now? Hey, we're lucky just 'cause
we're alive!

All right! All right!
If there's a change in you
All right! All right!
Then the whole world will change too.
Getting through it unhurt's the best of all. Just stand up straight because
it feels greeeaat!!

I drink water that's tasty! (All right!)
I get in the sun and feel toasty! (All right!)
Havin' a belly laugh's fun! (All right! All right!)
Try keeping dogs--they're cute! (All right!)

[Repeat]

As we brushed past each other, you favored me with a smile.
It's okay if we never meet again. I'm lucky you were here just for a while!

We've got recession these days...in goverment we've no faith.
Could we hit "reset," that'd be number one! And since we're all here, it's
just so much fun!

All right! All right!
In university class
All right! All right!
We've got a movie star!
Long as we've one leaf on, we're doin' fine! We're all together, it's a
happy time!

All right! All right!
Long as we still can breathe in...
All right! All right!
Long as we still can breathe out...
We're so healthy, it just makes ya sick!
Everybody say "All right!"

[Repeat]

Bye-Q!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!



Anyways, wasn't there a flash animation spoofing this where the guy had no clue what the people were singing in japanese and made appropriate "substitutions" (ohayou -> Ohio)

Nice, I am ordering that T-shirt... I am what you might call a huge Yatta! fan... I actually imported the DVD just so I could see what other things were on it...

Here are a couple more links
http://www.mit.edu/people/patil/yatta.html
http://sunshine.mit.edu/ (contains a rare Yatta! jump rope video)