CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Konichiwa! Discover Ten English Words With Surprising Japanese Origins!

Image: David Edelstein

Japan, the "Land of the Rising Sun", is definitively a faraway land. While the past few decades have seen a surge in the integration between our two cultures, few languages seem to be as distant and at odds with English as Japanese is: After all, they have completely different writing systems, pronunciations, and sentence structures.

And yet, you might be surprised to learn how many words we use daily, come directly from the Japanese language. We have compiled ten of our favorite words ranging from logical loan words to surprising ones. Enjoy!

Image: Hunters Race

We’ll start with one of the most surprising entries on this list. What image comes to mind when you hear the word "tycoon"? Perhaps a 20th-century top-hat-wearing business magnate like Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, or even the Monopoly Guy (whose name is "Rich Uncle Pennybags", by the way). However, if the Japanese roots of tycoon are to be believed, this word refers to a different kind of leader.

In the 19th century, the Japanese shogun, the country’s leader at the time, opened business relations with the West. During his first government meeting, the American consul to Japan, mistakenly addressed the shogun by the title of taikun, a disused term that loosely translates to "great prince." In time, the word morphed into the "tycoon" spelling we now use, and by the 1920s it was commonly used to describe someone with great wealth and power.

Image: Clay Banks

The preferred resting place for every college student, futons are a comfortable and simple piece of furniture beloved by millions of Americans. Most futons are filled with cotton and are either used as a mattress directly on the floor or framed and used as a sofa or bed. While they might seem like an inexpensive way to decorate an apartment, in Japan futons are a centuries-old tradition that is still maintained by millions of Japanese households.

A traditional Japanese futon consists of a foldable mattress and a duvet, which are both flexible enough to be able to be stored away in a closet during the day. In the 80s, American futons started becoming increasingly popular, although they presented a key difference: most presented a wooden frame, that allowed the mattress to also be folded into a sofa.

Image: rishi

If you ever visited New York City, you have probably seen more than a few rickshaws (or as they are known in America, pedicabs) swiftly dodging traffic and diligently carrying tourists throughout the many streets of the Big Apple. And while most U.S. states have at least one city in which pedicabs are prominent, this environmentally conscious mode of transportation first gained traction in New York City during the '60s.

Interestingly, the word "rickshaw" comes from the Japanese word jinrikisha, which literally translates to "human-powered vehicle". The origins of the rickshaw are still debated, but most sources indicate that it was invented in Japan during the 19th century.

Image: Pablo Zuchero

This one is slightly controversial since the origins of this popular expression are still unknown. However, one of the most accepted theories indicates that at least half of this expression comes from Japan, or at least from American sailors trying to communicate in Japanese.

The "hunky" part of this expression comes from the Dutch word hunk, which means "home". By the 19th century, the adjective hunky had migrated into English, meaning "all right" or "safe". While the reason why this word was partnered with "dory" to form this expression remains a mystery, some believe that it comes from the Japanese word dori, which translates to road. This theory states that American sailors looking for places on which to have a drink combined hunky (which could also be interpreted as "satisfactory") and dori.

Image: Markus Winkler

The universal language of the internet, emojis have been extremely popular since the emergence of the online era. These symbols, first known as "emoticons" in the 80s, were comprised of cleverly placed keyboard characters. By the 1990s and early 2000s, the first specially crafted images for online messengers and cellphones were introduced, and their name quickly morphed into the now ubiquitous "emoji".

What’s surprising is how such a silly-sounding word as "emoji" can so perfectly describe what these little smiling pictures mean. It comes from the amalgamation of the Japanese word moji, meaning "letter" or "character", and the prefix e, which means "drawing" or "picture". Therefore, an emoji would literally mean a letter formed by a drawing, which perfectly encapsulates what an emoji actually is.

Image: Brooke Lark

Just like with "tycoon", the word "honcho" is sometimes used to describe a prominent boss or leader. While it might have fallen into disuse now, this word was insanely popular in the United States for a while. You might be surprised to know that this word not only comes from Japanese but that it is rather a fully-formed word that found its way from Japan into the American vocabulary.

By the time World War II was coming to an end, American war prisoners came back home after being held captive by the Japanese forces. They brought back the word honcho with them since it is commonly used in the military to refer to squad leaders. The 1950s are probably the time period in which the words "honcho" and "head honcho" were most popular. Famously, General Eisenhower was called the "chief honcho" by a prominent newspaper in 1952.

