fj.life.in-japan

Just the FAQs, ma'am, just the FAQs

The incomplete, unauthoritative answers to some, but not all, of your questions on life in Japan

updated August 05, 2001

by topic
culture
working
travel
intergender
entertainment
immigration/visas
money matters
internet
JET/AET/ALT/CIR

 

bosozoku -- Young kids that ride around in souped up cars/motorcycles/scooters, breaking traffic laws and creating public disturbances. Often associated with gang-like activity, and are the main recruiting pool of yakuza thugs. [rg]

chapatsu -- cha (brown) + hatsu (hair); someone with black hair who has lightened it to a brownish tint. [rg]

enjokosai -- Compensated dating ("dating for dollars"). Older men pay schoolgirls for companionship and sometimes more. [rg]

freeter -- A young Japanese who bounces from one dead-end (usually part-time) job to another. Often they save enough money for a vacation or purchase, then quit and get a new job when they get back/run out of money. [rg]

oyaji -- Middle-aged man. NB: the definition of "middle-aged" varies widely! [rg]

 

©YMMV