大昔の話なんですが。
「可愛い」という言葉が、「かーわ↗︎い・いー」という頭が空っぽで流行の服とお洒落にしか興味が無い、お勉強というのが出来ない女の子が必ず口にする記号になって居たのを突然思い出しました。
本来女の子という呼び方は14歳以上の娘さんのことだったんです。
大人になっていたら女の人が正式です。
それが今や小学生以下の3歳児から女の子なので、どうしたんだろうと2026年に思って居ます。
私は日本語というのは変化していくもので良いと昔から考えて居ます。
正しい日本語というのも必要なTPOでは必要ですし、略語は略語で必要だから其処に存在しているんです。
感じ悪い、は私の世代から始まったか、私達が見て居たテレビを当時作って居た人達が使って居たものです。
これを感じ「が」悪い。と正式に記述すると、感じが悪い。になります。
これはとても深刻で、もう訂正出来ない判断を形容しています。
その相手とは2度と会おうとしない。を伝えて来ます。
会わない。は本人だけの判断ですが、会おうとしない。は本人と他者が相手を見て当然だ、と判断した雰囲気を伝えます。
これを「が」を取り、感じ悪い。だと、途端に明るく軽やかなシャープさを持ちます。
日本語も英語と同じで、言葉の組み合わせが限られているので、此のように省略したり縮めたりするスラングが発生するんですね。
なので感じ悪い、と私が書く時は、沈黙の世代特有の感性で書いているか、その世代の特徴的な内容を書いているかです。
「かーわ↗︎い・いー」という頭が空っぽで流行の服とお洒落にしか興味が無い、お勉強というのが出来ない女の子が必ず口にする記号になって居たと思い出した後、あれ？ これ以上の情報が出て居ないのだ、と驚き、実は可愛いという言葉は、キュートやプリントのデザイン、レースのデザインなどを見た時に発音する、感嘆符「！」の翻訳となっており、その後はやはり児童趣味から始まり、大人になっても女の子や女子である、といういつまでも成熟できない自分達を弁護する言葉に変わって居たのを多分誰も明文化していなかったのだと思います。
それが実は若者期の沈黙の世代では、「かっこいい」「クール」「シャープ」「リッチな感じ」「セレブレティ」「ゴージャス」「セクシー」「ワイルドな男性的魅力」「艶やか」「光っている」を一文字で「可愛い」と言って居ました。
全部を含む分母の言葉が「可愛い」です。
これが何故か当時、非常に驚かれ、人の縁が薄いのに何故か女性の社交のエレガンスについて、シックに冷たい文章で書いたものだから、余計に驚かれていたのだと記憶しています。
やがて「Kawaii」や「KAWAII」となり「カワイイ」（この表記だと洗練されているデザイン性が強い表現ですね）になりました。
この要素でお分かりのように「かわいい」はあまり使いません。
6歳以下のダサい幼児性が漂うからでしょうね。
それが何故かFUKとノエル・ギャラガーが言ったエピソードでお馴染みの私の住む街の「Kawaii City」となっていたんだそうです。
後で知って、随分思い切ったのだな、と凄く驚いたのですが、当時私の住む街は何故か女性が多く、女性特有のスラングでもあり沢山の意味を全部一回で言える、新しい文化であるHIPHOP文化のウオールアートでも、素敵な予感を街に漂わせて居たので、決めた方は街に新しい潮流が発生したのだと思われたのでしょう。
実はその後、ニュース記事で知ったんですが、女性運動団体の女性の方々から「Kawaii City」というのは、容姿が綺麗な人しか住んではいけないのですか？ と抗議があったそうなんです。
それで「Kawaii City」は取り止めになったんだそうです。
ニュース記事には、その女性運動団体がその後何かオフィシャルでコメントを出したのは無く、やがてそちらは解散されたんだそうです。
「Kawaii City」の名前の理由は上記の通りですので、そんな訳は無いんですね。
それに気付いてインターネット上に報告した私が言うのですから間違いは無いんです。
何故説明しなかったのか担当者の方に伺ってみないと分からないのですが、私の住む街は長い間、男尊女卑の風土が強く、女性の数が多くなり、皆とてもお洒落が好きな人達ばかりになったので、女性の中から新しい、全部を含む最大公約数の言葉が発生したのが喜ばしく驚きだったのでしょう。
男尊女卑の風土から脱出し始めたのだ、という、普通に使われているのに気が付かれ、街の新しい特色であると選ばれた方の祝福の気持ちを物語るものなのだとも思います。
やがて遠い遠い未来の果てで、実はその言葉が発生しているのに気がついた場所こそ、私の住む街で女性に本格的な教育を始めた高等学校だったんですね。
今後このような事が起こるかどうかはさて置き。
こちらの「Kawaii City」の事例であるなら、堂々といや違いますよ、とこの様に使う新しいスラングなんです。
しかも最大公約数でもあります。
とご説明下されば、相手の方々の不安も払拭されたと思います。
それでも、いや、可愛く無いと言われてずっと傷ついて来たので、居住地に容姿にまつわる言葉が着けられたら嫌なんです。と返答が来たら、
私のメールアドレスに自治体の担当者の方からご連絡を頂きたいと思います。