Image: Caroline Attwood

In American English, "Skosh" is a funny-sounding word used to describe a tiny amount. You can add a skosh more of salt to your food, you might feel a skosh tired after a long walk and you might ask someone to move a skosh to give you some more space on the couch. This word is sometimes spelled "skoosh", although this is far more popular in the United Kingdom.

Just like with "hunky-dory", skosh was brought back to the States by American soldiers after WWII. It comes from the Japanese word sukoshi, which translates to "a tiny or small amount". The earliest account of this word being used in English comes from 1952.

Image: Nikola Đuza

Karaoke might be one of Japan’s most iconic contributions to the world. Something is fascinating about how this form of entertainment combines the perfect dose of fun and personal embarrassment. It gives us both a safe space to make fun of ourselves, and a wonderful stage on which to perform our favorite songs.

While karaoke is definitively a loan word, it has found its way into every single English dictionary. It is definitively untranslatable: Karaoke is derived from the Japanese words kara (empty) and ōkesutora (orchestra). Curiously, this Japanese staple is so beloved by American culture that the United States holds the world record for the most people singing karaoke when over 160,000 people sang Garth Brooks’ "Friends in Low Places" in 2009.

Image: Sailko

Just like with karaoke, tsunami is a Japanese word that can’t really be translated. Well, it technically can be translated to "harbor wave" but let’s be honest: Tsunami has a way better ring to it. In English, this word is mostly used in a metaphorical sense, usually to describe a big and sudden influx. For instance, a restaurant could experience a tsunami of bad reviews, or someone facing a big decision could be met with a tsunami of advice.

While tsunamis are definitively a disheartening natural disaster, they have been featured in many pieces of Japanese art. Most famously, 19th-century Japanese artist Hokusai created an iconic woodprint called "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" depicting a tsunami, which is now synonymous with traditional Japanese culture.

Image: Vinicius Benedit

We’ll end this article with what’s probably the most beloved Japanese icon in modern times. Sushi has become an absolute staple in world cuisine, up to the point that you would have an insanely hard time finding a major city anywhere that doesn’t have at least a few sushi restaurants. The United States quickly embraced sushi since its rise in popularity in the 1960s, and it even introduced its own signature pieces like the California or Philadelphia rolls.

For such a simple word, sushi has a rather interesting etymology. It is mostly derived from the Japanese word su, which means vinegar. The meaning of the suffix shi is debated since no one really knows how it got attached to su to form the word sushi. However, some believe that shi might mean "to fix" or "to control", which makes sense considering how every sushi piece is meticulously crafted and arranged.

WISH US LUCK

Believe It Or Not, Here Are 10 Wacky Superstitions From Around The World!

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Think back on all the lucky pennies you or someone you know have picked up through the years. Maybe you stored a four-leaf clover between the pages of your favorite book or put on that lucky shirt the day you had a nerve-wracking exam. Superstitions are one of the few aspects of culture that surpass generations. There’s a pretty big chance that your grandparents shared those same quirky rituals and traditions with you.

While some are fairly global, every culture has its own set of local and unique superstitions. We have gathered a couple on this list so you might find new ways to improve your luck on those days you need it the most.

Image: Gavin Allanwood

The first day of the month can be quite stressful: bills start coming in, assignments begin to pile up, and all those chores we set aside for the next month suddenly knock on your door. We know how overwhelming the responsibilities of adult life can be, so we brought up this charming method that almost seems like a children’s game.

According to an ancient superstition that originated in the United Kingdom, saying the word "rabbit" right after you wake up on the first day of the month brings good luck for the remaining days. This ritual has been around since at least the 1900s and has found its way to other English-speaking countries. Supposedly, President Franklin Roosevelt said "rabbit, rabbit" each first day of the month, and he carried a rabbit’s foot during the 1932 election (which he won by a landslide).

Image: David Tomaseti

Your health should be the main concern that drives you to quit cigarettes. However, if you are looking for extra motivation to stop smoking, you might want to look into this superstition. Some European countries believe that if you light a cigarette with a candle, a sailor will die. Ever the superstitious lot, the origins of this belief can obviously be traced back to sailors. When they returned to shore, sailors would make and sell matches to supplement their income while waiting to sail back. Therefore, lighting a cigarette with a candle would take away much-needed money from a sailor, who might starve without the earnings of his side job.

