Sugoi Stuff

Here are Jiyu Kokumin-sha’s Top 10 Ryukogo Taisho (Japanese Buzzwords) for 2007:

Rank #1
Dogenka, sen to ikan
Somehow, we have to do it
– Miyazaki Governor Higashikokubaru Hideo
during his exhortation before the assembly of his economically ailing prefecture

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #2
Hanikami Oji
Bashful Prince
– refering to Ishikawa Ryo, 16 year-old golf prodigy

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #3
Kieta nenkin
vanished pension funds
–Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Masuzoe Yoichi
describing the mismanagement of pension payment records by the Social Insurance Agency

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #4
Sonna no kankei nee
It doesn’t matter!
– comedian Kojima Yoshio
while doing his infamous comedic routine

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #5
Dondake
Really?! or No way!
– popular transvestite TV personality, Ikko
expresses disbelief or surprise
used among membres of the Shinjuku 2-chome gay community

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #6
Donkanryoku
the power of insensitivity
– author Watanabe Junichi
in his best-selling book of the same title, pertains to having a “thick skin” or the ability to stay relaxed and not being paranoid over little mishaps

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #7
*no winner*
Shokuhin giso
false labeling of foods
– Japanese media
coined from stories revealing manufacturers’ mislabeling the contents of food products, disregard for the freshness dates of ingredients or use of slipshod sanitation methods

Photo from: Sugoistuff

Rank #8
Netto kafe nanmin
Net cafe refugees
– author Kawasaki Shohei
through his eponymous book about people down on their luck who are forced to seek shelter in cafes

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #9
Ogui
big eating
– awarded to TV “food fighter” and pop singer, Gal Sone

Photo from: Singojiyu

Rank #10
Moushobi
extremely hot day
– officially coined by the Meteorological Agency
refers to days when temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and above

Photo from: Singojiyu

Source: Singojiyu