Ahead of the end of the year, candidates for the ‘New Word/Bad Word Award’ were revealed in Japan. The ’10 yen bread’, which originated from Korean tourist attractions, and the ‘Y2K’ fashion led by K-pop were also included, making the influence of the Korean Wave tangible.
According to NHK, the ‘New Word and Buzzword Award’ selection committee selected 30 keywords covering the 2023 social situation, including popular culture, sports, information and communication (IT) technology, and crime, and announced them on the 2nd.
The first candidate was “I’m wearing pants!,” a catchphrase by a Japanese comedian who appeared on the British TV show “Britain’s Got Talent.” He went up on stage in his underwear and posed in various poses while shouting the line, which made the judges burst into laughter.
The Osaka area baseball team that won the Central League for the first time in 18 years, ‘Are (It)’, which Hanshin Tigers fans have been talking about, was also selected. The reason it is expressed as ‘are’ rather than a victory is a small consideration from the fans to prevent the players from being overly conscious of the victory.
The popular animation ‘My Favorite Child’ also ranked 11th. In addition to the work, the group YOASOBI’s song ‘Idol’ became a hit, sparking a dance challenge craze among Korean idols. The number of views of the idol’s music video on the video platform reaches 350 million times.
Among them, the keywords where the influence of the Korean Wave can be felt are the 15th candidate ’10 yen bread’ and the 30th candidate Y2K.
‘10 yen bread’ is popularly sold in Japan. (Source: Japan 10 Yen Bread website) 2023.11.02/10 yen bread is literally a cheese bread made in the shape of a 10 yen coin and is popular among young people. Branches such as Shin-Okubo and Harajuku are increasing. The original is known as the ’10 won bread’ made at a Korean tourist destination. However, the price is 500 yen (about 4,470 won) instead of 10 yen.
Y2K is an abbreviation for ‘Year2000’ and is recently used as a term to encompass all fashion that dominated the 2000s. Elle Japan cited BLACKPINK and NewJeans as examples and featured the Y2K brands they like to wear, saying they are “leading the world’s fashion trends and now playing a role in creating a boom.” It is characterized by matching a short-length top with baggy pants-like baggy bottoms.
Elle Japan dated March 5, 2023, ‘From BLACKPINK to TWICE! A capture of an article related to Y2K fashion published under the title ‘8 popular brands that Korean idols are currently into’. 2023.11.02/In addition, there are keywords related to the relaxation of new coronavirus infection regulations such as ‘Class 5 (same level as flu among the grades under Japan’s Infectious Disease Act)’ and ‘Overtourism’, as well as keywords representing technology trends such as ‘Generative AI’ and ‘ChatGPT’. included. ‘Sexual Gahae’ was also included as a candidate in relation to Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual exploitation of minors, which was investigated by the UN Human Rights Committee.
The committee said, “(This year), in addition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there were many more serious and dark problems such as the Palestinian issue, the low yen, and rising prices. “I hope that this will be an era in which bright and energetic words emerge without anyone being discriminated against,” he added.
The grand prize for new words and buzzwords will be announced along with the top 10 keywords on December 1.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.