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Top 10 Japanese phrases of 2010 revealed
The Japanese words and terms that defined the past 12 months
The U-can awards recognize the blossoming of the Japanese language.U-can's buzzword awards for 2010 have been revealed, highlighting the local words, sayings and terms that have defined the Japanese language this year.
The awards were given out in a ceremony in Tokyo attended by people originating or representing the phrases in question.
Winning word "GeGeGe no" comes from TV drama "GeGeGe no Nyobo," based on the 2008 autobiography by Nunoe Mura, the wife of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, known for his manga character GeGeGe no Kitaro, a ghost boy who saves the world from evil spirit monsters.
It was also selected by Dentsu as the 14th hit product in their top 20 list last week.
Top 10 phrases of 2010
- ゲゲゲの ("GeGeGe no") -- A nickname for Shigeru Mizuki.
- いい質問ですねぇ ("That's a good question...") -- A catch phrase from a popular journalist, Akira Ikegami who asks celebrities their views on hot topics.
- イクメン ("Ikumen") -- A new popular word for a man who raises kids.
- AKB48 -- 48-member all-girl idol group.
- 女子会 ("Jyoshikai") -- Used for when a group of girls go drinking together.
- 脱小沢 ("Datsu Ozawa") -- Influence generated from politician Ichiro Ozawa.
- 食べるラー油 ("Taberu raayu") -- Munchable chili oil.
- ととのいました ("Totonoimashita") -- A comedian's catchphrase.
- 〜なう ("~nau") "Now" -- Added to the end of sentences, especially in twitter. "コーヒーショップなう" - "Now I'm at a coffe shop."
- 無縁社会 ("Muen Syakai") -- "Public without family relations," referring to the scandal where many Japanese over 100 years old turned out to have died long ago and no-one had known, as well as child abuse scandals and more.
