Music & Entertainment

Introduction

Japan’s entertainment industry — from J-pop idols to Vtubers — has generated a massive slang vocabulary. Terms like 推し (your favourite performer) and 神曲 (god-tier song) are part of everyday fan culture.

This chapter covers slang from Japan’s music, idol, and entertainment scenes.

Themes

All Japanese Slang in This Chapter (80)

1. 神曲 かみきょく A god-tier song; an absolute banger that is so good it feels divine.
2. ライブ ライブ A live concert or live performance; any event where music is performed in person.
3. セトリ セトリ Setlist; the list of songs performed at a concert in order.
4. アンコール アンコール Encore; calling the artist back on stage for additional songs after the main set ends.
5. 降りる おりる To quit being a fan of an idol or artist; to 'get off' the fandom train.
6. ペンライト ペンライト Penlight or glowstick used at concerts to show support, often in a specific member's color.
7. 物販 ぶっぱん Merchandise sales booth at a concert venue; the act of buying merch at an event.
8. 特典会 とくてんかい A fan meet event offering special perks like handshakes, photos, or signed items with the artist.
9. 積む つむ To stack up purchases (usually CDs) to accumulate fan event tickets or perks.
10. チケ チケ Short for チケット (ticket); used casually for concert and event tickets.
11. チケ戦争 チケせんそう Ticket war; the fierce, chaotic competition to secure concert tickets the moment they go on sale.
12. 当選 とうせん Winning a ticket lottery; being selected in a random draw for event access.
13. 落選 らくせん Losing a ticket lottery; failing to be selected for event access.
14. 全ステ ぜんステ Attending every single show on a tour; going to all stages/dates.
15. 遠征 えんせい Traveling a long distance to see a concert or attend an event, like a fan expedition.
16. オタ芸 オタげい Choreographed fan chanting and synchronized movements performed during idol concerts.
17. コール コール Audience chants and call-and-response during a live performance.
18. MIX ミックス A specific audience call-and-response chant pattern performed during high-energy moments at idol concerts.
19. リリイベ リリイベ Release event; a promotional event held for a new single, album, or product release.
20. カバー カバー A cover song or cover version of another artist's work.
21. 歌ってみた うたってみた 'I tried singing it' — a genre of online cover videos where users record themselves singing songs.
22. 踊ってみた おどってみた 'I tried dancing it' — a genre of online dance cover videos.
23. Vtuber ブイチューバー Virtual YouTuber; a content creator who uses a computer-generated avatar instead of showing their real face.
24. オリ曲 オリきょく Original song; a song that is not a cover but composed by or for the artist.
25. ドロップ ドロップ To drop; releasing new music, content, or merchandise.
26. フェス フェス Festival, especially a music festival; a large-scale outdoor or multi-day event.
27. 対バン たいバン A multi-band live show where several artists or bands perform on the same bill.
28. ワンマン ワンマン A solo concert performed by a single artist or band, with no opening acts.
29. アコースティック アコースティック An acoustic performance; an unplugged set using non-electric instruments.
30. 耳コピ みみコピ Learning to play music by ear, without using sheet music or tabs.
31. 音源 おんげん Audio source; a recorded track as opposed to a live performance.
32. 円盤 えんばん Disc; CD, DVD, or Blu-ray physical media release.
33. 初回盤 しょかいばん First-press limited edition release; a special initial pressing with bonus content.
34. アー写 アーしゃ Artist photo; an official promotional photograph of a musician or group.
35. ビジュ ビジュ Visuals; how someone looks, especially when they look stunning. Short for ビジュアル.
36. センター センター The center position in an idol group; the member who stands front and center during performances.
37. 選抜 せんばつ Selected members chosen to participate in a single release or performance; the A-team lineup.
38. 卒業 そつぎょう Graduation; an idol or member leaving their group, framed as a positive departure.
39. デビュー デビュー Debut; an artist's first official release, appearance, or entry into the professional world.
40. ブレイク ブレイク To break through; to suddenly become famous or popular.
41. 一発屋 いっぱつや A one-hit wonder; an entertainer or artist who had only one big success and then faded from the spotlight.
42. プロデュース プロデュース To produce or oversee a creative project; in idol culture, the act of managing and shaping an idol or group's image, music, and career.
43. タイアップ タイアップ A tie-up; a song commissioned as the theme for an anime, drama, commercial, or film, creating mutual promotion between the artist and the...
