Yabo

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Yabo (野暮, Yabo^?) is a Japanese term to describe certain unaesthetic quality. Yabo is the antonym of iki. Busui (無粋), literally "non-iki," is synonymous to yabo. A non-iki thing is not necessarily yabo, but it's probable. A yabo thing is usually unrefined, gigantic, coarse, childish, colorful, self-conscious, permanent, loud, superficial, vulgar, snobbish, boorish, etc.

The word yabo was often used by city dwellers (chonin) (especially, of Edo). It often refers to samurai and farmers (nomin) from outside of Edo, if not to another chonin. The city dwellers of Edo sometimes called themselves Edokko (as in New Yorker or Parisian). They were proud of being born and grown up in Edo, and had a tendency to despise outsiders. It should be noted, however, that the origins of many of chonin could be traced back to the places outside of Edo.

The meaning of the term has expanded and generalized through the modernization of Japan. Today, the word yabo is used more frequently than iki. This might be because yabo is more easily found than iki.

[edit] Yabo and Japanese

Today yabo means unsophisticated or sometimes unimportant (yabo yo). It is interesting that the stereotypical views towards modern Japanese (especially Tokyoites) in various countries are typically yabo. For example, sacrificing themselves to work, not being financially generous (reluctant to donate money), not knowing how to enjoy life, being cruel to those who seek help, being too efficient etc. - these properties are all considered yabo. These are stereotypes and not necessarily true.

Many Westerners and older Japanese perceive the fashions and culture of modern Japanese youth to be garish, childish, frivolous and/or exaggerated, which fits the concept of yabo.

[edit] References

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