Terry Ito Column Vol.42 Do you know "Kamatoto"?

This may be a bit sudden, but do you know the meaning of "kamatoto"? According to the dictionary, it is "an act of a woman pretending not to know something when she does, pretending to be refined or innocent, and pretending to be naive in an attempt to attract a man's attention." Furthermore, the etymology of the word is apparently derived from the way a woman once asked, "Is kamaboko made from fish (toto)?", pretending not to know something that was obvious. I've been talking about "kamatoto" at length since the beginning, but recently, kamatoto songs have been gaining attention among Generation Z. First up is Yamamoto Linda's "Konnachau na" (lyrics and music by Endo Minoru, released in 41).

I'm in trouble when I'm asked out on a date
What should I do? Is it still too early?
My heart is beating with excitement and fear.
When I asked my mom, she just laughed and said nothing.
I'm in trouble when I'm asked out on a date

It's the perfect Kamato song. I can't imagine anyone asking their parents for advice on a first date these days. The fact that they say they're worried but aren't worried at all is a very Showa-era song. Next up is The Peanuts' "Don't Look Back" (lyrics by Iwatani Tokiko, music by Miyagawa Yasushi, 37).

Please don't look back　
Right now, I'm mending your socks, your favorite black socks.
Please don't look back　
Right now, I'm fixing my skirt, your favorite tartan check.
We're going on a friendly date now　
The romance we talk about together

As expected from Tokiko Iwatani, the lyrics are wonderful. Even though she tells him not to look at her because she's embarrassed, she confidently fixes your favorite black socks and wins his attention. This is definitely a high-level Kamatoro. Next is Megumi Asaoka's "Mebae" (lyrics by Kazuya Senka, music by Kyohei Tsutsumi, 47),

If I hadn't met you that day
What kind of girl would I have become?
With blisters on my feet, I went from town to town
You were walking with tears in your eyes, with no destination in mind
You must have cried when people called you a naughty child because you learned bad games.
Even now, whenever I think about it, my heart aches, I'll never leave your side again

A classic Kamato song. Whether it's bravery or cunning, "If I hadn't met you, I would have become a naughty girl who learned to play around," the self-presentation is flawless. Furthermore, the pure and innocent singer sings it with such sweetness that it's extremely effective. Other songs include Sakiko Ito's "Himawari Musume," Naoko Kawai's "Smile for Me," Candies' "Anata ni Muchuu," and Hiroko Hayashi's "Suteki na Lovely Boy," making for a parade of Kamato songs. These are all classics that give you insight into what girls of the Showa era were thinking when they went on dates. It's sure to be a good study of female behavior that isn't taught in school. It might be useful. Give it a listen!

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry