hey, mike: Okinawan meals

I want to treat my parents to a traditional Okinawan meal during an upcoming visit, and I really want to surprise them with something truly unique and unusual. Any suggestions?

— Shari Wilcox

Okinawa is famed throughout Japan for using ingredients in traditional meals that are healthy and delicious. While some foods and ingredients can be considered a bit strange for many first-time eaters, that doesn’t mean diners shouldn’t brave some of Okinawa’s more unique ingredients and dishes. They might even be surprised how good the food actually tastes.

Visitors to the “island of the long-lived” should not leave without enjoying a few of the island’s more popular dishes, such as Okinawa soba (thick buckwheat noodles in a savory broth usually topped with pork), gôyâ champuru (a vegetable stir-fry made with the eminently healthy bitter melon), the sâtâ andagi (the Okinawan doughnut), and the savory pork dish, rafutê. Rafutê is made from pork belly cut into cubes and simmered for hours in a sauce made from dashi (a soup stock made from dried bonito flakes), soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, and awamori (a local spirit).

Other excellent examples of local cuisine that shouldn’t be missed are dishes made from one of the many kinds of local seaweed. Some of the more common varieties include konbu (kelp—used in several traditional Ryukyu dishes and popular in mainland Japan for creating soup stock) and mozuku (a stringy, crunchy seaweed often enjoyed in a vinegary salad). Other seaweeds include âsa (a fine, almost transparent seaweed used in soups), moi (a seaweed that is dried then used to create a gelatin), and the umibudô (affectionately known as the sea grape or “green caviar”).

While seaweeds, Okinawa soba, gôyâ, sâtâ andagi, and rafutê can be considered exotic to some, the island also features several other dishes and ingredients that make gôyâ seem as familiar as a Big Mac or slice of apple pie—such as chirichi and chiragâ.

It is said that many Okinawans enjoy pork so much that they use every part of the pig except the “oink.” Chirichi and chiragâ illustrate this saying with ample gusto.

Chirichi is a dish made from sautéed pig blood. Chi translates into “blood” and irichi (loosely) means “fry together.” This stir-fry was once eaten for medicinal purposes (to cure anemia), and frozen pig’s blood can still be found for sale in the freezers of some rural supermarkets, although it isn’t prepared in the home. Chirichi includes carrots, burdock, leeks, garlic leaves, miso, awamori, and boiled rice. Those who still enjoy chirichi add pork and tofu before serving.

Almost a tourist attraction in itself, chiragâ might remind some of a character in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Chiragâ is literally the face of a pig. It is often smoked and can be eaten like jerky or cut into thin strips and served in soup.

Whether or not it is eaten, chiragâ makes a great conversation piece and has become one of the representative icons of the Makishi Public Market, which is one of the most famous covered markets in Naha City. This market, which is a part of Heiwa Street (a covered arcade perpendicular to Kokusai Street), is an ideal place to enjoy all the traditional Okinawan foods mentioned above while soaking up the local culture.

—Mike Daley

Got questions for Mike? E-mail editor@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

culture corner: Deadly Flowers

You've probably heard of ninjas. From the mutant-turtle types to the pseudo-realistic black-clad assassins featured in a rash of movies during the ‘80s, Americans are pretty familiar with the general concept of a ninja. But, most have probably never heard of the kunoichi.

These deadly flowers (that’s what kunoichi means, by the way) were every bit as highly trained as their male counterparts. These ladies were experts in deception, master spies, ruthless assassins, and skilled escape artists. The kunoichis’ main advantage was their element of surprise—who would expect a fragile, helpless concubine of committing murder or an unobtrusive servant of stealing political secrets?

The kunoichi reached their heyday in the mid-1500s under the influence of an enterprising medieval lady by the name of Chiyome. After being widowed by her husband, Lord Mochizuki Moritoki, Chiyome decided to go into business for herself—by turning her large home and expansive grounds into a clandestine school for female ninjas and then renting them out to nobles in need.

Under the guise of running a halfway house of sorts, Chiyome invited orphans, runaways and the like to live with her and learn some life skills. And, they probably got a whole lot more than they bargained for. Under Chiyome’s tutelage, these young girls learned how to pose as shrine attendants, geisha, and servants. They were taught how to pour tea, dance, look their best, and converse with wealthy lords. They also learned how to defend themselves and kill others with an interesting assortment of weapons.

