While hamming it up before the TV cameras on a diving board last September, entertainer "Sugi-chan" (real name: Eiji Sugiyama) suffered a fractured thoracic vertebrae.

Wild, right? Or as the chunky 39-year-old entertainer — easily recognizable in his blue denim shirt with cutoff sleeves and short pants — likes to put it, ワイルドだろぉ (wairudo darō, I'm wild, aren't I)?

Sugi-chan's trademark catchphrase was named winner of the 2012 ユーキャン流行語大賞 (U-CAN ryūkōgo taishō, U-CAN buzzword grand prix) at the awards ceremony on Dec. 3. The annual event has been held since 1984. Below are some of the other Top 10 winners: