Japan's 2024 buzzword nominations focused on money and the Paris Olympics, according to a list of nominations released by the organizer of the annual event Tuesday.
News on “uragane mondai” (slush fund scandal) dominated headlines this year after Liberal Democratic Party factions were found to be underreporting the sales of fundraising party tickets.
Other money-related terms included “shin shihei” (new banknotes) — the country recently redesigned the ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes for the first time in 20 years — and “shin NISA” (new NISA investments), a tax-exempt investment program launched this year that aims to entice people to move money from savings to investments. NISA stands for the Nippon Individual Savings Account.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics held over the summer, many words from the competition dominated the nominations, including “bureikin” (breaking) — a sport that was included for the first time. Japanese B-girl Ami Yuasa won gold.
Soundbites from notable Olympians made it onto the list of nominations as well, such as “meigen ga nokosenakatta” (I could’ve said something more quotable) by javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi and, “Yabai, kakkoyosugiru, ore” (Damn, I have too much rizz) by wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda. Both won gold in their respective sports.
An unexpected bronze medal win came from the four-person equestrian team, and the name they used for themselves, "shorō Japan” (nearly elderly Japan) — due to the team's average age being 41.5 — was also nominated. It was Japan's first medal in the sport in 92 years.
Speaking of accomplishments, Shohei Ohtani's historic "50-50" milestone with the Los Angeles Dodgers — being the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season — was also nominated as a buzzword of the year.
Words that trended on social media were also among the nominations, including French social media app BeReal, which became extremely popular this year among young people in Japan, and “neko mīmu” (cat meme) — a viral TikTok trend.
“Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” the title and lyric for Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts’ hit song, was nominated as well, following the popularity of BBBB dance videos using the song on social media, especially among children.
Like last year’s buzzword nominations, tourism-related words made the list, such as “inbaundon” (inbound bowl) — overly expensive seafood bowls often targeting foreign customers — and “konbini fujisan” (Mount Fuji convenience store), referring to disruptive tourists crowding a convenience store to take a picture of Japan's highest peak.
“Reiwa no kome sōdō” (the rice riots in the Reiwa Era), referring to the rice shortage in the summer, and “maina hokenshō ittaika” (My Number and health care card integration) — a controversial government plan to scrap national health care program cards starting in December — were also nominated.
Other terms included “tokuryū" (quasi-gangsters), those involved in crimes like “dark” part-time jobs, and “kasuhara” (customer harassment), or aggressive behavior from customers toward staff.
The buzzword of the year, along with the top 10 picks, will be decided from the 30 nominated terms on Dec. 2 at the annual U-Can Shingo Ryukogo Taisho contest organized by the publishing house Jiyukokuminsha.
Here are all 30 of the nominees, in the order presented by U-Can. Entries by Yukana Inoue, Alyssa I. Smith, Kanako Takahara and Erika Yamazaki.
asai bōru (acai bowl) — アサイーボウル
The acai bowl, a dish originating in Brazil and popularized in Hawaii, first made waves in Japan during the mid-2000s but made a comeback again this year. Made up of a smoothie using acai berries and served with various fruits and granola or cereal on top, the dish has gained traction among Gen Z. Data from recipe site Cookpad shows the number of searches on its platform grew significantly for the first time in 10 years, increasing by 3.75 fold from 2023.
azarashi yōchien (seal nursery) — アザラシ幼稚園
A research and rehabilitation center in the Groningen province of the Netherlands has been livestreaming footage of baby seals in the sanctuary’s pool since 2019. It became a hit in Japan this year when a X post about it went viral, garnering over 54.5 million views.
inbaundon (inbound bowl) — インバウン丼
This term refers to expensive seafood bowls, often sold in areas popular among foreign tourists and costing anywhere upward of from around ¥4,000to over ¥10,000. As the volume of inbound tourists continued to increase this year, the term implied that although visitors had no problem with paying top dollar for high quality food, they were being ripped off. However, the reality is Japanese tourists seem to be indulging just as frequently.
uragane mondai (slush fund scandal) — 裏金問題
This scandal dominated the political news cycle this year. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was rocked after it was revealed that major party factions had underreported funds they had received from selling tickets to fundraising parties.