Since the kunoichi were essentially undercover agents, their weaponry had to be kept hidden in plain sight. The deadly tools of the kunoichi were incorporated into their everyday attire. Their senssu (folding fans) had wickedly sharp edges, perfect for throat-cutting. Their obi (sashes) were versatile accessories that could be used either to entangle their enemy, strangle their enemy, or make a quick getaway down a wall. Their kakute (spiked ring) looked like ordinary rings until they were reversed and small spikes popped out— great for slashing the flesh of enemies. And, forget manicures, deadly flowers could turn their fingers into razor sharp blades with their nekote (steel claws), which they kept in pretty little pouches for easy access. In another ornamental pouch, the kunoichi hid their metsubishi (blinding powder), which could be hurled in an enemy’s face, causing blurred vision and breathing difficulties. (Don’t mix this one up with the blush!)

In addition to having a dazzling arsenal of discreet weaponry, the kunoichi could kick some serious butt. They were rigorously trained in the martial arts, learning how to protect themselves and disable enemies. These multi-talented young women spent countless hours in training, climbing trees, hiding under water, and even learning to dislocate various joints so they could escape if they were all tied up or if they needed to squeeze out of some very tight spaces. James Bond could probably have taken a few lessons from the kunoichi.

So, the next time you think about martial arts virtuosos, don’t forget about the deadly flowers. These women were every bit as dangerous as the testosterone-laden ninjas, if not more so. Many men in the annals of Japanese history discovered that these poor defenseless females were anything but.

—Regena Kowitz

F.O.D. rocks Okinawa hard

Information & photo provided by Kluso

F.O.D.is the name of one of the hottest bands in Okinawa. They are the weekly house band for the famous Club Fujiyama, right outside Kadena’s Gate 2.

Fronted by Rob Emerson, guitar hero extraordinaire, F.O.D. is a powerhouse trio of solid metal rockers. F.O.D. rocks on a regular basis every Friday and Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. as well as the occasional 3-day weekend, holidays and other special occasions such as the renowned Fuji-Fests. Other members of the band include Ka-chyan on bass and Daisuke on drums.

The primary influences for F.O.D.’s live stage include metal bands such as Lamb of God, Godsmack, Kill Switch Engage as well as Metallica and Megadeth. They perform original songs written by band leader Emerson.

Emerson is a former U.S. Marine who decided to stick around Japan and ply his musical trade. The wildman has 30-plus years of rock guitar experience involving various bands in Japan. Emerson was influenced by guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

The hand is enjoying life and has no plans to relocate or change venues, making Club Fuji’s always a good bet. F.O.D. is also working on a CD of their original music hoping to release it soon. You can find more info at <www.clubfuji.com>.

hey, mike: Japanese names

Can you tell me a little about Japanese names?
Do the kanji used have special meanings?

— Richard Young

Like in many other places in the world, Japanese names can often reflect the area that person is born, so names tend to group together by region. These names usually use the same kanji combination as well. For example, there is a high concentration of last names such as Kinjo, Gushiken, and Yamashiro on Okinawa.

First names on the other hand, are a different story. Children are sometimes named after relatives (although different kanji are used to tell them apart) and in some cases, kanji denoting numbers are used in names to differentiate between the first- second- and third-born child. An excellent example of this phenomenon would be lchiro Suzuki (ichi is the kanji for the number one). Many children are also named after famous figures in history, celebrities, heroes and heroines from movies and novels, as well as famous sports figures (the Japanese population of Ichiros has grown a great deal recently).

Although some parents use hiragana characters for their child’s first name, most names tend to be made of kanji characters. Since each and every kanji has its own specific meaning and can also have different pronunciations (which change when used in different combinations with other kanji), choosing an appropriate name for a child can be a daunting task for many parents.

On top of the literally thousands of kanji and different kanji combinations that can be used for the same name, many parents also take into consideration what they want their child to be like as an adult—it is a very popular belief in Japan that a child’s name and its kanji “ spelling” directly affect their fortunes. For example, Keiko is a fairly common Japanese female name. However, more than 70 variations of the kanji for Keiko exist, and the meaning of each and every one differs depending on the characters used. The total number of strokes used to write both the child’s first and last name is also believed to be a factor in determining the difference between an auspicious fate and a bad destiny.

