Top 60 Japanese buzzwords of 2007

November 19, 2007 9:47 PM

Child-bearing machines, net café refugees and bottom-biting bugs: Top 60 Japanese buzzwords of 2007.
posted by mediareport (16 comments total)

But we still have a month and a bit to go! And as everyone knows - December is *the* prime time for buzzword creation and circulation!
posted by gomichild at 10:07 PM on November 19, 2007

At first glance I was thinking a Japanese company had developed an artificial womb...still neat, though.
posted by Sangermaine at 10:07 PM on November 19, 2007

The whole article is so KY.
posted by wendell at 10:14 PM on November 19, 2007 [2 favorites]

I'll raise you your child-bearing machine for a Baby in a Box.
posted by maryh at 11:32 PM on November 19, 2007

Great post, thanks!
posted by zardoz at 11:39 PM on November 19, 2007

#39 "Monster Parents" is given in katakana, because it's the Japanized version of that English phrase. Turns out to be "monsutaa pearento".

I'm always delighted when I run into borrowed English in Japanese.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:02 AM on November 20, 2007

#44 "Compliance" is another one. コンプライアンス is "konpuraiansu".
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:05 AM on November 20, 2007

Is it really possible there are no buzzwords associated with the Nova English school meltdown? 'Course, "nova" kinda works for that, I guess. Also no va?
posted by Bixby23 at 2:02 AM on November 20, 2007

Damn, I hate monster parents! Somehow, their kids are always the worst kids!
posted by donkeymon at 3:04 AM on November 20, 2007

this is very interesting. thankyou.
posted by es_de_bah at 6:44 AM on November 20, 2007

I know folks who pay regular attention to Japanese politics are probably bored to tears by the list, but it was an interesting little window onto the country for someone like me, who doesn't. The '[more]' links have some great quotes, like Abe after the child-bearing machines thing:

"Together with the public, I would like reconfirm the magnificence of family and of housework."

And I love the comedian who became a politician when his TV career took a hit after he received sexual services from a 16-year-old girl. Turns out he's actually sorta governing ok.
posted by mediareport at 7:02 AM on November 20, 2007

Bixby, there is no "v" sound in Japanese.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 9:58 AM on November 20, 2007

Steven C. Den Beste writes "Bixby, there is no 'v' sound in Japanese."

This relates to Bixby's comment how?
posted by Bugbread at 2:36 PM on November 20, 2007

I'm always delighted when I run into borrowed English in Japanese

Sheez, you're easily amused given that up to 1/3 of useful Japanese is "katakana english", depending on the situation.

Bixby, there is no "v" sound in Japanese.

Yeah there is. U''a should be voiced as "VA", eg. here, even if the "bast" majority can't and/or don't.

Nice post. Pink tentacle is a site that seems to have a lot of stuff I like.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 3:21 PM on November 20, 2007

It's awesome, Heywood. Worth checking frequently.
posted by mediareport at 7:50 PM on November 20, 2007

Heh, I was about to post this... on thanksgiving. Now I know where my brother found it. Great list!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:57 PM on November 22, 2007