Although the funds themselves are not illegal, failing to properly report them as political funds is. The scandal led to the indictments of lawmakers and faction treasurers. Eventually Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigned to take responsibility for the scandal.
kaiwai (in the community) — 界隈
The word, which in its original meaning is defined as “in the area,” took on a different nuance as it was popularized among Gen Z. Often seen in online slang, it has come to mean “people in related communities or sharing similar interests groups.” For instance, a popular grouping of people that ignited an online discourse this year was the “furo kyanseru kaiwai” — the “bath cancel group” — which pointed to those who can’t be bothered to take a shower at the end of the day and believe people can go for a couple of days without taking a bath.
kasuhara (customer harassment) — カスハラ
This phrase, which describes aggressive behavior and unreasonable demands from customers, was popularized this year, as awareness of this problematic behavior spread in the service industry. This was accompanied by reports of the victims of such harassment suffering mental disorders as a result of the stress, even to the point of suicide. In a first for the nation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government passed an ordinance in October to protect workers.
The term “harassment” itself has seen wide use in recent years. In addition to the common terms such as sexual harassment and power harassment, other forms of harassment has been coined, such as maru hara (the “period harassment”), a phenomenon in which the younger generation feels pressured by elders who use periods to end their text messages.
conbini fujisan (convenience store Mount Fuji ) — コンビニ富士山
Following last year’s trend, the number of inbound tourists has continued to swell, at times leading to issues with overtourism. The issue came to head at a Lawson convenience store near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, where tourists converged to snap a picture of the store with the iconic mountain in the background — i.e., Japan in a nutshell. Frustrated with visitors who would litter, trespass and block traffic, the town erected mesh barrier to block the view and dissuade tourists from coming.
With the popularity of Mount Fuji as a tourist attraction, Yamanashi Prefecture also implemented other overtourism measures such as charging an entrance fee and limiting the number of climbers that can enter the mountain through the most popular trail.
“Samurai Taimu Surippā” (“Samurai Time Slipper”) — “侍タイムスリッパー”
“Samurai Time Slipper” — “A Samurai in Time” in English — is shaping up to be one of this year's most surprising success stories. This loving homage to the jidaigeki (period drama) genre centers on a samurai who is struck by lightning and time-travels to a modern-day period film studio, where he plays a "character to be killed.” Although the film debuted at a single theater in August, it has since become a word-of-mouth sensation with screenings at theaters nationwide. It’s now ranking at No. 6 at the box office — an impressive achievement for a project with a tiny budget and only around 10 crew members.
Director Junichi Yasuda was inspired after seeing Koji Yakusho in a lottery commercial, playing a samurai who travels through time. This sparked an image of actor Seizo Fukumoto, famously known as "the man who was slashed 50,000 times" for his many roles as characters who meet violent ends.
shorō Jyapan (elderly Japan) — 初老ジャパン
The phrase refers to Japan's Olympic equestrian team, who named themselves “elderly Japan,” as their average age is 41.5 and their eldest member is 48-year-old Yoshiaki Oiwa. The team won the bronze, giving a boost to middle-aged people across the country.
The popularity of the nickname, Oiwa said after winning the medal, has also helped promote a relatively minor sport in Japan.
shin shihei (new banknotes) — 新紙幣
New banknotes featuring entrepreneur Eiichi Shibusawa, higher education pioneer Umeko Tsuda and bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato were unveiled in July. It was the first time in 20 years that new banknotes have been issued by the Bank of Japan. As the bills incorporated the latest anti-counterfeit technologies, retailers, railway operators and banks had to update their machines to accept the new banknotes.
shin NISA (new NISA investments) — 新NISA
The New NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account), launched on Jan. 1, is a revised tax-exempted investment scheme, designed to encourage individuals to transition from traditional savings to investment-based wealth accumulation.
It significantly enhances the annual contribution limits and offers broader access to a range of financial instruments, including stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The updated structure aims to increase individual participation in the capital markets by providing tax exemptions on investment returns, such as dividends, and capital gains.
sofuto rōgai (soft old timer) — ソフト老害
Coined by former broadcast writer Osamu Suzuki in his book “How to Quit a Job,” the term “sofuto rōgai” (“soft old timer”) describes a situation in which someone aiming to mediate between older and younger generations unintentionally becomes a source of frustration or annoyance to the younger people they are trying to help. Despite their good intentions, their efforts are often seen as disruptive or counterproductive by the younger generation.
Used in a self-deprecating manner by Suzuki, the term suggests that although one may not be old enough to be a “rōgai” — an older person in a leadership position that harms an organization’s vitality with outdated thinking — those in their 30s or 40s could unknowingly be exerting a more subtle version of such an attitude.
tokuryū (quasi-gangsters ) —トクリュウ
Tokuryū became widely known after quasi-gangsters who thrive on anonymity and a lack of structure were linked to burglaries committed by people who responded to “dark” part-time jobs posted on social media.
