Agency for Cultural Affairs survey reveals generational language gaps

A recent public opinion survey on the Japanese language released by the Agency for Cultural Affairs has revealed significant generational gaps in the use of idiomatic expressions.

The survey highlighted a decline in the usage of the term ‘tsuka no,’ which refers to a relationship where people can understand each other with just a single word. While approximately 66% of individuals aged 60 and older use the expression, usage drops sharply among younger generations, with only 3.6% of those aged 16–19 and 7.0% of those in their 20s reporting its use.

In contrast, the expression ‘naruhaya,’ meaning ‘as soon as possible,’ shows the opposite trend. It is widely used by younger demographics, with usage rates of 74.1% among 16–19-year-olds and 76.4% among those in their 20s, compared to only 7.2% among those aged 70 and older.