TOKYOOctober 9 (News On Japan) – Phrases like “Ichome Ichiban,” often used by older generations in the workplace, have become a trending topic in videos.
Supervisor: “This project is our Ichome Ichiban task!” Subordinate: “Ichome Ichiban… Ah, so it’s a card-related task?” Supervisor: “No, it’s not. ‘Ichome Ichiban’ refers to the most important issue or task that should be prioritized above all else.”
Otsuka Pharmaceutical conducted a survey of 600 working adults in their 20s and over 40s, examining the communication gap between generations. The research found that workplace jargon, which senior employees have used for years, is increasingly being misunderstood by younger employees, creating ‘misunderstood workplace jargon’.
Supervisor: “We will have to tackle this task with a ‘homemade lunch’ approach.” Subordinate: “Homemade lunch… so a handmade bento box?” Supervisor: “No, it’s not. ‘Homemade lunch’ means that you reimburse your own costs when participating in activities.”
Supervisor: “We need to discuss this matter ‘nigirimasu’ with the head of accounting.” Subordinate: “I’ll get to work on it right away! I’m coming!” “Nigirimasu refers to making secret preparations and securing an agreement.”
The research also revealed other terms, such as ‘negoru’, ‘baseball for all teams’ and ‘teleco’, which highlight the communication gap between generations in the workplace. In the survey, 86.0% of those in their 20s reported not knowing these terms in the workplace, while 75.5% of those in their 40s said their younger colleagues did not understand the phrases.
‘Yoshinani’ and ‘Licking the Pencil’
This project was launched to solve “communication gaps between generations in the workplace”. Kumotoriya Naoki, the person in charge of Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Oronamin C division, explained: “These words, which we naturally use often, are not really understood by today’s younger generation. But recognizing this gap can help foster conversations and speed up communication, creating a more positive environment at work.”
The phrase with the largest recognition gap was “Ichome Ichiban,” followed by “Yoshinani” (meaning “appropriately or accordingly”) and “licking the pencil” (a metaphor for thinking carefully about writing favorable grades).
The public’s views on this language gap in the workplace included:
A man in his 30s who worked in social care said: ‘It’s like a list of fossilized words. ‘Yoshinani’ is exactly such a term. People will probably ask, “What does that mean?” I’ve heard it before, but don’t use it. ‘Teleco’ would not be understood by most people either.’
A self-employed man in his 70s commented: ‘We used to use these words, but now I try not to. If people don’t understand what you’re saying, it creates a disconnect, which can be a negative in social interactions.”
Source: ANN
