On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the history of a fascinating example of Japanese slang: gyarandu (ギャランドゥ). This is a Japanese word that means refers to the patch of hair some people have between their belly button and public area. Often called "happy trail" or "belly/stomach hair," in English, gyarandu has a really interesting history that goes back to one of Japan's most popular 1980s male pop stars: Hideki Saijo. Listen to the episode to learn more! 👉Topics Discussed What does gyarandu (ギャランドゥ) mean? About the meaning of the 1983 Hideki Saijo song "Gyarandu" What the 1983 Saijo Hideki song "Gyarandu" is about How Saijo Hideki's song "Gyarandu" resulted in the creation of the Japanese slang term gyarandu About the etymology/word origin of gyarandu Who coined the term gyarandu Who wrote the 1983 song "Gyarandu" About Monta Yoshinori and his explanation of what "Gyarandu" means And more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi https://patreon.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. If you'd like to listen to a full version of Saijo Hideki's 1983 song "Gyarandu" (ギャランドゥ) you can do so below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yXpgBUshz8 👉Follow on Social Media
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japan by JapanKyo.com
Apr 9, 2025 • Subscribe
More like this
How a J-Pop Star's Stomach Hair Resulted in a NEW Japanese Word (The Origins of Gyarandu/ギャランドゥ) | Japan Station 152
On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the history of a fascinating example of Japanese slang: gyarandu (ギャランドゥ). This is a Japanese word that means refers…
Unexpected Japanese Word Origins: FART | Japan Station 125
This time we're taking a deep dive into the history of the Japanese word for fart: onara. Where did it come from? What is its true meaning? What…
Unexpected Japanese Word Origins: FART | Japan Station 125
This time we're taking a deep dive into the history of the Japanese word for fart: onara. Where did it come from? What is its true meaning? What…
The ORIGINS of "NEKO!" Digging into the ETYMOLOGY of the Japanese Word for "CAT" | Japan Station 150
On this episode of Japan Station, I examine the mysterious origins of the Japanese word for cat: neko. Trust me, there's a whole lot more to say about…
The ORIGINS of "NEKO!" Digging into the ETYMOLOGY of the Japanese Word for "CAT" | Japan Station 149
On this episode of Japan Station, I examine the mysterious origins of the Japanese word for cat: neko. Trust me, there's a whole lot more to say about…
The Etymology of the Japanese Word for FART | Japan Station 125
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTz_kge7Puk On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the origin of the Japanese word for "fart" (onara, おなら).
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via news, videos and podcasts
How Japanese scandals EXPLODE! (Igor Prusa) | Japan Station 167
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about scandals in Japan. My guest Dr. Igor Prusa tells about how scandals in Japan work, how they surface and…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
How do Japanese names work? | Japan Station 196/Ichimon Japan 28
This is a re-release of Ichimon Japan episode 28. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do Japanese names work? Topics Discussed How people in…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
How do Japanese names work? | Japan Station 196/Ichimon Japan 28
This is a re-release of Ichimon Japan episode 28. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do Japanese names work? Topics Discussed How people in Japan…
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via videos, podcasts, and articles
How a Brit ended up designing FONTS in Japan | Japan Station 176
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the history of font design in Japan, the history of the Nintendo font and how Daniel Kaihatsu became a…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
New Rock and Happy End – Origins of Japanese Rock
Japanese Rock and Pop music has, through the 21st century, become an undoubtedly global phenomenon with genres like J-Pop, J-Rock reaching
Saboru: The Strange Origins of “Cutting Class” in Japanese
The creation of the 8-hour workday, an early 20th-century vogue for foreign words - all led to the most popular Japanese word many don't even realize is foreign…
A Summer of Japanese Pop Princesses
This past weekend I attended the Miku Expo 2018 to see Hatsune Miku perform at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The month before, I saw Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at the…
Best J-Pop/J-Rock Albums of 2019
Although I’ve admittedly not listened to as much Japanese music this time around as I have in previous years (or at least, fewer full albums), I still enjoy…
Best J-Pop/J-Rock Albums of 2022
Well, another year bites the dust I guess. It was honestly a bit of a flop in terms of anime (if you go strictly by the numbers, anyway),…
Best J-Pop/J-Rock Albums of 2020
2020 sure has been a year, huh? Luckily, despite… well, you know, everything, there was some pretty good music to come out of this one, and I actually…
Best J-Pop/J-Rock Albums of 2023
Hi to the maybe two people reading this annual post series!