During ancient times when parents chose a kanji for the name of their child, they usually picked each individual character specifically for its meaning. For example, the kanji character for child, ko, was commonly used as the end of female names (such as Keiko) because the character also evoked purity and represented something precious. The character mi (also read as bi) was also a popular kanji to use in girls’ names, because it literally denotes beauty.

Characters that have enjoyed popularity since ancient days for boys’ names include dai, which means “large," ta, which means “great,” and gen, which means “origin." Popular characters for both boys’ and girls’ names include examples such as yu (courage), kou (happiness), sei (success), jo (upward), and ayumi(u) (forward progress).

Kanji that represent images are also popular for names. Natural images, phenomenon, the four seasons, colors, and jewels often find their ways into many children’s names. Some of the more popular are snow (yuki), the ocean (kai), summer (natsu), and the kanji for sun (ta or tai) and moon (tsuki).

A survey conducted by Benesse Corp. found that in 2007, Hiroto was the most popular name for boys and Hina topped Japan’s favorite names for newborn girls.

—Mike Daley

Got questions for Mike? E-mail editor@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

hey, mike: Uchinâguchi

I have studied a little bit of Japanese and lived in mainland Japan for a few years before coming to Okinawa. Does Okinawa have its own language? If so, can you teach me a few phrases?

—Linus Harrison

Although the official national language is Nihongo (Japanese), many people of the Ryukyu Archipelago, especially members of the elder generation, still communicate in tongues considered unique to the southern islands of Amami, Okinawa, and the Sakishima chain. And on Okinawa, this local language is known as Uchinâguchi.

While many of the local forms of verbal communication share some of the same roots as Nihongo and are considered offshoot dialects (called hogen), each of these southern languages is unintelligible to many people in mainland Japan. In some cases, residents of islands less than 30 minutes away by plane would need a translator to speak to each other in their native tongue.

Archeological evidence suggests that the Ryukyu Islands were originally settled while still connected to Taiwan and the Asian land mass during ancient times. It is also believed that Hokkaido, located in the northern portion of mainland Japan, was also connected via land bridges and ice during the winter. Many think that this connection explains the similarities in the roots of the languages—no matter how dissimilar they may seem.

Initially, varying dialects were spoken throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago. However, during the 15th century, the kingdom of Chuzan "unified” the three Ryukyu Kingdoms (consisting of Hokuzan in the north, Chuzan in the center and Nanzan in the southern portion of the island), and annexed the Amami and Sakishima island groups. During this period, many members of the upper classes throughout the kingdom became fluent in the Shuri dialect (Shuri being the capital of Chuzan). Over time, even though local dialects were still used by merchants and commoners, they were slowly influenced by Shuri speech patterns. Almost all traditional court poems and music from the Ryukyu Kingdom, many of which are still read and performed today, were written in the Shuri dialect.

During the 17th century, the Ryukyu Kingdom fell under the influence of the Satsuma Shogunate. However, since the mainland Japanese controlled the Ryukyu Islands through the Shuri government (to maintain lucrative trade with China), the Shuri dialect remained in use until the early 1900s.

After the establishment of Okinawa as the 47th prefecture of Japan, Japanese replaced Uchinâguchi as the standard language throughout the southern islands. The use of local languages was not only discouraged, in some Okinawa schools speaking a single word of Uchinâguchi earned students a stiff punishment. And, during the last days of World War II, some Okinawans caught speaking the local tongue were distrusted and even branded as spies by members of the Japanese military.

Today, even as many younger Okinawans have difficulties communicating with their grandparents and katakana (written Japanese characters reserved exclusively for foreign languages) is used to write Uchinâguchi, many older Okinawans continue to speak their language with pride—working hard to ensure that the language of the Ryukyu Kingdom does not die with them.

Following are a few words and phrases in Uchinâguchi:

Good Morning
Ukimi so chi

Hello
Haisai

How do you do?
Hajimiti wuga nabira

Thank you very much
Nifé débiru

Good bye
Guburi sabira

Friend
Dushi

—Mike Daley

Got questions for Mike? E-mail editor@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

culture corner: Kit Kats

As the delicate sakura (cherry blossom) buds begin to bloom, Japanese supermarkets also witness a sudden explosion of pink on the shelves: boxes and boxes of special edition sakura-flavored chocolate wafers treasured by all ages. The coming of spring is celebrated by both nature and by the ever-enterprising Nestlé KitKat.

