The United States is famous for many things, and one of them is its slang. Some phrases have become so popular and versatile that they've even been imported into Japanese. For example, the term "incel" is widely known, even among Japanese who don't speak English fluently. When the term first started trending, I guessed its meaning based on its usage, but later learning its origin left me in awe of the creativity (and violence) of word creation in the online world.

On the other hand, there are words that many Japanese believe were imported from the U.S., but in fact, they were coined locally in Japan. "School caste (スクールカースト)" is a prime example. Since you’re likely unfamiliar with this term, let me explain: it refers to the "social hierarchy naturally formed among students within a school," likened to India’s rigid caste system. Many Japanese mistakenly think Americans coined this term, but it is a purely Japanese invention. To be honest, even I assumed school caste was a common English term until quite recently. So, if you ever find yourself discussing school life with a Japanese person, don’t be surprised if they use this term without explanation—they might even appreciate it if you share the backstory with other Americans.

Conversely, some words I thought were uniquely Japanese turned out to be imported from the U.S.. A good example is "Generation Z". This term, which is widely used in Japanese generational discussions (along with terms such as 氷河期世代 (Ice Age Generation) and ゆとり世代 (Pressure-Free Generation)), appears in Japanese in a semi-translated form as "ゼット世代 (Zetto sedai)", making it less obvious that it comes from the American term "Generation Z".

Also, I was surprised when an American friend used the term "ADHD." In Japan, this term is widely known and used to describe personality traits. However, I subconsciously assumed that "ADHD" was a kind of Japanese English. About a year ago, I learned that it's also commonly used in the U.S., which came as a surprise.

However, I have a question for you English speakers: are you familiar with the term "ASD"? In Japan, it is used similarly to "ADHD" to refer to individuals with autism spectrum disorder or Asperger's traits. However, I've never met an English speaker who uses "ASD" in this way. I'm curious as to why there seems to be a difference in the way the two terms are used.

Lastly, a term that I only learned about thanks to my time on Newgrounds is "Rule 34 (and 63)." I won't explain its meaning in this article, but discovering this phrase was both shocking and fascinating - it reaffirmed why I can't leave Newgrounds!

These are just a few examples that come to mind, but if I've missed any important slang terms or imported words, please let me know in the comments.

Incidentally, as the title suggests, I also want to delve into Japanese Internet slang. Just as English-speaking countries have their own slang, Japan boasts a rich array of Internet expressions. Some of these phrases rival "incel" in their ability to reveal the darker corners of online culture. Here, I'd like to provide an update on the definitions of some of these terms.

Like slang in the English-speaking world, Japanese slang can range from words that are used moderately in real life to those that are best avoided in everyday conversation - and even terms that could get you arrested if used inappropriately. For the purposes of this article, I'm going to classify them according to their level of "danger".

If you know of any Japanese slang that I've overlooked, feel free to share it with me. As long as it's not overtly sexual or discriminatory, I'll be happy to add it to the list.

Relatively Safe Words to Use in Real-Life Conversations

1.   Oshi (推し)

This word literally means "support" in English. However, its current usage has evolved to convey a meaning closer to "favorite". The term "oshi" is also commonly used in its verb form, "osu (推す; to support)", which refers to the act of passionately supporting someone, often by spending large amounts of money on them.

Prior to the 2000s, this word was mainly taught in schools as a term related to politics or business, and had limited meaning. However, in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of an anime series that uses the term in its title, oshi has become a widely recognized and commonly used word.

For example, when used in its noun form, it would be phrased as "今推しのアーティストは？" (Who is your favorite artist right now? ), and when used in its verb form, it would be "〇〇を推したい" (I want to support XX!), which are the most natural ways to use it.

2.   XX Gacha (〇〇ガチャ)

The term gacha may sound similar to the English word "gotcha," but it is completely unrelated. Its origin lies in a uniquely Japanese onomatopoeia. Initially, it referred specifically to capsule toys, but over time, its meaning evolved to resemble that of a "lottery" or "drawing." Today it has become a symbol of social inequality. The term "gacha" is used metaphorically to describe circumstances beyond one's control, likening them to a game of chance.

Gacha is often combined with other words to describe specific situations. For example:

• Oya-gacha (親ガチャ; parents): Refers to one's parents or family environment.
• Kuni-gacha (国ガチャ; country): Refers to one's nationality.
• Kao-gacha (顔ガチャ; face): Refers to one's physical appearance.

These combinations show how the term is used to describe various aspects of life that are determined by luck.

However, it is rare to see this term used in contexts such as shigoto-gacha (仕事ガチャ, "job gacha"). This is because the general perception is that one's job is something one can choose for oneself. The term gacha is primarily used to lament aspects of life that are completely out of one's control.

3.   Kusa (草)

This word is equivalent to "LOL" or "LMAO" in English. You may recall seeing "www" in the past - it was shorthand for the Japanese word "warai (笑い)," meaning "laugh," created by stringing together the initial letter "w" several times.

Over time, the shape of "www" came to resemble a field of grass when viewed sideways, inspiring the cultural phrase "growing grass" (草を生やす) to describe typing "www" online. Eventually, this evolved into the independent use of kusa (grass), which is now widely used to mean something like "laugh(-able)".

