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Tag - buzzwords

 
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July 24, 2026
 

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BUZZWORDS

A sign in the woods uses the kanji for "bear" to warn hikers of their presence in the area.
LIFE / Language / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 14, 2025
The ¡®bear¡¯ defined kanji in 2025. The internet defined almost everything else.
Japan¡¯s kanji and buzzwords of 2025 reveal a split: old-media traditions colliding with the chaotic, meme-driven language of new media.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a ceremony Monday in Tokyo after her comment referring to her determination to work hard as president of the Liberal Democratic Party was awarded buzzword of the year for 2025.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 1, 2025
Takaichi¡¯s work ethic sound bite wins Japan¡¯s buzzword of the year
¡°Work, work, work, work and work¡± was named 2025¡¯s buzzword of the year.
Women hold toys depicting Myaku-Myaku, the official character for the 2025 Osaka Expo, during a media day ahead of the event's public opening day in Osaka in April.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Nov 5, 2025
ChatGPT nickname and Trump tariffs nominated for Japan¡¯s buzzword of 2025
Words and phrases related to the election of Japan¡¯s first female prime minister and the country¡¯s bear problem also made the list of nominations.
Actor Sadao Abe accepts the 2024 U-Can New Word and Popular Phrase Award for ¤Õ¤Æ¤Û¤É (futehodo), the abbreviated title for his series, ¡°Futekisetsu nimo Hodo ga Aru!¡± (¡°Extremely Inappropriate!¡±).
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 12, 2024
How often do Japan¡¯s buzzwords make it into the vernacular?
We crown a new one every year, but trendy terms tend to disappear from public consciousness if they¡¯re related to pop culture.
Sadao Abe, who played the role of a time-traveling Showa Era teacher transported to present day in a popular TV drama, receives the 2024 buzzword of the year award for the word "futehodo," the nickname of the series.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 2, 2024
Japan¡¯s 2024 buzzword of the year urges a reevaluation of past norms
¡°¹ó³Ü³Ù±ð³ó´Ç»å´Ç¡± ¡ª a nickname for a TV drama that depicts the generational gap between the Showa and Reiwa eras ¡ª has been crowned the most trending word of 2024.
The topics nominated for this year¡¯s buzzwords of the year ranged from new banknotes and Olympian quips to political scandals and rice shortages.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Nov 5, 2024
From cat memes to Olympians with too much rizz, these are Japan¡¯s 2024 buzzword nominations
The buzzword of the year, along with the top 10 picks, will be decided from the 30 nominated terms on Dec. 2.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 15, 2023
Despite a taxing year, 2023¡¯s top kanji still draws questions
In a year of major crises around the world, Japanese voters pick the kanji for ¡°zei,¡± meaning ¡°tax,¡± based on a plan yet to be implemented.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 1, 2023
Japan¡¯s 2023 buzzword of the year is all about winning
A.R.E ¡ª based on the Japanese word ¡°are¡± (¡°that¡±) ¡ª took the top spot, after the Hanshin Tigers popularized the term as an indirect reference to victory.
The words of encouragement that star player Shohei Ohtani gave his teammates before their final game against the United States during the World Baseball Classic in March were among those nominated on Thursday to be the buzzwords of the year.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Nov 2, 2023
Japan¡¯s 2023 buzzwords reflect light and dark sides of the year
From the year¡¯s scandals to its champions, the annual list of buzzword candidates highlights the nation¡¯s hope, fears and diversions.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 16, 2022
If you thought 2022 was a battle, this year¡¯s top kanji pick shows you weren¡¯t alone
The kanji of the year for 2022 is used for wars and struggles, while this year¡¯s buzzwords referenced sports lingo and a Norwegian pop tune.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Dec 16, 2022
Merriam-Webster¡¯s word of the year is ¡®gaslighting,¡¯ and don¡¯t try to tell us there isn¡¯t a Japanese equivalent
Merriam-Webster saw a huge spike in people looking up the word ¡°gaslighting¡± in 2022, and Japan is also no stranger to the concept.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 10, 2021
Sports, silent meals and ¡®Shut Up!¡¯: What Japan was talking about in 2021
The year¡¯s top buzzwords were announced to great fanfare, but the real word on everyone¡¯s lip last week was ¡®omicron.¡¯
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Dec 10, 2021
How do this year¡¯s English buzzwords translate into Japanese?
Collins Dictionary announced its ¡®Word of the Year¡¯ and technology-related terms came out on top.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 1, 2021
Buzzwords in Japan 2021: Ohtani and Tokyo Olympics loomed large
The language of the pandemic, while still present, took a back seat to phrases and words inspired by Shohei Ohtani, Thomas Bach, Yoshiro Mori and other sports-related figures.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 8, 2020
Japan¡¯s 2020 buzzwords still contain a sense of whimsy in spite of trying times
At the start of the year it was expected that 2020¡¯s buzzwords would all be related to the Olympics. Oh, how quickly that can change.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 1, 2020
Viral hit: ¡®Sanmitsu¡¯ ¡ª the ¡®Three Cs¡¯ ¡ª declared Japan¡¯s buzzword of 2020
The ¡®Three Cs¡± approach to the pandemic, popularized by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, refers to avoiding closed spaces, crowds and close-contact situations.
CULTURE
Dec 1, 2020
Amabie: Folklore apparition generated a big buzz in 2020
The long-haired, beak-faced amabie, which forecasts bountiful harvests and killer epidemics, has found itself in Japan¡¯s spotlight in recent months.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 2, 2019
Japanese rugby¡¯s ¡®One Team¡¯ motto declared buzzword of 2019
¡°One Team,¡± Japan¡¯s slogan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was picked as buzzword of the year on Monday after the Brave Blossoms thrilled fans with their historic advance to the top eight.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Nov 8, 2019
Japan¡¯s rugby, disasters and social change generate buzzwords in 2019
The 2019 Rugby World Cup, natural disasters and cashless payment inspired a large portion of the nominations for the annual buzzword of the year awards.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 3, 2018
¡¯³§´Ç»å²¹²Ô¨¥¡¯: Japan uses top buzzword of 2018 to end year on a high note
After months of scandals in sports, politics ¡ª and society as a whole ¡ª the top buzzword of 2018, announced Monday, struck a strikingly positive tone as the year winds down.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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