'Chubby' Japanese girl group , want to challenge stereotypes associated with their size

http://www.tanmarket.com - Pottya, a girl band in Japan that markets itself as a "chubby" alternative to mainstream pop idols, want to challenge stereotypes associated with their size. SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (RECENT - NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) "People assume that being chubby is a sign of laziness or lack of self-discipline. I became an idol with the hope of changing that negative image; if they see us working to make our dreams comes true, we can show the world that chubby people can work hard." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE-POP IDOL GROUP POTTYA FAN, 25-YEAR-OLD MIHO KISHI, SAYING: "Japanese people are generally not friendly to chubby people. Plus-size clothes are not sold in regular stores or they are more expensive. But despite this, they've come out and are actually selling themselves as chubby, and has given us chubby women a lot of hope and courage." TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 12, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 21. CROWDS IN HARAJUKU, TOKYO'S STREET FASHION CENTRE 22. WOMAN WALKING IN TO STORE 23. ELECTRONIC POSTERS WITH MODELS ON POSTER 24. MANNEQUINS ON DISPLAY 25. FASHION STORE FRONT 26. MANNEQUIN TOKYO, JAPAN (RECENT - DECEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 27. VARIOUS OF POTTYA MEMBERS PRACTISING DANCE ROUTINE 28. MEMBER DRINKING WATER 29. POTTYA MEMBERS RESTING STORY:Competition is cutthroat among Japan's thousands of pop idol wannabes, but a unique concept is winning fame for a band of "chubby" girls deploying their cheeky cuteness to combat prejudices against obesity. Despite one of the lowest rates of obesity in the developed world, Japan has a growing number of underweight young women, who rely on excessive dieting to satisfy society's emphasis on being slim. Heavy people are the frequent target of jokes in the media and use of the derogatory "debu," or "fatso," remains common. Enter "Pottya", pronounced "Poccha", the Japanese word for chubby -- four young women who are not especially hefty to Western eyes, but well above average weight in Japan. "People assume that being chubby is a sign of laziness or lack of self-discipline. I became an idol with the hope of changing that image. If they see us working to make our dreams come true, we can show that chubby people can work hard," said Michiko Ohashi, the group's heaviest member at 87 kg (192 lb) and a height of 167 cm (5.5 ft). Members range in weight from 63 kg (139 lb) to 87 kg (192 lb) , and their average of 76 kg (168 lb) is about 26 kg (57 lb) over the Japanese average for women aged 13 to 18, according statistics from the Health Ministry. Their body mass index, which compares weight to height, ranges from 27.4 to 31.2. Doctors consider an individual with a BMI above 25 to be overweight, and one above 31 obese. "We're really heavy but we want to use that to shake up the idol world," Ohashi said. Pottya has passionate devotees, both male and female, many of whom describe themselves as overweight. Fans gather to meet Pottya members for a high-calorie lunch each month, with the menu of one recent meal featuring rice, noodles, chicken and potatoes -- all fried. "I was quite attracted and overwhelmed with how lively their plus-size bodies are when moving and dancing," said Tabo, a 36-year-old man who gave only his fan nickname. The group was an inspiration, said Miho Kishi, who was bullied about her weight as a child. "They've come out and are actually selling themselves as chubby, which has given us chubby women a lot of hope and courage," said the 25-year-old. First treated as a quirky joke at its debut in 2015, the group's image is changing, with the release of two albums and a growing roster of live concerts and television appearances.