Actress Yuki Amami, left, and Olympic softball pitcher Yukiko Ueno hold their awards.

'Arafo,' 'gu' voted most popular words for 2008

Tuesday 02nd December, 11:07 AM JST

TOKYO —

Actress Yuki Amami and comedian Harumi Edo took out the top prizes at the 2008 U-CAN Awards for newly coined words and words in vogue. Amami was attributed with the buzzword “arafo,” which refers to women around their 40s, while Edo was picked for her “gu” said with thumbs up.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s “Not like you,” which he said to a reporter at the press conference held to announce his resignation, made the top 10 but Fukuda declined to accept the award and did not attend the event. His comment was read out on stage, which said: “I’m honored but I will refrain from accepting the award.”

Olympic softball pitcher Yukiko Ueno received an award for “Ueno 413,” a reference to her 413 pitches in three games over two days which saw Japan win its first gold medal in softball.

Also in the top 10 were “izakaya taxi” - a phrase which became popular after hundreds of government officials admitted to receiving beer and other benefits by taxi drivers keen to pick up their fares; “kanikosen” - a novel about poor working conditions in the 1930s but which sold well in 2008 in its reprinted edition; “gerira gou” or guerrilla rain, in reference to the high number of sudden storms this summer; “kokikoreisha” – those aged 75 or older who now account for around 10% of the population; “nabakari kanrishoku” – staff not compensated for overtime due to their “manager” status; and “maizokin” – a reference to the unused pile of government reserve funds and surpluses.

Amami, 41, who starred in TBS drama “Around 40” shown earlier this year, said at the ceremony: “Women around my age have lacked confidence, but we should be more bold. If women are happy the world is beautiful.”

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 37 Total Comments Show All

larguero at 05:28 PM JST - 2nd December

this is a very good thing, to pick the best catchphrases of the year. Arafo I think is used for single women around 40, who decided to work instead of getting married. I told a woman that once and she said I was disrespectful. For women that take good care of themselves, around 40 is their best age.
meiwaku at 05:44 PM JST - 2nd December

At least "Arafo" is slightly clever. But "gu"!? How bad can it get?! daisan. I just didn`t think it could be that stupid and win.
proxy at 07:55 PM JST - 2nd December

Yes, i think herefornow has the complete opposite meaning of "arafo." It is for woman in their 40s that have no family, no fertility, a crappy job and have nothing to look forward to besides eating out with their loser friends at the newest restaurant on their only day off.
herefornow at 08:26 PM JST - 2nd December

larquero and proxy -- thanks for setting me straight. I feel much better for Japan now -- knowing that these are loser unmarried ladies, rather than depressed married ones.
proxy at 09:13 PM JST - 2nd December

I don't know where you hang out herefornow, but the woman I know in their 40s with a family are very satisfied with their lot but the woman in their 40s that never got married are rather miserable.
Luddite at 04:08 AM JST - 3rd December

I hate that 'gu' woman with a deep and abiding passion. Not funny, just annoying. Even more irritating and talentless than most other 'talent' you see on J TV.
CaptDingleheimer at 04:41 AM JST - 3rd December

...and MacArthur was criticized for calling the Japanese "a nation of 12-year olds".
Ah_so at 05:39 AM JST - 3rd December

...and MacArthur was criticized for calling the Japanese "a nation of 12-year olds".

Guuu!
sydenham at 06:03 AM JST - 3rd December

proxy, you nail head-hitter.

I don't know where you hang out herefornow, but the woman I know in their 40s with a family are very satisfied with their lot but the woman in their 40s that never got married are rather miserable.

this is just further evolution of the meaning for "loser dog", popular a couple of years back. As I recall, it was a term for those in their 30's who suffered from the same condition. I guess we can expect a new term in about ten years time, along the lines of arafifu, or an equivalent.
sydenham at 06:06 AM JST - 3rd December

My wife's father has been saying gu, for about 8 years now, and he never won an award. It may be due to the fact that he is neither funny, nor tarented. Just my guess. Still, the foresight is uncanny...
Stonecoldsoba at 12:54 PM JST - 3rd December

If you follow the link provided by Nessie you can find explanations of all 60 candidate expressions.

But I hadn't heard about the diet so I thought 'morning banana' must be something else.
Stonecoldsoba at 01:10 PM JST - 3rd December
1. Saiban Inko (サイバンインコ): interesting use of a parrot mascot to promote the citizen jury system. Will jurors merely parrot what they are told by the prosecutors?
Stonecoldsoba at 01:11 PM JST - 3rd December

(should have checked the preview - for some reason '45.' was removed)

45. Saiban Inko (サイバンインコ):
GW at 03:58 PM JST - 3rd December

I thought gu was ancient news by now, I remember years back in Tokyo you cudnt walk far with out young girls screaming cho beri beri guuu all over the damned place

Stonecold

yeah morning banana ha ha think they got that one wrong LOL
Sammi33 at 09:46 AM JST - 5th December

I think it's kind of sad that most Japanese women only have two choices: get married and be chained to the stove or work and be single.