KitKats were invented by British candy company Rowntree in 1935 and were known as Chocolate Crisp until 1937. The candy supposedly derived its name from a 1920s London literary club. Another theory claims the cherished chocolate took its name from kitkat paintings made to fit in small spaces. Japan, however, is accredited with the most creative KitKat concepts—from the flavors to the packaging.

In Japan, presentation counts, even for simple things like food packaging. When it comes to KitKats, Japan definitely thinks outside the wrapper. KitKats come in the conventional boxed four-piece variety, but also come in party packs (filled with about 30 individually wrapped KitKats), jars containing four big bars, and even a single KitKat stick.

Not only are KitKats the bestselling candy bar in Japan, but there are also more than 45 flavors unique to the Land of the Rising Sun. Here, KitKats are not only manufactured in the conventional flavors of chocolate and white, but also apple, fruit parfait, peach, yubari melon (cantaloupe), bitter chocolate, brandy and orange, blood orange, Café Latte, Hokkaidô milk, lemon cheesecake, mango, kiwi, white maple syrup, red wine, noir (dark, bitter chocolate with nut cream between the wafers and dusted cocoa power on top), passion fruit, and extra creamy. To suit the Japanese palate, Nestlé also developed flavors such as matcha milk (green tea and milk), azuki (red bean), matcha kakigori (shaved ice) topped with condensed milk and azuki, and even a gourmet Japan KitKat series that included “Exotic Tokyo” (chocolate and raspberry), “Exotic Kansai” (passion fruit, ginger, lemon, and orange), “Exotic Hokkaido” (creamy white milk chocolate and blueberry), and “Exotic Kyushu” (mango, white chocolate, orange, and caramel) flavors created to reflect each region of Japan.

Before major school exams, it’s a tradition for worried parents and anxious students to flock to the nearest convenience store and supermarket to purchase a couple of boxes of KitKats for sweet success. This tradition arose via a stealth advertising campaign by the Japanese Nestlé division. The main target of the campaign was Japan’s teenage population. The first part of this campaign involved hotels giving away free KitKat bars as “lucky charms” to students who came to the city to take the prestigious junken (high school/ college entrance exams). The company published ads in the form of cute fictitious stories about teachers who handed out KitKats to encourage their students to succeed, mothers who presented their children with KitKats before exams, and students who went out and bought KitKats for good luck. The name KitKat actually sounds very similar to the Japanese phrase “Kitto katsu!” meaning “You’ll win!” Soon the traditional good luck meal of katsudon (breaded pork cutlets over rice— considered a lucky charm because it contains the word katsu, meaning win) yielded to the KitKat.

So before final exams, the next PSAT or SAT or even the annual Terra Nova test, slip in a Kit Kat bar for luck next to that apple or pack of whole grain crackers.

—Mina Furusho

hey, mike: Japanese knives

When I was in one of the large grocery stores in Naha, I saw an exhibition involving a sushi chef cutting up a giant tuna with a giant knife that looked like a sword. What kind of knife was he using? Are they custom-made?

— Billy Chapel

In Japan, there are several different types of traditional edged instruments used in different, sometimes specialized, applications. Knives in general are called hôchô and come in all shapes and sizes. The three most common hôchô used by preparers of sushi and sashimi are the yanagi-bôchô, the deba-bôchô, and the usuba-bôchô. The yanagi-bôchô is used to make thin slices of fish or meat and is often referred to as the sushi knife or sashimi knife in the West. An average, yanagi-hôchô’s blade tends to range from 8 to 12 inches in length. The larger version of the yanagi-bôchô, called the maguro-bôchô (tuna knife) or oroshi-bôchô (preparation knife) can reach lengths of four feet and cost several thousand dollars. The deba-bôchô is a shorter knife used primarily by sushi chefs for cleaning fish. It has a very thick and heavy blade appropriate for chopping off fish heads and tails. Less expensive versions made of stainless steel can be found in the majority of Japanese homes. The usuba-bôchô is often referred to as the vegetable knife. It is used in sushi bars to create paper-thin gari (paper-thin pickled ginger roots used to cleanse the palate) as well as the thread-like strips of daikon often used as a garnish.

Many hôchô, especially those used by sushi chefs, are forged using the same methods as the legendary katana sword—making some of them extremely expensive. Oftentimes, the primary challenge for a smith making an edged instrument is finding the delicate balance between sharpness and durability. Ancient Japanese smiths understood that to attain the best of both worlds, a blade made by welding a durable, low-carbon steel core to a high-carbon steel outer jacket and firing and cooling the two parts “separately” was the answer.