必ず説明を試みてギョッとするような返答が来れば、その言葉を最初に紹介した者に、公式にご連絡頂ければ、このように責任を取りに伺います。
良い対処例になると思います。
私は、その方々が、可愛く無いと言われてずっと傷ついて来たので、居住地に容姿にまつわる言葉が着けられたら嫌なんです。
とやはり私を前にして尚言われたら、
どんな男尊女卑風土の自治体であっても、可愛く無いと住まないで下さい、と掲げる自治体があると固く信じて居られるなら、私はただのアマチュアですが 、この言葉の最大公約数スラングへの変化を私がインターネットに紹介しましたので、と母校と創立者の話をさせて頂くつもりです。
こんな劣等生のOGに説明されたら後輩達が気の毒ですが、そこは静かに堂々と一歩も引かず、我々が男尊女卑を増長する日常会話をすると思われますか？ と態度で示そうと思います。
私の住む街の市花は芙蓉の花で、街中に主に白い芙蓉の花が散見されます。
この辺りでは太宰府天満宮の菅原の道真公に縁ある、飛梅（ちびうめ）こと白い梅の花が有名です。
なので、私の住む街に何かニック・ネームを付けるとすれば、”Blanche（ブランシェ）" か、"Blan City Fuk"にすれば良いのでは無いでしょうか？
ストリートのHIPHOP文化でのダブルミーニングで、白い梅と芙蓉の花の"白"を持って居ます。
私の住む街をパリと特色めいている方々おられるそうです。
あんなに綺麗でお洒落では無いですが、有機ワインを若い世代の方々がお父様から習って青年の皆さんが小さなバーに集ったり、名店ヨルゴにそのワインを降ろしたり、こちらのオーナーはコロナ期に他の名シェフとお弁当をストリートで販売したり、オーフィルドゥジュールやジャックに続く、並ばないと決して買えない洋菓子店がそっと2度と忘れられないケークを売り、洋服は得意で音楽の街でダンスも盛んです。
空港の規制で最近まで高いビルが造れなかったのですが、実はその空港の裏ではいつも日曜日や土曜日の夕方、アベックやパパに肩車されたアン・ギャルソンが着陸する飛行機を観に来て居ました。
今でも空港では、螺旋階段の上で日曜日の夕方を過ごす皆さんの場所が用意されています。
やがて日が落ち、美しいライトの飛行機に変わると、青い小さな光の花が飛行場を取り囲み、まるで宮沢賢治の童話、ポラーノの広場のようです。
そこにやって来る白い機体は、天上から見ると白いリボンのように見えるでしょう。
空港を見下ろすと、青い小さな花に囲まれて、白い花が1輪だけ咲いているように見えると思います。
”Blanche City"は夜にだけその理由を現します。
あなたはもう聞きましたか？
私の住む街に新しい呼び名が出来たことを。
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This goes way back, but...
I suddenly remembered how the word “kawaii” had become a catchphrase that was always uttered by girls who were empty-headed, interested only in trendy clothes and fashion, and completely incapable of studying—saying it as “ka-wa↗︎i-i.”
Originally, the term “girl” referred to young women aged 14 and older.
Once you’re an adult, the formal term is “woman.”
But now, even 3-year-olds in elementary school or younger are called “girls,” so in the year 2026, I find myself wondering, “What on earth happened?”
I’ve always believed that it’s fine for the Japanese language to evolve.
“Correct” Japanese is necessary in certain situations, and abbreviations exist because they serve a purpose.
The phrase “feels bad” may have started with my generation, or it was used by the people who produced the TV shows we watched back then.
If you formally write this as “feels bad,” it becomes “feels bad.”
This describes a very serious judgment that can no longer be corrected.
