its use is considered unacceptable. Tojō is better, though the lengthy official expression shokuniku shorijō (meat-processing center) is even more acceptable, if harder to say. The old expression gomi-ya (literally, garbage collector) has recently become seisō sagyō in, shortened to seisō in (literally, person who cleans the city, or sanitary engineer).
Un-chan (car driver) has become untenshu. Takushii no un-chan is now takushii untenshu or takushii doraiba (from the English driver).
Bōzu (monk) is now ōbo-san. Sōshokusha (priest-hood person) has been shortened to sōryo. Yabu-isha (an incompetent doctor or quack) is now unusable. In this case, yabu comes from the word for a shrine maiden, particularly in the remote countryside, who is somewhat of an amateur in her profession. Yabu alone can also mean a quack, and yabo-isha or hebo-isha are both used to mean a doctor who is not very skillful.
Dokata (coolie) is now unusable. The politically correct word is kensetsu rodosha (construction worker) or kensetsu sagyō-in (construction operations team member).
Bataya, which used to mean a rag-picker or bum, is now haihin kaishū gyōsha (haihin is waste articles, kaishū is collection, and gyōsha is trader or dealer).
Nowadays, the old familiar expressions for occupations such as barber or greengrocer are rarely seen in newspapers. These traditional words have no derogatory connotations, but people engaged in these trades want to be referred to in a more modern fashion. Thus, toko-ya (the old familiar expression for barber) is now rihatsu ten (literally, hair adjusting shop). In conversation, though, toko-ya is made acceptable by adding the honorific suffix-san to create toko-ya-san. Yao-ya (greengrocer), nikuya (butcher's shop), and sakana-ya (fishmonger) are now officially seikasho, shokuniku hanbaigyo, and sengyosho, though the old terms are also used by adding the suffix-san.
The Elderly and Women (rōjin, josei kanren)
Ijiwaru bāsan (mean old woman) and yokubari jiisan (greedy old man) are derogatory terms for the stereotypical bad characters who appear in Japanese folk tales. As Japanese society ages, there has been an increase in cases of Alzheimer's disease, and boke (senility) is becoming a large social problem. A typical derogatory term that has appeared from this is boke rōjin (senile old man or woman).
The standard word used to describe the elderly is toshiyori or, more politely, o-toshiyoh. The Japanese concept of getting old has been compared to waves continuously lapping up on the shore. Thus, there is an old saying yoru toshi-nami ni wa katenai (literally, you cannot triumph over your increasing years). Similar expressions in English might include time and tide wait for no man, or nothing is sure but death and taxes. In any case, toshi-nami in this expression literally means age-wave, and yoru is to draw near.
Another expression connected with the elderly is toshiyori no hiyamizu (hiyamizu is cold water), meaning an old man's indiscretion or, in English, there's no fool like an old fool.
In the traditional sumo world, on the other hand, toshiyori is a retired wrestler who still holds great influence both politically and economically. It's said that in order to become an official toshiyori, a fee of more than a million dollars is required.
Jijii and babā are derogatory words for an old man or woman. We have already mentioned the expressions kusojijii and kusobabā, which mean a disgusting old man or woman. Jiji-musai and its modern equivalent ojinkusai both mean old-mannish or slovenly. Jiji-musai comes from the jii in ojii-san (old man or grandfather) and musakurushi (sordid or squalid). Take care, though, for there is no such expression as baba-musai.
In 1972 the late Sawako Ariyoshi, a well-known female author, wrote a novel entitled Kōkotsu no Hito (The Twilight Years). It concerned the problem of the aging (rōjin mondai) and was considered a harbinger of Japan's present concern with this issue. The central character of the novel was a senile 84-year-old widower who had forgotten everything about his past, including the names and faces of his closest relatives. With no enjoyment or hope in his life, he just hung on while his family tended to his needs. As a result of this novel, the terms kōkotsu and kōkotsu ningen have become popular expressions that describe an extremely senile person. The word actually means in a state of ecstasy, trance, or rapture.
Boke, which comes from the verb bokeru (to grow senile) is a popular synonym for kōkotsu or kōkotsu ningen. Boke is often used in ordinary conversation as an interjection like baka, or as in boketeru ne, mo wasureta no? (you're spaced-out—have you forgotten already?). Netakiri rōjin (an old person who has taken to his bed for good) is another expression used in connection with the aging.
There are many more slang terms for the elderly. Oibore means dotard or withered up. Oibore babā is a withered old woman, a hag, or an old witch. Mōroko also refers to dotage. Kare wa mōroko shita means he became senile.
Shobokure is a dull old man, but it can also be used when referring to a wretched state, even in relation to a young person. Doshita no shobokure-chatte? means why do you look so miserable?
Yoi-yoi is a derogatory slang expression for paralysis or a paralyzed person. This is often used in reference to elderly people. Yoi-yoi includes the concepts of rorerore and tare-nagashi. Rore-rore means inarticulateness or an inarticulate old person, while tare-nagashi means incontinence. Tare comes from the verb tareru (to drip), and nagashi comes from the verb nagasu (to let flow or run out).
Tasogare (literally, twilight time) is also used in relation to aging. Jinsei no tasogare, for example, refers to people in their 60s who are starting to show real signs of aging. Tasogare jiisan is a derogatory term for such men who also have lots of money and like young girls. Tasogare is an expression that is more than 1,000 years old, coming from tarezo, kare? (who is that man?), a question that might well be asked as dusk sets in and vision becomes more difficult.
The expression me-ha-ma (eyes, teeth, and cock) lists the body parts to be checked for symptoms of aging, as well as the order in which they occur. Me are the eyes, and farsightedness is thought to begin in the 40s and get worse with age. Next is ha (teeth), which over time become vulnerable to cavities and gum disease, even loss. Last is ma from mar a (penis), implying that bokki (erection) becomes difficult. Thus the question me-hama, daijōbu? (are your me-ha-ma OK?) becomes commonplace as men enter their 50s. If the situation worsens, men are visited by the unwelcome trio of kasumi-me, sōireba, and yakutatazu no inpo (bleary eyes, false teeth, and limp dick).
Naturally there are various discriminatory expressions used to describe women in Japanese.
Onna (woman) is the word most commonly used in conjunction with otoko (man), but with the tentative spread of feminism, onna is starting to become less popular. Expressions such as ano onna (that woman), ii onna (beautiful woman), dame-na onna (bad or useless woman), wakai onna (young woman), hataraku onna (working woman), and kekkon shinai onna (unmarried woman), must, in order to be acceptable, all add no hito (becoming onna no hito, redundant, but meaning female person). Or, onna may be replaced with josei (literally, female sex). So far, there's no corresponding restriction on otoko.
Feminists strongly criticize some of the older expressions created in Japan's male-dominant society. For instance, the words meaning widow, goke (part left behind in the family) and mibōjin (not yet dead person), are under heavy attack these days. What is offensive is the implication that a woman is less than a person because her husband is dead. Memeshii (very womanly) has a negative connotation of womanish or sissy, while ōshii (very manly) is always used in a positive sense.
The expression oba-san (auntie) used to be a convenient expression for older women, but is now perceived by middle-aged women as derogatory. It is now becoming necessary to call even women in their 40s one-san (elder sister).
In 1989, the slang word obatarian was coined to refer to obnoxious middle-aged women. Despite protests from