The National Police Agency coined the term tokuryū to classify individuals involved in dark part-time jobs and quasi-gangsters. The words tokumei (anonymous) and ryūdo (fluid) reflect the characteristics of such individuals, who often operate without knowing one another and can easily disperse and regroup Tokuryū are said to be involved in a series of burglaries occurring in the Kanto region.
nankai torafu jishin rinnji jōhō (Nankai Trough Earthquake Warning) — 南海トラフ地震臨時情報
Nankai Trough megaquake alert refers to a special alert issued, for the first time, by the Japan Meteorological Agency on Aug. 8. It warned of a possible major quake along the Nankai Trough, a seismically active zone located off the nation’s southern coast.
Announcing the alert after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook Miyazaki Prefecture, the agency warned of the heightened risk of a large-scale earthquake, often accompanied by a potential tsunami. The region is known for strong earthquakes, including the 1946 Nankai earthquake. The alert, which was partly aimed at encouraging people to be vigilant and take precautionary measures, was lifted a week later.
neko mīmu (cat meme) — 猫ミーム
Cat memes took the internet, especially TikTok, by a storm this year. Neko mīmu refers to a video trend in which users post videos telling stories or relatable anecdotes, accompanied by clips of cats emoting and soundbites that convey this feeling.
It originally took off after a video of a cat jumping up and down with the song “My Happy Song” in the background.
“Hai Yorokonde” (“Yes, I Would Be Happy To”) — “はいよろこんで”
“Hai Yorokonde” ("Yes, I Would be Happy To") by Kocchi no Kento and released in May is an upbeat yet melancholic pop song about the struggles of salarymen facing overwhelming stress and societal pressure. Its music video, with its cheerful, retro-inspired animation by Kazuya Kanehisa, masks a darker theme: the tension between the true feelings of everyday Japanese trying to push themselves to their limits and the country’s culture of not rocking the boat.
The video went viral after its release, surpassing 100 million views on YouTube and charting in Japan and globally. The dance that accompanies the chorus — “giri giri dansu” (“just barely dance”) — also went viral on social media, with many artists and influencers jumping on the bandwagon.
8-ban Deguchi (Exit No. 8) —８番出口
This refers to an indie video game called 8-ban Deguchi (Exit No.8), which features players trapped in a subway passageway. To escape, players have to navigate the subway system to reach Exit No. 8. The game became popular among online players for its psychological horror and realistic visuals. The walking simulation, inspired by Japanese subways, requires players to notice odd incidents as they walk through passages to reach the exit.
“Hate?” (“Huh?”) — “はて？”
Broadcaster NHK’s serial morning drama “Tora no Tsubasa” (“The Tiger and Her Wings”) captivated audiences with its timely themes of gender inequality. The series, centered on Tomoko Inotsume (Sairi Ito), is inspired by Yoshiko Mibuchi, one of Japan's first female lawyers. Set in prewar and early postwar Japan, the series follows Tomoko’s journey to become a judge as she challenges societal norms that expect educated women to leave their careers, marry and become homemakers. Tomoko often questions sexist conventions and remarks by expressing doubt with a simple, pointed “Hate?” — a phrase that underscores her defiance.
BeReal
The social media app BeReal, which was initially released in 2020 by a French company, has gained mass popularity internationally over the past several years. It saw over 73.5 million active users worldwide at the peak of its popularity in August 2022.
A little late to the trend, Japan saw widespread usage, especially among the younger generation this year, with the number of monthly active users having increased by tenfold between January of 2023 and 2024, according to statistics by data company Sensor Tower.
Hidankyō (Nihon Hidankyo) — 被団協
Nihon Hidankyo, an atomic bomb survivors group based in Nagasaki and Hiroshima prefectures, made the list after the group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
Hidankyo’s name had been a possible contender for the peace prize many times over the past several decades, but its members said they were completely caught off-guard. The announcement came ahead of next year’s 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings on the two cities, which saw an estimated total of 210,000 casualties.
50-50
The phrase “50-50” refers to MLB two-way player Shohei Ohtani’s historic record of 50 homers and 50 steals in a single season, making him the first player to reach the record which wowed fans in Japan and the United States. Ohtani ended the season with 54 home runs and 59 steals. Although joining the 50-50 club may have been the highlight of Ohtani’s season, he has been in the news throughout the year.
His right-hand man and translator Ippei Mizuhara was arrested for allegedly wiring money from Ohtani’s bank account without his knowledge to the tune of $16 million (¥2.4 billion) in bank fraud. Japanese media was all over the news when he announced his marriage to former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka. And the Dodgers went on to win the World Series — a dream come true for Ohtani and his teammates.
“Futehodo” (“Extremely Inappropriate!”) — “ふてほど”
“Futehodo” is short for a Japanese TV drama titled “Futekisetsu nimo Hodo ga Aru!” (“Extremely Inappropriate!”).
