The term ‘japayuki’

NOTE: This is not an advocacy of sorts. I am merely stating a fact that I heard and I want it share it to everyone.

With the flexibility of the Filipino language (Tagalog), the Filipinos are able to formulate new words adding to their vocabulary, similar to the gay lingo that has penetrated the local communication mainstream. “Chuva, eclaver, chuck-chack chenes, bruineiyuki”, these words have no place in the conventional learning scheme in the country’s educational curriculum and academe but a lot of people has started using them in their daily lives.

Being in an industry (advertising) where gay lingo and people from all walks of life get to merge in a daily basis, I get to use these words a lot, not minding if they are considered baduy, jologs or even vulgar, as if I’m talking in my usual way, knowing that the people I’m talking are not affected.

Just last week though, I heard this recorded radio broadcast about a new radio journalist talking about ‘japayuki’.

‘Japayuki‘ in this country usually means girls working in japan as entertainers. They could be merely singers, dancers, or even reach the level of being GRO’s an well… prostitues.

The terms has a broad meaning to me and to most of my acquaintances. Though it does have a ‘negative’ meaning, a lot still places into consideration that the term does not neccessarily mean automatically mean a ‘prostitute’.

Much to my surprise when I heard that japayuki is not a word created by Filipinos. Rather, it IS a Japanese term primarily referring to prostitutes.

This is the reason why a lot of Filipina entertainers and even Japanese women find this very offending. The term originated from the time Japan was very poor to the extent the nation has to ‘sell’ their women to others for income. To the modern age, the term degrades a woman, who is working hard with blood and sweat, not with her body.

I learned something new and my feelings towards these Filipina entertainers in Japan is strengtened. I am one of those people who does not automatically equate the term ‘japayuki’ as prostitutes. Now, I KNOW that I should not even cater the idea of calling these hard working women ‘japayuki‘.

I am thanking this radio announcer for enlightening me.