Japanese buzzwords of 2023
アレ
This is based on a superstition. Many sports fans believe it’s unlucky to say “win the title” out loud so they use another phrase instead.
superstition = believing an action can increase or decrease your luck
Italian fans use “Trukke Trukke” which means is a vague term for “thing” and now some English fans have started using it
Do you know or believe in any superstitions?
首振りダンス (Head Dance)
ATARASHII GAKKO! - OTONABLUE
In Atarashii gakkô no leaders music video they shake their heads while dancing. This started trending on TikTok.
Why do you think the song became popular?
Sailor uniforms?
The song sounds very 80’s
The music video is very 60’s
Why was this dance so popular?
蛙化現象 (Kaeru-ka genshô)
This directly translates as “Turning into a frog phenomenon”
This buzzword is from the Brother’s Grimm (グリム兄弟) tale: “The Frog Prince”
tale = story (that may not be true)
phenomenon = 現象 = an event that is hard to explain
What do you think this is about?
Young people use this to mean: “My feelings for this person suddenly disappeared.”
It was often used during the pandemic many young people had online relationships with someone but were disappointed when they met face to face
Did you ever suddenly stop liking someone? Why?
ペッパーミル・パフォーマンス
(Pepper mill performance)
Lars Nootbaar, a baseball player for Samurai Japan started this trend. After a good play by his teammates he pretends to grind pepper. Why?
"Grind" means to keep trying your best and not relax.
“keep grinding” = keep trying your best, don’t relax
“Japan ground out a victory” = Japan won but it was a tough game, they had to work hard
Do you know any other gestures that have meanings?
I don’t know
Check please
He’s been fired
congratulations / thank you
He talks too much
money
loser
fingers crossed
come here
go away
Do you think Nootbaar’s actions affected Pepper Mill sales?
Sales of Pepper Mills skyrocketed in Tokyo.
闇バイト
闇 (やみ)
= dark
= black market
Yami baito are part-time jobs that are often advertised on SNS and offer high salaries.
They target young people who are naive or people who desperately need money
The workers need to join crimes or scams
naive (adj) = “nai-eev” = don’t understand the dangers of the real world
desperate (adj) = “des-per-rit” = you really need something and you have no choice
scam (verb/noun) = trick someone to take their money
What kind of scams or crimes do they do?
robbery = stealing things
phone scams = オレオレ詐欺
transporting cash or drugs
Catfishing on dating sites
Pachinko "smash and grab."
Recruiters tell applicants:
絶対捕まらない
みんながやってるから大丈夫
リスクはほぼゼロです
Can you translate these into English?
There’s no way you’ll get caught
Everyone's doing it so it’ll be OK
There’s almost zero risk
Zettai tsukamaranai
Minna ga yatteru kara daijōbu
Risuku wa hobo zero desu
In the past recruiters were told teens: “You aren’t an adult so if you’re caught, you won’t be punished strictly but since 2022 anyone over 18 is tried as an adult.
Do you support the rule change?
アイム・ウェアリング・パンツ
Why did “I’m wearing pants” become a famous phrase?
Do you have any advice for Yasumura so he can have a good career in the future?
エッフェル姉さん
Eiffel nee-san = "Miss Eiffel"
Japanese senator Matsukawa Rui was on a business trip (research) in Paris and took this photo while visiting the Eiffel Tower.
She was attacked on social media for having fun while using public finances.
How do you feel about this?
Should she be punished?
She resigned as head of the LDP’s Women’s Affairs Division
オーバーツーリズム (Overtourism)
Why are many cities and their residents worried about overtourism?
What can be done to prevent problems?
more crowded public transport
staff shortages in peak seasons (e.g. Hokkaido in winter)
large suitcases on public transport
bad behaviour by tourists (disrespectful photos, noise, loud music, eating while walking, entering private areas)
too much trash left by tourists
Popular cities are increasing the number of buses and taxis.
Extra staff (e.g. taxi drivers) are being sent to places like Hokkaido during peak times. The taxi drivers are given subsidies and accommodation is provided for them
Japan plans to create a “hands free tourism” system that lets people send their luggage to places (however there aren’t much details yet)
Japanese manner and etiquette programs to teach tourists what is rude in Japan
Some places like Nanzo-in Temple (in Sasaguri, Fukuoka) have banned big foreign tour groups
Some streets where Geisha work in Kyoto have banned photographyIn places like Taketomi Island, a voluntary 300 yen visitor fee was requested to pay for trash collection. What percentage of visitors paid the fee?
Taketomi’s government will start a 2000 yen fee that is added to bus, and flight fees to the island
only 10% of visitors paid the voluntary fee
Top 30 list: https://www.jiyu.co.jp/singo/
https://www.kanpai-japan.com/lifestyle/words-year-japan-buzzword
https://www.jiyu.co.jp/singo/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/01/japan/society/2023-japan-top-buzzword/
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/20/japan-takes-action-on-overtourism/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/30/japan/society/japan-overtourism-local-governments/