The drama, which revolves around a middle-aged father figure from the Showa Era (1926-89) who time-travels to the Reiwa Era (2019-present), highlights the clash between his old-fashioned values and the modern world.
Emphasizing how past norms and values no longer apply today, the drama focuses on how the characters confront inappropriate behavior, such as sexual and power harassment.
“Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”
Hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts scored an unexpected international hit with "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born," the opening theme for the anime “Mashle: Magic and Muscles.” Released in January, the track quickly became Japan’s breakout song of 2024, boosted by its anime tie-in, a dance coined the “BBBB dance” and a fast tempo that aligns with global pop trends, which also saw mass popularity among young children.
The song has racked up millions of views on TikTok and YouTube, topped local streaming charts and debuted at No. 2 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50. With bouncy beats and signature chair squeaks, its Jersey club influence underscores a shift in the music scene: Anime songs are now a mainstream force within J-pop.
bureikin (breaking) — ブレイキン
One of the newest additions to the Olympic games, bureikin (breaking, or breakdancing) was introduced as a sport in the competition for the first time in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Japanese B-girl Ami (real name, Ami Yuasa) won the gold medal representing Japan. Dancer Ayumi (real name, Ayumi FukushimaI) ranked 5th in the women’s section, while Shigekix (real name, Shigeyuki Nakarai) and Hiro10 (real name, Hiroto Ono) ranked 4th and 14th, respectively, in the men’s section.
howaito anken (white jobs) — ホワイト案件
“Howaito anken” (“white jobs”), as opposed to jobs at so-called “black companies,” refers to recruitment listings that appear legitimate but may involve activities that are ethically questionable or even illegal.
Recruiters attract individuals seeking easy work since they promise high pay requiring minimal effort. Alleged perpetrators of the recent series of burglaries in the Tokyo metropolitan area are said to have been recruited via so-called white job postings on social media.
maina hokenshō ipponka (My Number and health care card integration) — マイナ保険証一本化
The term refers to a government initiative to integrate the health insurance card system with the national My Number card system, which are currently two separate cards.
The government plans to stop issuing new health insurance cards from Dec. 2 and integrate the information into My Number card, in hopes of streamlining administrative processes, improving healthcare access and reducing paperwork. However, there are concerns regarding privacy and data security, as the centralization of such sensitive information could lead to potential misuse of data.
meigen ga nokosenakatta (“I could’ve said something more quotable”) — 名言が残せなかった
When javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi won the gold during the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Japanese woman in history to win a gold medal in track and field, other than the marathon, she said: “If there’s one regret, it’s that I could’ve said something more quotable.”
Kitaguchi, with a wry smile, mentioned how exhaustion and language barriers — mixing Japanese with English and Czech — prevented her from coming up with a catchphrase.
“Mō ē deshō” (“Isn’t this enough?”) — “もうええでしょう”
In “Tokyo Swindlers,” Netflix’s flashy series about real-estate scammers, Pierre Taki’s character Goto frequently uses the catchphrase “Mō ē deshō” (“Isn’t this enough?”). Goto, a lawyer skilled in document forgery and manipulation, often says this phrase to break tension or escape tricky situations. The line quickly went viral on social media, with fans calling it addictive and fun to use.
In response to the buzz, Netflix Japan shared a compilation of Goto’s variations on the phrase, even suggesting it could be used in business negotiations or long meetings for extra flair.
“Yabai, kakkoyosugiru, ore” (“Oh my God, I have too much rizz”) — “やばい、かっこよすぎる俺”
The phrase “Yabai, kakkoyosugiru ore” (meaning “Oh my god, I have too much rizz”) was famously said by 18-year-old Tokito Oda after winning the gold medal in wheelchair tennis at the Paris Paralympics.
Oda became the youngest-ever male singles champion in the sport’s history, achieving the top spot after an incredible comeback victory. He made the remark right after he made history, and his spontaneous remark quickly went viral instantly.
Reiwa no komesōdō (the rice riots in the Reiwa Era) — 令和の米騒動
The term emerged from the rice shortage in Japan this summer when many supermarkets completely sold out of the food staple.Komesōdō refers to rice shortages in the past that caused citizens to wage a riot against authorities.
This year, the shortage was driven by several factors: a continuous reduction in rice planting acreage; a decrease in the proportion of premium rice due to heat damage in some regions; and a strained supply of 2023 harvest rice.
Additionally, the large numbers of foreign tourists led to a sharp increase in rice consumption by the restaurant industry. The shortage raised concerns about food security and sparked discussions about the country’s reliance on domestic rice production and the need for agricultural reforms.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.