As it is often folded hundreds or thousands of times, the high-carbon steel used for hagane (edge metal) can retain a sharp edge for an extremely long time, but is very brittle. An edged instrument made entirely out of the material would crack or even shatter after only a little use. Low-carbon steel (called shingane, or core metal), on the other hand, has a great deal of “give” and is very durable, but dulls easily and often bends under pressure. However, when carefully melded and augmented with the expert smith’s skill, these component metals become something amazingly sharp and strong.

Today, the creation of a Japanese blade using traditional processes is still regarded as one of the highest forms of metal craft in the world. Whether the blade is a modern-day katana or an expert sushi chef’s blade used to filet a 400-pound yellowfin tuna, the same amount of dedication, precision, reverence, and history are poured into each and every blade—just as it was during the days of the samurai.

—Mike Daley

Got questions for Mike? E-mail editor@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

Hospital’s EDIS department helps ease developmental delays

Lance Cpl. David Rogers
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF

Ann Marshall always had a hard time answering when other parents and kids asked the same question: “Why isn’t he talking?” She couldn’t really answer because she never really knew why her 18-month-old son, Wesley, wasn’t talking.

When the pediatrician recommended her son attend therapy at Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, she didn’t take it well. She didn’t like the thought of Wesley ending up in a special education class.

“I was devastated — is probably a good word,” said Marshall, a stay-at-home mom. “I don’t know if it scared me or just made me wonder what I didn’t do for him.”

With advancements in detection tools used to identify children with developmental delays, more children are getting needed treatment, according to Lt. Cmdr. Arlene Saitzyk, a clinical psychologist with EDIS.

The mission of EDIS, a department of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, is to maximize the educational potential of children who have developmental delays or who are at risk for developmental delays.

The Early Intervention Services is one of the most important services the department’s staff would like all parents to know about, according to Saitzyk. Early Intervention Services screen children ages three and younger for early development issues.

“A child’s brain develops quickly in the first three years,” Tanenbaum said, “more than any other time in a person’s life. People used to believe they were just playing and children didn’t learn anything until they entered school. Now, we know it’s the first few years that are the most important.”

The Early Intervention Services of EDIS has a team of early childhood educators, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers, child psychologists and developmental pediatricians.

The same professionals helped Marshall realize her child’s speech difficulties were not her fault. Wesley’s speech appears to be his only deficiency, and when his speech abilities catch up with his peers, he won’t need to attend a special needs program in pre-school.

“A lot of times they go through our program, quickly building skills, and they don’t need special education,” said Doreen Tanenbaum, an early childhood special educator for EDIS. “That’s the beauty of early intervention.”

Parents can use a simple questionnaire to rate the frequency of specific communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, personal and social abilities their baby should have.

After analyzing the questionnaire, Early Intervention Service staff members call parents for further evaluations of children who show significant deficiencies in any area, according to Tanenbaum. Parents and Early Intervention Service staff conduct a comprehensive interview with the children to mutually decide what’s best for the child and set up an individual family support plan.

“Parents are the children’s first teacher and the teacher that will be with them for the rest of their lives,” Tanenbaum said. “Giving them the skills they need in the home is very important”

A medical evaluation can be performed on children suspected of having medical conditions contributing to their developmental delays, according to Army Maj. Michelle Ervin, a developmental pediatrician with EDIS.

“If a child is found to have significant enough delays, part of the reason could be an underlying issue,” Ervin said.

Marshall and her son have attended therapy at EDIS for almost a year. Currently, they attend a transition class to prepare him for pre-school at Bob Hope Primary School. Marshall says EDIS therapies helped her son, who is now two, control his temper, perform daily routines and improve his overall behavior. Wesley hasn’t started talking yet, but Marshall is better prepared for her son to attend special needs classes and is grateful for the progress EDIS professionals helped her son make.

“If I say kisses and hugs, he understands,” Marshall said. “I am just waiting to hear him say ‘I love you momma.'”

Parents interested in having their child screened should call EDIS at 634-2747.

Nago Cherry Blossom Festival attracts thousands

Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
OKINAWA MARINE STAFFThousands of festival goers searched for the first signs of spring in the blossoms of cherry trees lining the streets of Nago City and Nago Central Park during the 46th Annual Nago Cherry Blossom Festival Jan. 26-27.

