The 30 nominees for the 2025 T&D Insurance Group New Word and Popular Phrase Award, which determines the most popular phrase of the year, were announced on November 5th. The nominees include "Hoitara ne," a line from the NHK morning drama "Anpan," "Biju Ii Jan," a phrase from the song "Ii Jan" by solo comedian Hyoroku-san and dance vocal group M!LK, and "Nagasode wo Kudasai," a phrase from the popular segment "Meitantei Tsuda" on the TBS variety show "Wednesday Downtown."
Other nominees include "Myaku Myaku," the official character of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan; "Yakuzen," which became a hot topic on NHK's "Drama 10: Shiawase wa tabete nete mate"; "Lovebu," a character created by Hong Kong-born designer Kashin Loong; and "National Treasure (I watched it)," from the hit movie "National Treasure."
The award began in 1984. Candidate words are selected by the editorial department and others, primarily from the words included in "Basic Knowledge of Modern Terms" (Jiyuukokuminsha). From these, a selection committee selects the top ten and annual grand prize winners. This year, the top ten will be announced on December 1st.
◇List of candidate words (in alphabetical order)
Ehhhhh / old media / Otetsutabi / online casinos / corporate culture / papal election / emergency gun hunting and bear attacks / national treasures (watched) / ancient rice / July 5th / 80 years since the end of the war and 100 years since the Showa era / 19.2 seconds for a graduation certificate / Chappie / You are better than chocolate mint / Trump tariffs / Give me long sleeves / Two seasons / stuffed animal activity / I'll work, work, work, work, and work - a female prime minister / Beautiful / Hyoroku / High prices / Freelance Protection Act / Heisei girls / Hoitarane / Malatang / Myakumyaku / Medicinal food / Lovebu / Recovery wear
