Big in Japan

This is REALLY a must read, via themorningnews.
The top 60 most popular phrases in Japan this year. They are truly amazing!

Here's 2 of my favorites:

9. Hime-den (姫電): This abbreviation of hime-denwa (lit. “princess phone”) describes a garish style of mobile phone decoration popular with junior high and high school girls. Hime-den are typically decorated with glitter, fake jewels, ribbons, lace, and little teddy bears.

















JEALOUS! Kind of.


16. Taste for middle-aged men (karesen - カレセン): An abbreviation of “kareta ojisan senmon” (lit. “specialty in withered old men”), “karesen” refers to the particular preference some young women have for middle-aged or older men who are calm, unassuming, and lack sex appeal. This type of man is the subject of a photo-heavy book entitled “Karesen,” which profiles a host of dandy gents and extols their virtues.

WHAT!? Specialty in withered old men! Who lack sex appeal?? And there's a coffee table book!?!
Plus there's like 5 different phrases that refer to cartoon or plush mascots for everything from jury duty awareness to the 1,300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijokyo Capital.