1980s

№ 016 三高 sankō The three things a husband was supposed to be: tall, educated, rich. A wish list from the age when Japan believed the money would never stop. 1980s № 015 花金 hanakin “Flowery Friday” — the night Japan’s office workers celebrated their brand-new two-day weekend. The flower wilted with the economy. 1980s № 014 ダサい dasai The eternal opposite of “cool.” It has outlived every word for “cool” it was ever paired with. 1980s № 005 オタク otaku The world knows this word now. It began as a strangely polite way to say “you.” 1980s № 001 ナウい nau-i An adjective that meant “up to date.” It is now completely out of date. 1980s