How I Fell in Love with Japan (NEONshe) | Japan Station 114
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to musician NEONshe about how she fell in love with Japan, how Japan inspired her music, her time in Japan, her…
How I Fell in Love with Japan (NEONshe) | Japan Station 114
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYS5acEVjt4
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more
How I Fell in Love with Japan (NEONshe) | Japan Station 114
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to musician NEONshe about how she fell in love with Japan, how Japan inspired her music, her time in Japan, her…
10 Words Only in Japanese DEBUNKED?! | Japan Station 133
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about 10 words that only exist in Japanese and how Japanese may not be as unique as you think it…
10 Words Only in Japanese DEBUNKED?! | Japan Station 133
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about 10 words that only exist in Japanese and how Japanese may not be as unique as you think it…
10 Words Only in Japanese DEBUNKED?! | Japan Station 133
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about 10 words that only exist in Japanese and how Japanese may not be as unique as you think it…
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via videos, podcasts, and articles
Laser Hair Removal in Japan
Considering laser hair removal in Japan? Here’s what to expect plus five English speaking salons in Tokyo!
Understanding Christmas in Japan (About Japanese Christmas) | Japan Station 187/Ichimon Japan 67
This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Best J-Pop/J-Rock Albums of 2020 (Kind Of)
Welp, it’s that time of year again. I guess it really did sneak up on me because I just didn’t have the chance to check out that much…
How Japanese terms get abbreviated! Explaining 4 MORA words | Japan Station 181
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about 4 more words in Japanese. What's a mora? And why are there so many four mora words in Japanese?…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese folklore with Thersa Matsuura of the Uncanny Japan podcast. 👉Topics Discussed About Japanese folklore About yokai About…
Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7waTdq7P-U
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via news, videos and podcasts
Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese folklore with Thersa Matsuura of the Uncanny Japan podcast. 👉Topics Discussed About Japanese folklore About yokai About…
Why there's a DOGE statue in Japan! | Japan Station 119
On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about the new statue of the famous Kabosu the shibainu (a.k.a. Doge) that was erected in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Are…
Why there's a DOGE statue in Japan! | Japan Station 119
On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about the new statue of the famous Kabosu the shibainu (a.k.a. Doge) that was erected in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Are…
Yabai! The Most Versatile Word in the Japanese Language?
There's no Japanese word quite like yabai: the extremely popular slang term can mean anything from "awful" to "risky" to "excellent, dude!"
Why are vegetables so insulting in Japanese? | Japan Station 162/Ichimon Japan 14
This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 12. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why are vegetables so unsulting in Japanese? On this episode we…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
A Guide to Japanese Hotels! Tips & Tricks for Japan Travelers | Japan Station 144
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about hotels in Japan! This episode will give you all the information you need to know before you come visit…
Happy New Year 2024! | Japan Station 118.5
Subscribe to the JapanKyo YouTube Watch the Tokaido Challenge video series Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Tony Dot Vega X/Twitter …
Happy New Year 2024! | Japan Station 118.5
Subscribe to the JapanKyo YouTube Watch the Tokaido Challenge video series Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Tony Dot Vega X/Twitter …
How to be a K-Pop Fan in Tokyo
The influence K-pop has on young Tokyoites can be felt across the city. With there being an increasing amount of concerts and fan events, there is no better…
How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Akihabara is DYING? How Ikebukuro Became Japan's New Otaku Capital | Japan Station 201
On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith to talk about the current status of Akihabara and the rise of Ikebukuro as Japan's…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Akihabara is DYING? How Ikebukuro Became Japan’s New Otaku Capital | Japan Station 201
On this episode of Japan Station, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith to talk about the current status of Akihabara and the rise of Ikebukuro as Japan’s…
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via videos, podcasts, and articles
TOP 20 J-POP SONGS IN 2020 #MUSIC
2020 is a year that I fall in love with J-POP music the most. Shoutout to theDX3 YT Channel who make J-POP ranking platform so it’s much easier…
What is a shijūkata? (Age related Japanese words) | Japan Station 199
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about interesting words related to aging and shoulders and a weird ECC commercial. 👉Topics Discussed 四十肩ō And much…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
What is a shijūkata? (Age related Japanese words) | Japan Station 199
On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about interesting words related to aging and shoulders and a weird ECC commercial. 👉Topics Discussed What shijūkata (ū四十肩) is What…
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via videos, podcasts, and articles
Telling Time in the Edo Period! Obscure Japanese Vocabulary & Etymology | Japan Station 156
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about vocabulary and phrases related to telling time during the Edo Period! This is a surprisingly deep and interesting topic…
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japan & Japanese Culture by JapanKyo.com
Telling Time in the Edo Period! Obscure Japanese Vocabulary & Etymology | Japan Station 156
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about vocabulary and phrases related to telling time during the Edo Period! This is a surprisingly deep and
JapanKyo – Exploring Japan today via videos, podcasts, and articles
My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbpEogpCffw
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more
My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the worst 3 mistakes I made while learning Japanese. Topics Discussed About the history of Kabosu the Shibainu…
My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbpEogpCffw
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more
My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbpEogpCffw
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more