From Japan

Otaku Terms Dictionary

From anime lingo and internet slang to modern Japanese expressions. Explore the words you'll encounter in otaku culture and everyday Japan.

Japanese GenZ

3 terms

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Japanese GenZFashion

Heisei Retro

平成レトロ(へいせいれとろ)

Heisei retro (平成レトロ) is a trend of looking back fondly on the objects and design of the Heisei era and deliberately working them into daily life today. Heisei ran from 1989 to 2019, a little over thirty years. Heisei retro mostly covers the first half through the middle of that span, roughly the 1990s through the early 2000s. At the heart of the trend are teens and twentysomethings with little to no memory of the era itself. Everyday objects from before they were born, or before they were old enough to remember, catch their eye as unfamiliar, novel designs. For those who actually lived through the period, meanwhile, the very same objects evoke nostalgia. That contrast in how different generations see them makes them especially likely to spark conversation. It is usually described as one of the retro booms that followed Shōwa retro. English-language coverage uses the same name. Tamagotchi and purikura, the decorated photo sticker booths found in Japanese arcades, are often the way in for people who go on to take an interest in 1990s Japan.

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Japanese GenZ

Sukipi

好きピ(すきぴ)

Sukipi (好きピ) is a slang term meaning "the person you like". It primarily refers to a romantic partner or someone you have a crush on. It is rarely used as a direct term of address. Instead, it comes up in conversations with friends or social media posts when talking about someone you are into. That said, sukipi is not strictly limited to romantic interests. It can also refer to close friends, favorite celebrities, idols, or anime characters. Originally a word used for people, the cute sound of the "pi" ending led it to expand beyond that. You might hear someone say "kono okashi sukipi" (this snack is sukipi), using it simply as a cuter way of saying "I like this." Sukipi spread mainly through social media and LINE among teenage girls. Men rarely use it, and the word has settled in as a distinctly feminine expression. If a guy used sukipi to describe a male friend, it would probably feel a bit awkward.

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