that were more acceptable to those affected. The trend to ban discriminatory words comes from the desire of the handicapped, who have long been victims of prejudice, to have a chance at normal lives and equal opportunities.
When this kind of word-hunting goes to excess, however, it can have absurd results. Some years ago, for example, a Japanese record company wanted to release a song titled "Love Is Blind." The only suitable Japanese equivalent they could find for this title was the direct translation Koi no Mekura. Because mekura had been deemed inappropriate, the firm withheld its release for several years.
Mekura comes from the simple expression me ga kurai (the eyes are dark). As it is now considered contemptuous and discriminatory, new expressions have been coined, such as me no fujiyū-na hito (a person with impaired vision), me ga mienai hito (a person whose eyes cannot see), and mōjin and mōmoku, which come from blind person and blindness, respectively. Mekuraban (literally, blind approval; figuratively, to rubber stamp) has also become unacceptable.
In the early 70s, the former governor of Tokyo, Ryokichi Minobe, coined the word o-mekura-san (literally, my poor dear blind people). Even though Minobe was known for his compassion and welfare policies, the term was taken by the people it describes as patronizing. Thus he was forced to resort to more acceptable expressions, such as shiryoku shōgaisha (eyesight-handicapped person). The most acceptable terms and those commonly used today in the mass media are me no mienai hito and me ga fujiyū-na hito.
A related term is akimekura (illiterate), now banned from media usage as well. An earlier substitute, monmō (mon is literature or text, and mō is blindness or ignorance) has been abandoned in favor of the less offensive and very difficult to pronounce hi-shikijisha (a person unable to decipher words).
As for deafness, tsunbo has been replaced by rōsha (deaf person) and chōryoku shōgaisha (listening impaired person). But again, the most acceptable expressions are mimi no kikoenai hito (a person whose ears cannot hear) and mimi ga fujiyū-na hito (a person with impaired hearing).
For speech-impairment, oshi was replaced by asha (deaf-mute), and then by kuchi ga kikenai hito (kikenai is the negative form of the verb kiku, meaning to work or be effective). Kuchi no fujiyū-na hito is also acceptable. Oshi de tsunbo (deaf and mute) was replaced by the slightly more acceptable ro-asha (deaf and dumb person), and then by mimi to kuchi ga fujiyū-na hito.
Domori is stutter or, by extension, a stutterer. Some feel that domori is a discriminatory word, and Japanese newspapers often prefer the terms kitsuonsha (stammering person) and shita (tongue) no fujiyū-na hito. Since domori is not definitely discriminatory, however, it is often used as is. There is no substitute for the verb domoru (to stutter). But some people prefer the expression shita ga nameraka de nai (the tongue is not smooth).
Katawa and fugu, in the war of words, first became shintai shōgaisha (literally, bodily-handicapped person), which can be shortened to shinshōsha, and then the more acceptable karada no fujiyū-na hito. Also in this group, the words chinba (cripple), bikko (lame person), and izari (someone crippled in both legs) have all become ashi ga fujiyū-na hito.
Tenashi and tenbō (handless) became katate (one-handed), then te ga fujiyū-na hito and te ga nai hito. The term katateochi (partiality or one-sidedness) has also come to mean missing one arm. But this is gradually being replaced by the terms ippō-teki (one-sided) and fukōhei (unfairness).
Kichigai (insane) has also been deemed unacceptable. This is a frequently used word, as in kichigai ja nai no? (are you crazy?) or mattaku kichigaijimite iru (it's totally insane). But expressions such as kuruma kichigai (car crazy), otokichi (abbreviation for ōtobai kichigai, or motorcycle maniac), tenikichi (abbreviation for tenisu kichigai, or tennis nut), tsurikichi (abbreviation for tsuri kichigai, or fishing freak), and kyōjin (lunatic, madman) have all disappeared from mass media usage. Kichigai has become seishin shōgaisha (mentally handicapped).
Finally, chie okure (slow-witted) and hakuchi (idiot) have been replaced by chiteki shōgaisha and chino shōgaisha (both meaning intellectually or mentally handicapped).
Profession-Related (shokugyō kanren)
In Japan, as elsewhere, certain occupations are the objects of ridicule and derision.
Hyakushō, inakappe, and tagosaku, for example, all are used to mean farmer, boor, hayseed, hick, or country bumpkin. In English there are many such words, but in Japanese there are only a few. We're not sure of the reason for this discrepancy. It may be, though, that farmers in Japan have long formed a fairly large and powerful bloc and, thus, they're a group that's best not offended. In the Tokugawa era, for example, farmers were nominally given the second highest of the four social ranks, after the samurai. The truth of the matter is that they were the poorest, as they were always prime targets for heavy taxation.
Hyakushō literally means a hundred names. Originally it was used to refer to individuals without any rank and, over time, it came to mean farmer. Now it is used rather disdainfully, as are tagosaku or inakappe, when speaking of someone who is uneducated, boorish, or rude, regardless of his native place or occupation. Donbyakusho is even more disdainful.
When you want to use hyakushō to refer respectfully to a farmer, add the honorific prefix o-and the suffix-san. In ordinary conversation today, however, most Japanese use the terms nōmin (farming people) and noka (farming family).
Inakappe, originally inaka-hei, consists of inaka (countryside or native place), and a euphonic change of the suffix-hex. Kappe by itself is much more popular, as in aitsu wa kappe da ne—wakatcha inai (he's such a bumpkin—he doesn't know anything).
Bun-ya derives from the word shinbun-ya and refers to the press or a journalist. Shinbun-ya is also a colloquial expression for shinbun hanbai ten (newspaper sales agency). Bun-ya is now used when speaking about a journalist in a derogatory manner. The yakuza and their associates hate journalists almost as much as they hate the police, and they're fond of this expression.
It's interesting that once kisha (journalist), yakusha (actor), and geisha were regarded as yakuza (-na) kagyō (shady, suspicious, or good-for-nothing occupations). People in these professions were thought to be scandalous parasites living off common, decent folk. It's true that journalists can be fairly unscrupulous individuals, but in general journalism is regarded by young people today as one of the most desirable occupations to pursue.
As with bun-ya,-ya is used as a derogatory suffix in politics, too. Seiji-ya, then, would refer to a shrewd or manipulative politician. Seijika, on the other hand, is a neutral word for politician.
Ongaku-ya (ongaku is music) and oto-ya (oto is sound) are words used to describe musicians, and are more colloquial than the standard ongakuka (musician). The same can be said of gakutai (musical group) as opposed to bkesutora (orchestra). We aren't authorities on what is or isn't art, but nowadays any popular musician or singer, no matter how bad, is called achisto (artist) in Japan.
Peinki-ya (painter, as in house painter) is the most degrading expression for gaka (painter or artist). Ekaki is a colloquial expression for a painter that is often used with derogatory connotations. This term comes from e o kaku (to draw a picture).
Sakka refers to a writer or novelist. Saku means to create, make, or write. Bunshi (literary man, writer), on the other hand, can be used contemptuously, as in sanmon-bunshi (hackwriter). Sanmon here means three cents, implying worthlessness. Monokaki (literally, a person who writes things; also a secretary), as ekaki above, has even more derogatory connotations because it implies a lack of creativity. Takaga monokaki means I know he or she can write, but so what? Takaga here is a belittling term meaning only, merely, or at best.
In profession-related vocabulary, new words have been coined to replace older ones.
