Abe Sadao smiles after "Futehodo" is selected as the buzzword of the year

The 2024 U-CAN New Words and Buzzwords Awards, which decide the most popular words of the year, were announced on December 2nd, and the nickname "Futehodo" from the drama "Futeki mo Hodo ga Aru!" (TBS), which aired in January, won the annual grand prize. The award ceremony was held in Tokyo on the same day, and the lead actor Abe Sadao and staff appeared. Abe expressed his joy at being selected, saying, "I'm happy to be here, where I always watch TV." On the other hand, he laughed and said, "I've never said 'Futehodo' myself," and added, "I think it's because the drama was appreciated. I'm honored." Producer Isoyama Akira smiled and said, "I'm very happy to receive this evaluation." Producer Amamiya Saeko said, "We were filming around this time last year, and I think the hard work we put in at that time has paid off. Thank you for this honorable award." Director Kaneko Fuminori said, "I have mixed feelings, as I think it means that there were a lot of inappropriate things (in society), but I'm happy. Thank you very much." The award began in 1984 and is announced every year in early December. Candidate words are selected by the editorial department and others, mainly from the words included in "Modern Terms Basic Knowledge" (Jiyuukokuminsha). The selection committee consists of Kyorin University professor Kindaichi Hideho, manga artist and columnist Shinsan Naeko, comedian Patrick Harlan, actor and essayist Muroi Shigeru, manga artist Yaku Mitsuru, and "Modern Terms Basic Knowledge" editor-in-chief Otsuka Yoko. ◇2024 U-CAN Top Ten New Words and Buzzwords (winners in parentheses, titles omitted) Secret fund issue (Kamiwaki Hiroyuki)▽Neighborhood (Mainichi Shimbun Digital News Group)▽Middle-aged Japan (Japan's representative team for eventing at the Paris Olympics)▽New banknotes (Fukaya City)▽50-50 (Otani Shohei)▽Futehodo (Friday drama "There's a limit to how inappropriate it is!")▽Bling-Bang-Bang-Born (Creepy Nuts)▽White projects (no winners)▽Failed to leave a memorable quote (Kitaguchi Haruka)▽That's enough (Netflix series "The Land Fraudsters" team)