It conveys the message, “I will never see that person again.”
“I won’t meet them” is a decision made solely by the speaker, whereas “I have no intention of meeting them” conveys an atmosphere where both the speaker and others have judged that it’s only natural not to see that person again.
If you remove the “ga” and write it as “feels bad,” it instantly takes on a bright, light, and crisp quality.
Japanese, like English, has a limited number of possible word combinations, which is why slang like this—with its omissions and contractions—emerges.
So when I write “feels bad,” I’m either writing from the sensibility unique to the Silent Generation or describing content characteristic of that generation.
I recalled how “Ka-wa↗i-i” had become a catchphrase inevitably uttered by girls who were empty-headed, interested only in trendy clothes and fashion, and incapable of studying—and then I thought, “Huh? I was surprised to realize that no further information had emerged on this. In fact, I think no one had ever explicitly articulated that the word “kawaii” actually originated as a translation of the exclamation mark “!”—used when seeing something cute, a print design, or lace—and that it later evolved, starting from childish tastes, into a term used to justify our inability to ever truly mature, even as adults who remain “girls” or “young women.”
In reality, among the Silent Generation during their youth, they used a single word—“kawaii”—to describe “cool,” “sharp,” “rich vibe,” “celebrity,” “gorgeous,” “sexy,” “wild masculine charm,” “vibrant,” and “shining”—all encapsulated in a single word: “kawaii.”
“Kawaii” is the umbrella term that encompasses all of these.
For some reason, this caused quite a stir back then. I recall that people were especially surprised because I wrote about the elegance of women’s social circles—despite having few personal connections—in a chic, detached style.
Eventually, it became “Kawaii” or “KAWAII,” and then “Kawaii” (in this spelling, it’s an expression with a strong sense of sophisticated design).
As you can tell from these elements, I don’t use “kawaii” very often.
It’s probably because it carries an air of tacky, childish immaturity—like that of a child under six.
For some reason, it had become “Kawaii City”—the name of the town where I live, made famous by that anecdote involving FUK and Noel Gallagher.
I found out about this later and was really surprised by how bold a move it was. But back then, for some reason, there were a lot of women in my town, and with the hip-hop culture—which incorporates female-specific slang and allows you to convey multiple meanings all at once through its wall art—creating a wonderful atmosphere in the town, whoever decided on the name probably thought a new trend was emerging here.
I suddenly remembered how the word “kawaii” had become a catchphrase that was always uttered by girls who were empty-headed, interested only in trendy clothes and fashion, and completely incapable of studying—saying it as “ka-wa↗︎i-i.”
Originally, the term “girl” referred to young women aged 14 and older.
Once you’re an adult, the formal term is “woman.”
But now, even 3-year-olds in elementary school or younger are called “girls,” so in the year 2026, I find myself wondering, “What on earth happened?”
I’ve always believed that it’s fine for the Japanese language to evolve.
“Correct” Japanese is necessary in certain situations, and abbreviations exist because they serve a purpose.
The phrase “feels bad” may have started with my generation, or it was used by the people who produced the TV shows we watched back then.
If you formally write this as “feels bad,” it becomes “feels bad.”
This describes a very serious judgment that can no longer be corrected.
It conveys the message, “I will never see that person again.”
“I won’t meet them” is a decision made solely by the speaker, whereas “I have no intention of meeting them” conveys an atmosphere where both the speaker and others have judged that it’s only natural not to see that person again.
If you remove the “ga” and write it as “feels bad,” it instantly takes on a bright, light, and crisp quality.
Japanese, like English, has a limited number of possible word combinations, which is why slang like this—with its omissions and contractions—emerges.
So when I write “feels bad,” I’m either writing from the sensibility unique to the Silent Generation or describing content characteristic of that generation.
I recalled how “Ka-wa↗i-i” had become a catchphrase inevitably uttered by girls who were empty-headed, interested only in trendy clothes and fashion, and incapable of studying—and then I thought, “Huh? I was surprised to realize that no further information had emerged on this. In fact, I think no one had ever explicitly articulated that the word “kawaii” actually originated as a translation of the exclamation mark “!”—used when seeing something cute, a print design, or lace—and that it later evolved, starting from childish tastes, into a term used to justify our inability to ever truly mature, even as adults who remain “girls” or “young women.”
In reality, among the Silent Generation during their youth, they used a single word—“kawaii”—to describe “cool,” “sharp,” “rich vibe,” “celebrity,” “gorgeous,” “sexy,” “wild masculine charm,” “vibrant,” and “shining”—all encapsulated in a single word: “kawaii.”