44. 主題歌 しゅだいか The main theme song of a movie, drama, or anime — the signature musical piece associated with the work.
45. 挿入歌 そうにゅうか An insert song; a vocal track played during a specific scene in an anime, drama, or film for dramatic effect.
46. OP オーピー Opening theme; the song and animation sequence that plays at the start of each anime episode.
47. ED エーディー Ending theme; the song and animation sequence that plays at the end of each anime episode.
48. イントロ イントロ The intro; the instrumental opening section of a song before the vocals begin.
49. サビ サビ The chorus or hook of a song; the catchiest, most memorable part that listeners remember and sing along to.
50. 落ちサビ おちサビ The 'drop chorus' — a stripped-back, quieter version of the chorus that typically comes before the final, full-power chorus.
51. リピート リピート On repeat; listening to or watching something over and over because you love it.
52. ヘビロテ ヘビロテ Heavy rotation; playing a song, album, or show obsessively on repeat.
53. 非公式 ひこうしき Unofficial; fan-made or unauthorized content, events, or accounts that are not endorsed by the official creators or rights holders.
54. グッズ グッズ Goods; official or fan-made merchandise related to an artist, anime, game, or character.
55. 痛バ いたバ An ita-bag; a bag covered in badges, keychains, and other merchandise of a beloved character or idol, creating a visually intense fan dis...
56. 聖地 せいち Holy land; a real-world location featured in an anime, drama, or film that fans visit as a pilgrimage destination.
57. ファンカム ファンカム Fan-filmed video focusing on one specific performer during a concert or stage performance.
58. 地蔵 じぞう A concert-goer who stands completely still like a stone Jizo statue, criticized at standing-only or call-and-response events.
59. 即完 そっかん Sold out instantly; describes tickets, merchandise, or limited items that vanished within seconds of going on sale.
60. 千秋楽 せんしゅうらく The final performance of a concert tour, stage run, or event series — often the most anticipated and emotional show.
61. 配信ライブ はいしんライブ An online streaming concert; a live performance broadcast over the internet that viewers can watch from home.
62. サブスク解禁 サブスクかいきん When an artist makes their music available on streaming platforms; the 'unlocking' of their catalog for streaming services.
63. MV エムブイ Music video; the standard abbreviation for a promotional video accompanying a song.
64. カムバ カムバ Comeback; when an artist or idol group returns with new music or activities after a period of absence.
65. 座席ガチャ ざせきガチャ Seat lottery; the luck-based experience of finding out your randomly assigned concert seat location.
66. ライビュ ライビュ Live viewing; watching a concert or event broadcast live on the big screen in a movie theater.
67. 凱旋公演 がいせんこうえん A triumphant homecoming show; a concert held in an artist's hometown or a return engagement at a venue with special significance.
68. 先行 せんこう Priority pre-sale; an advance ticket sales period, typically reserved for fan club members or specific groups before general sale.
69. 抽選 ちゅうせん A lottery draw; the random selection process used for concert ticket allocation when demand exceeds supply.
70. 完売 かんばい Sold out; all tickets, merchandise, or goods have been purchased with none remaining.
71. ファンミ ファンミ Fan meeting; a smaller, intimate event where fans can interact more directly with artists through games, talks, and special activities.
72. トレカ トレカ Trading card; a collectible photo card of an idol or artist, usually included as a bonus with CD or merchandise purchases.
73. ランダムトレカ ランダムトレカ Random trading card; a photo card included with purchases where you don't know which member or design you'll receive.
74. メンバーカラー メンバーカラー Member color; the specific color assigned to each member of an idol group, used for penlights, merchandise, and fan identification.
75. 復刻 ふっこく Reissue or re-release; bringing back previously discontinued merchandise, limited editions, or out-of-print items.
76. 舞台挨拶 ぶたいあいさつ Stage greeting; an in-person appearance by the cast at a movie theater screening for a talk or Q&A with the audience.
77. 打ち上げ うちあげ An after-party or wrap party; a celebratory gathering held after a concert, event, project, or work is completed.
78. スピンオフ スピンオフ A spin-off; a derivative work focusing on side characters or exploring a different angle of an existing franchise.
79. リリース リリース Release; when new music, an album, or other content is officially made available to the public.
80. 弾いてみた ひいてみた 'I tried playing' — a genre of online cover videos where people perform instrumental covers of songs and share their performances.