Both "www" and "kusa" are examples of words that have undergone remarkable changes in a short period of time.

An example of how Internet users use kusa is the phrase "zenzen daiji de kusa" (全然大事で草), which can confuse beginners learning Japanese because of its grammatically unusual structure. However, when run through Google Translate, it accurately renders as "It's important LOL," which perfectly captures the intended nuance.

4.   Majiresu (マジレス)

This term is a combination of the slang maji (マジ), meaning "serious," and resu (レス), meaning "response." Literally translated, it means "serious response."

For example, imagine someone tells a joke. "Majiresu" refers to the act of responding seriously to it without realizing it's a joke. In Japan’s online culture, such actions are generally disliked, which led to the creation of this term to describe them.

When used alongside kusa (草), it can form phrases like "majiresu de kusa" (マジレスで草), which means "Serious response LOL."

Words That Shouldn't Be Used in the Real World

1.   -tan (～たん/タン)

This is a suffix used as a term of endearment often attached to the names of cute characters. Grammatically, it can be categorized as a suffix similar to “-sama” or “-san.” For example, if it were attached to my name, it would become something like "Purecipi-tan," wouldn’t it?

The origin of this term is thought to be derived from the way young children, with their underdeveloped pronunciation, call their parents. Over time, it evolved and became established as a term of endearment used primarily by anime-obsessed otaku. Because of this, people who use this word in real-world settings are highly likely to be avoided by others.

That’s right—the “tan” in “ZONE-tan” is actually this kind of term! Of course, ZONE-sama, being a creator well-versed in Japanese, has even produced the educational video series ECCHIcation, which is a fascinating resource for learning Japanese, even from my perspective as a native speaker. I believe they understand the nuances and context behind this term and have chosen to use it deliberately. However, caution is advised when using it in the real world.

2.   Jirai-kei Joshi (地雷系女子)

The term "jirai" means "landmine," an explosive device, but in this context, "landmine girls" are women who, while seemingly attractive, are very likely to cause emotional distress or "inflict serious wounds" (especially on men) if you get involved with them.

What I find curious is that, based on the term alone, this definition seems broad and could apply to a wide variety of girls. However, if you search the term on Google, you'll find that it almost always refers to a very specific type of girl. Somehow, the term has become synonymous with women who dress in a particular style of pink gothic fashion. The term has become so narrowly defined that it has even given rise to the term jirai-kei fashion ("landmine fashion").

I'm not very familiar with their behavior or how the meaning of the term has evolved over time. However, as someone who enjoys gothic fashion, I find jirai-kei fashion equally fascinating. Someday I'd like to make illustrations of them.

3.   Menhera (メンヘラ)

In English, I'm not sure there's a specific term for people who inhabit spaces like 4chan or Reddit, much like you might use "New Yorker" to describe someone from New York. In Japan, however, people who frequented a section of Internet forums called the "Mental Health Board (メンヘラ板)" were referred to as "menhera." Many of the users on this board struggled with some form of mental distress, and thus the term "menhera" was born to describe such individuals. Today, it has become a general term used to describe people with a tendency toward emotional instability.

Interestingly, although "menhera" is a gender-neutral term, it is overwhelmingly used to describe emotionally unstable women. This trend isn't necessarily due to the stereotype that women are more prone to hysteria, but rather, in my opinion, has more to do with the fact that women have embraced the label of menhera and built a certain level of social identity around it. Meanwhile, male menhera tend to be treated as if they don't exist in society....

4.   Riajuu (リア充)

This term often refers to people who lead a fulfilling life in the real world. It is frequently used in contrast to individuals in the following subcultures or social groups, and as a result, it is commonly associated with the implication of "having a romantic partner."

5.   Cheese Gyudon (/Chi-Gyu; チーズ牛丼/チー牛)

This term is one of the Japanese equivalents of the English term "incel. Interestingly, there are a surprisingly large number of Japanese terms equivalent to "incel," and I can think of at least four more off the top of my head. However, the one I'd like to explain here is the one that might seem the most nonsensical at first glance.

Originally, cheese gyudon was simply the name of a dish - a bowl of beef topped with cheese. However, after a particular illustration associated with the dish went viral, the term "cheese gyudon" (or its abbreviation, chi-gyu) began to be used to describe men who resembled the appearance depicted in the illustration.

That concludes this article. Thank you very much for reading to the end.

As someone who travels between the English and Japanese Internet worlds, I notice that no matter where you go in the world, the Internet is full of different perspectives. While some online discussions are overly emotional and oversimplified, I firmly believe that nothing in life is so simple that it can be packaged into a neat, documentary-style narrative.

Basically, I don't believe that there is such a thing as absolute good or evil in this world. Rather, I believe that there are only "situations that some people, for a period of time, consider to be 'good' or 'bad' from their perspective. Furthermore, when discussing the "simple and easy to understand facts" that are often presented in discussions of social issues, it's important to consider the people who stand to benefit from convincing the majority to believe them.

This world is complex, filled with challenges so intricate that a single day of Internet browsing can hardly unravel them. I hope to remain the kind of person who has the emotional bandwidth to enjoy exploring the meanings of Internet slang and the hidden contexts behind it as I encounter them in the course of this complexity.