“Kawaii” is the umbrella term that encompasses all of these.
For some reason, this caused quite a stir back then. I recall that people were especially surprised because I wrote about the elegance of women’s social circles—despite having few personal connections—in a chic, detached style.
Eventually, it became “Kawaii” or “KAWAII,” and then “Kawaii” (in this spelling, it’s an expression with a strong sense of sophisticated design).
As you can tell from these elements, I don’t use “kawaii” very often.
It’s probably because it carries an air of tacky, childish immaturity—like that of a child under six.
For some reason, it had become “Kawaii City”—the name of the town where I live, made famous by that anecdote involving FUK and Noel Gallagher.
I found out about this later and was really surprised by how bold a move it was. But back then, for some reason, there were a lot of women in my town, and with the hip-hop culture—which incorporates female-specific slang and allows you to convey multiple meanings all at once through its wall art—creating a wonderful atmosphere in the town, whoever decided on the name probably thought a new trend was emerging here.
Actually, I found out later from a news article that members of a women’s rights group protested, asking, “Does ‘Kawaii City’ mean only people who are physically attractive are allowed to live there?”
Apparently, that’s why the “Kawaii City” project was scrapped.
According to the news article, that women’s rights group never issued any official statement afterward, and eventually, the group disbanded.
As explained above, that’s the reason behind the name “Kawaii City,” so there’s no way that’s true.
And since I’m the one who noticed this and reported it online, I can assure you I’m not mistaken.
I wouldn’t know why they didn’t explain it unless I asked the person in charge, but the town where I live has long had a strong culture of male chauvinism.
Apparently, that’s why the “Kawaii City” project was scrapped.
According to the news article, that women’s rights group never issued any official statement afterward, and eventually, the group disbanded.
As explained above, that’s the reason behind the name “Kawaii City,” so there’s no way that’s true.
And since I’m the one who noticed this and reported it online, I can assure you I’m not mistaken.
I wouldn’t know why they didn’t explain it unless I asked the person in charge, but the town where I live has long had a strong culture of male chauvinism.
As the number of women increased and they all turned out to be very fashion-conscious, it was probably a pleasant surprise to see a new, inclusive term emerge from among the women themselves—one that represents the greatest common denominator.
I also think it reflects a sense of celebration—the realization that the town is beginning to break free from its patriarchal culture, that this term, though commonly used, had gone unnoticed until now, and that it has been chosen as a new defining characteristic of the town.
Eventually, at the very end of the distant, distant future, it turned out that the place where people first realized this term had actually originated was the high school in my town where women began receiving a full-fledged education.
Setting aside whether something like this will happen in the future or not.
In the case of “Kawaii City,” if you were to explain it like this—saying, “No, that’s not right; this is actually a new slang term used in this way.
Moreover, it’s the greatest common denominator”—
I think that would dispel the other people’s concerns.
However, if they were to reply, “No, I’ve been hurt for a long time by being told I’m not cute, so I don’t want a term related to appearance attached to my place of residence,”
I would like the person in charge at the local government to contact me via email.
If you try to explain and receive a shocking response, please officially contact the person who first introduced the term, and I will come to take responsibility as described here.
I believe this would serve as a good example of how to handle the situation.
If they were to say, “I’ve been hurt for a long time by being told I’m not cute, so I’d hate it if my place of residence were labeled with a term related to my appearance,”
If they were to say that to my face again,
even if it’s a municipality with a deeply sexist culture, if you firmly believe there are municipalities that would post a sign saying, “If you don’t think you’re cute, please don’t live here,” then—even though I’m just an amateur—I plan to talk about my alma mater and its founder, explaining that I was the one who introduced this phrase’s evolution into slang on the internet.
I feel sorry for the underclassmen having to be lectured by a former student like me—a real underachiever—but I intend to stand my ground calmly and confidently, without backing down an inch, and demonstrate through my attitude: “Do you really think we’d engage in everyday conversation that perpetuates male chauvinism?”
The official flower of the city where I live is the hibiscus, and white hibiscus blossoms can be seen scattered throughout the city.
In this area, the “Chibiume”—a white plum blossom associated with Lord Sugawara no Michizane of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine—is famous.
So, if I were to give my hometown a nickname, wouldn’t “Blanche” or “Blan City Fuk” be fitting?
