Japanese Street Slang

Book excerpt: A comprehensive, in-depth compendium of Japanese slang as it is used on the streets of Japan today. Besides acting as a useful tool to help non-native speakers of Japanese express themselves forcefully and colourfully, this book also offers the general reader amusing and informative insights into Japanese thinking and modes of expression. Usage examples clarify the circumstances in which the expressions may be used or heard, while brief explanations trace their origins or derivation. Peter Constantine is the author of Comprehensive Dictionary of Japanese Slang.