I believe words are living things. When people's way of thinking and living changes, words also change.
About 60 years ago, when I was a child, there were very few Japanese people living in the city of São Paulo, so "Japanese" people stood out in many ways.
I still remember that at that time, most Brazilians had a unique image of Japanese people, such as "They don't understand Portuguese," "The food is different," and "They have strange customs."
Since I was little, I have been interested in words and how to use them.
A phrase that Nikkei people of my generation have heard so many times that it has become callused on their ears is "Japonês garantido nô (literally: Japanese people, can you guarantee it, right?)". It is still unclear whether this phrase was used by Japanese people who cannot speak Portuguese well, or whether it was created by joke-loving Brazilians imitating Japanese pronunciation. It may sound like a Japanese person trying to show that they are trustworthy, but the problem lies in the intonation of this phrase. It just sounds like an insult to the broken Portuguese of Japanese people. This is how many Nikkei people perceive it.
However, recently, a Japanese acquaintance told me, "That means Japanese people have been respected since ancient times. I think 'garantido' is used in a positive sense, meaning that Japanese people or Japanese products can be guaranteed." This was the first time I'd heard this explanation. However, as expected, my friends of the same age say that when they hear this phrase, it only reminds them of their frustrating experiences.
More than half a century has passed, and with the advancement of globalization, the image of Japan and the Japanese people has completely changed, to the point where you rarely hear the phrase "Japonês garantido nô" anymore.
However, a new word has emerged in its place: "JAPA."
I first heard the word "JAPA" in 2008 when I was a teacher at a Brazilian school in Japan.
Of the approximately 50 students, more than 60% were mixed-race children. One day, I heard a school staff member say to a mixed-race boy, "You have the most 'JAPA' face," and I felt something was off. I wondered, "What does this person mean when he says this?" It seemed strange to me. However, when I heard the students calling each other "JAPA," I realized it was a popular word among the dekasegi.
Then, after returning to Brazil in 2009, I started hearing the word "JAPA" again recently. When I asked a Brazilian friend, "Where should we go for lunch?", she replied, "Let's go to 'JAPA'. I love that place." I wondered if there was a restaurant with that name. However, when I went there, it wasn't a restaurant called JAPA, but a tempura and yakisoba restaurant. After that, I noticed that a blog introducing Japanese food listed "comida japa (JAPA cuisine)" and "JAPA" as an adjective.
Also, I recently moved, and I overheard a young Brazilian man living in the same apartment building tell a visiting friend, "This is a nice place. There are a lot of 'JAPA' living here."
I realized that "JAPA" is a word commonly used in daily life, but what surprised me even more was when a TV news anchor said, "The man who was arrested for fraud is a 'JAPA' man." After that, they announced the name of the criminal, but at first it was just "JAPA."
"This has become a big problem," I asked various Nikkei people. Older people said, "Everyone uses it, but it still makes me feel uncomfortable," or "It's harsh to the ears." However, among the younger generation, opinions are divided, with some saying they "don't like it," others saying they "don't mind it at all," and others saying it's "normal."
Furthermore, there is also this case: A Japanese mother in her 30s calls her eldest five-year-old son "JAPINHA 1. " When asked why, she says it's to make him proud that he is Japanese since he was a child.
There is a Japanese talent who is very popular in the Brazilian entertainment industry. Her name is Sabrina Sato. She has her own TV show as a presenter and recently visited Japan for an interview. In TV and online news reports about her visit, "Sabrina" was often substituted for "JAPA". Now, it is safe to say that "Sabrina" is equal to "JAPA". And with the catchphrase "Brazil's most loved 'JAPA'", she is becoming more and more active.
However, I am still not convinced. I think there are still various ways of interpreting the meaning of "JAPA."
Note
1. The new suffix expressing affection for "JAPA"
© 2015 Laura Honda-Hasegawa