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You might be familiar with wedding traditions that involve smashing plates against the floor: German couples smash porcelain plates to ward off evil spirits, and Greeks cheerfully shout Opa! over broken plates for good luck. Also, people from Denmark have a similar tradition for New Year’s Eve. Danes save up their old plates and glasses through the year and then throw them at the doorsteps of their friends and family. This might sound aggressive, but this beloved ritual supposedly wishes the recipient good luck for the upcoming year.

Image: Adam Wilson

We discussed the fortune that intentionally breaking plates can bring, but what happens when you break something by accident? Breaking a plate in a U.S. restaurant might make the other customers applaud you, but rest assured that those claps are absolutely sarcastic. However, if you accidentally break a bottle of alcohol in a Japanese bar, you might find that the cheers you receive are genuine. Japanese people believe that this brings both good luck and bigger profits to the bar. However, it has to be an accident: intentionally breaking a bottle of delicious Japanese whisky will bring you nothing but trouble.

Image: National Cancer Institute

According to horror movies, it's probably not a good idea to stroll through a dark forest on a full moon night; you might end up encountering a werewolf.

We are all familiar with the werewolf myth: a helpless person, previously bitten and cursed, that forcefully transforms into a bloodthirsty wolf every full moon. However, people from Argentina have their very own spin on this myth, on which the causes of this affliction are not a dooming bite, but rather being born into a large family.

According to legend, the seventh son of a family only composed of boys will become a Lobizon, the Argentinean equivalent of a werewolf. However, the only way to stop a Lobizon does not come from a silver bullet, but from baptism. When the seventh son of a family is born, the president of Argentina becomes their godparent and sends a gold medal to congratulate the baptism of the would-be werewolf.

Image: Dahlia E. Akhaine

Blarney Castle is not only an iconic landmark that must be seen when visiting Ireland, but this medieval stronghold is also home to a beloved Irish tradition. The Blarney Stone, located in the battlements of the castle, is visited by millions of tourists with a single objective in mind: kissing the stone. According to legend, the Blarney stone grants whoever kisses it great eloquence and skill at flattery. However, this task is not as easy as it sounds: To kiss the stone, visitors must climb up to the top of the castle, and then lean backward over the parapet’s edge.

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If you visit the website of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, you might come upon a page detailing over 100 different Turkish superstitions. They range from those involving animals, like "It is good to see scorpions in one’s dreams", to several involving water. Among those is the belief that water where moonlight has reflected shouldn’t be drunk, since they might curse anyone who drinks this water with bad luck. The moon, however, is not always considered a bad omen by Turkish people: Many believe that a baby born under the full moon will be lucky and have a bright future.

Image: Kelsey Chance

Remember that iconic scene in the film "My Best Friend’s Wedding", where an entire dinner bursts into an acapella rendition of Aretha Franklin’s "I Say a Little Prayer"? As ingrained into pop culture as that scene is, it should be noted that, had that wedding happened in The Netherlands, other customers of the dinner might not have been so thrilled about the impromptu performance. According to this superstition, whoever sings at the dinner table is singing to the devil and praising him for the food. So remember: if your best friend happens to get married in The Netherlands, leave any Aretha Franklin song for karaoke night.

Image: George Bakos

According to an old phrase, in order to live a full life, a person should have a child, write a book, and plant a tree. While we might not guarantee that this is the formula for a perfect life, we can provide our two cents and add that, if you happen to plant that tree on your wedding day, you might be able to bring good luck to your new marriage. According to a tradition followed in the Netherlands and Switzerland, planting a pine tree outside your home to celebrate your wedding will provide the new home with good fortune and fertility.

Image: Tushar Gidwani

If you visit China during the Chinese New Year, you might be surprised to see several people thoroughly sweeping their homes, particularly their front doors. This is because, according to Chinese tradition, good fortune enters through the front door of your home. People clean their homes to say goodbye to the previous year, while also carefully sweeping inwards to avoid accidentally sweeping good fortune. After this ritual, no cleaning can be performed during the first two days of the New Year to avoid dispelling good luck.