Some of the festival highlights included performances by local schools’ brass bands and cultural performers such as Eisa dancers and taiko drummers. Parades, competitions, karaoke, carnival games and food vendors were also attractions for the visitors.

A popular activity at the festival was “hanami,” or flower viewing. Festival goers toured the park, where they had a scenic view of approximately 20,000 pink Taiwanese cherry trees blooming.

Lance Cpl. Anette Tran, a motor transportation mechanic with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Battalion, joined others at the festival who walked the hundreds of steps up to the Nago Castle ruins in Nago Central Park. Once at the top, she was rewarded with a scenic view of the trees and Nago’s coast.

“It was definitely worth going up so many stairs,” Tran said. “Most of the trees are starting to get to full bloom up there. The further you walked, the more beautiful it got.”

The blossoms have been celebrated for many centuries and are a prominent tradition in Japanese culture. Many festivals around Okinawa involve them as the center for celebration. The Nakijiin Castle Cherry Festival and the annual Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival, which last until Feb. 10, are just a handful of the other locales where festivals are being held.

The festivals’ peak blossoming period is projected to last from Jan. 26 to Feb. 10 depending on where you visit. Typically, the trees bloom from north to south on Okinawa during the Sakura Zensen, or cherry blossom front.

The blossoms, however pretty, have a short season. Once the first few blossoms open, it takes roughly one week for them to be in full bloom. About a week later, and sometimes less due to weather conditions, the blossoms begin to fall.

In addition to the blossoms, the Nago festival was a stage for many service members to experience the Okinawan atmosphere.

“Along with the cherry blossoms, it’s great being out in the culture, checking out the entertainment, and being in such a friendly environment,” said Pfc. Diogo Delgado, a customer service representative with the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Supply Office.

Those wishing to go to the Nago Castle ruins should take the expressway north until it turns into Highway 58. Follow the signs on 58 to Central Nago and turn right at the Nago Central Park sign.

culture corner: VVord Up! Japanese Slang

I g2g. Whatup? TTYL (talk to you later)! While LOL (laugh out loud) and ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing) have become a part of modern English (giving grief to school teachers and baffling parents in the process), people in Japan are facing their own modern lingo epidemics, largely popularized by comedians and entertainers.

When someone makes a comment that utterly kills the mood during a conversation, it is typically followed by an embarrassing awkward silence. In Japan, it’s not uncommon for someone (or even several people) of Japan’s younger generation to break that silence by shouting, “KY!" This is an abbreviation for “Kuuki yomenai." The phrase literally translates as “Can’t read the air," but it is interpreted as “Wow. Awkward,”“Clueless,” or “What the—.” Most of the time the phrase is used in e-mails, chat rooms, blogs, and instant messages.

“KY language” is the Japanese equivalent to American internet slang. In fact, Japanese teens (and even adults) are so absorbed in this conversational craze that there are online dictionaries and TV specials devoted to KY language (KY; KY-go). While IT is either a pronoun or an abbreviation for “information technology” in the English language, in Japan it means “Aisu tabetai?“ or "Wanna get ice cream?” The number sequence 4649 becomes “Yoroshiku,” or “Nice to meet you.” And a shortcut to asking someone about their plans for college is “ODD," an acronym for “Omae daigaku dousuru?”

Some other popular Japanese slang words/phrases include:
Omoroi (Omoshiroi): “interesting”
Muzui (Muzukashii): “difficult”
Uzai (Urusai): “annoying”
Mendoi (Mendo kusai): “What a pain."
Kimoi! (Kimochi warui): “Gross!” or “Eew!”
Mecha: “very”
Ikeru!: “Cool!," “Sweet!," or “Oh yeah!”

Currently, one of the number one slang phrases is “Dondake?!” This phrase is often coupled with a little "tsk tsk” shake of the index finger. Like many modern Japanese slang phrases, it was popularized by an entertainer, in this case, lkko—an okama (drag queen) who frequently appears on national TV. Dondake was originally used by residents of the Shibuya area in Tokyo. But this phrase became a part of modern Japanese jargon when Ikko popularized it in a music video. The approximate meaning would be something along the lines of “What the—?!” and it is interjected into normal (informal) conversation among friends.

So, even in a country known for its formality and sense of tradition, Japan has its own language quirks that rival American teen’s OMG and C u 2morrow! —Ja-na-- ! Bye-bye!

—Mina Furusho