I also think it reflects a sense of celebration—the realization that the town is beginning to break free from its patriarchal culture, that this term, though commonly used, had gone unnoticed until now, and that it has been chosen as a new defining characteristic of the town.
Eventually, at the very end of the distant, distant future, it turned out that the place where people first realized this term had actually originated was the high school in my town where women began receiving a full-fledged education.
Setting aside whether something like this will happen in the future or not.
In the case of “Kawaii City,” if you were to explain it like this—saying, “No, that’s not right; this is actually a new slang term used in this way.
Moreover, it’s the greatest common denominator”—
I think that would dispel the other people’s concerns.
However, if they were to reply, “No, I’ve been hurt for a long time by being told I’m not cute, so I don’t want a term related to appearance attached to my place of residence,”
I would like the person in charge at the local government to contact me via email.
If you try to explain and receive a shocking response, please officially contact the person who first introduced the term, and I will come to take responsibility as described here.
I believe this would serve as a good example of how to handle the situation.
If they were to say, “I’ve been hurt for a long time by being told I’m not cute, so I’d hate it if my place of residence were labeled with a term related to my appearance,”
If they were to say that to my face again,
even if it’s a municipality with a deeply sexist culture, if you firmly believe there are municipalities that would post a sign saying, “If you don’t think you’re cute, please don’t live here,” then—even though I’m just an amateur—I plan to talk about my alma mater and its founder, explaining that I was the one who introduced this phrase’s evolution into slang on the internet.
I feel sorry for the underclassmen having to be lectured by a former student like me—a real underachiever—but I intend to stand my ground calmly and confidently, without backing down an inch, and demonstrate through my attitude: “Do you really think we’d engage in everyday conversation that perpetuates male chauvinism?”
The official flower of the city where I live is the hibiscus, and white hibiscus blossoms can be seen scattered throughout the city.
In this area, the “Chibiume”—a white plum blossom associated with Lord Sugawara no Michizane of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine—is famous.
So, if I were to give my hometown a nickname, wouldn’t “Blanche” or “Blan City Fuk” be fitting?
In the context of street hip-hop culture, the name carries a double meaning, referencing the “white” of white plum blossoms and hibiscus flowers.
I’ve heard there are people who liken the town where I live to Paris.
It’s not nearly as beautiful or stylish as that, but the younger generation is learning to make organic wine from their fathers, and young people gather at small bars or supply that wine to the renowned restaurant Yorgos.
I’ve heard there are people who liken the town where I live to Paris.
It’s not nearly as beautiful or stylish as that, but the younger generation is learning to make organic wine from their fathers, and young people gather at small bars or supply that wine to the renowned restaurant Yorgos.
The owner of that restaurant even sold boxed lunches on the street with other famous chefs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following in the footsteps of Au Fil du Jour and Jacques, there’s a patisserie where you absolutely have to wait in line to buy anything—it quietly sells cakes you’ll never forget. The town is known for its fashion, and as a music hub, dancing is also very popular.
Due to airport regulations, tall buildings couldn’t be built until recently, but in fact, behind the airport, on Saturday and Sunday evenings, couples and young girls carried on their fathers’ shoulders would come to watch the planes land.
Even now, the airport has a spot set aside for people to spend Sunday evenings atop the spiral staircase.
As the sun eventually sets and the planes are transformed by beautiful lights, tiny blue lights bloom all around the airfield, making it look just like the “Polarno Square” from Kenji Miyazawa’s fairy tale.
The white aircraft arriving there must look like a white ribbon when viewed from above.
Looking down on the airport, you’ll see that, surrounded by tiny blue flowers, it looks as if a single white flower is blooming.
“Blanche City” reveals the reason for this only at night.
Are You Listening Yet?
That my town has been given a new name.
Due to airport regulations, tall buildings couldn’t be built until recently, but in fact, behind the airport, on Saturday and Sunday evenings, couples and young girls carried on their fathers’ shoulders would come to watch the planes land.
Even now, the airport has a spot set aside for people to spend Sunday evenings atop the spiral staircase.
As the sun eventually sets and the planes are transformed by beautiful lights, tiny blue lights bloom all around the airfield, making it look just like the “Polarno Square” from Kenji Miyazawa’s fairy tale.
The white aircraft arriving there must look like a white ribbon when viewed from above.
Looking down on the airport, you’ll see that, surrounded by tiny blue flowers, it looks as if a single white flower is blooming.
“Blanche City” reveals the reason for this only at night.
Are You Listening Yet?
That my town has been given a new name.
