Terry Ito Column Vol.74 How to Deal with the Disgust of the Times

I thought about "disgust." The phrases "it's totally fine," "I'm really sleepy," "I'm annoyed," and "This ramen is so amazing" are commonly used among young people, but when I first heard them, I felt something was off. The word "annoying" has certainly been around for a long time, but it was never used out loud in public in everyday life. It's certainly unheard of for a woman to say it while drinking tea. Nowadays, "I'm really sleepy" is commonly referred to as "old-fashioned." Before we knew it, "it's totally" (which was a negative word) had become a positive word.

Times are interesting. When Japan's first McDonald's opened in Ginza 4-chome in July 1971, it caused quite a stir, but as the pedestrian zone boomed, walking around with a McBurger in one hand became a huge trend, leading to criticism from some in the media and adults, who commented, "Eating while walking?", and it even became a social issue. However, as time passed and the smartphone era arrived, "one-handed eating" became mainstream. It's common to see people taking selfies while holding food in one hand on the streets. Food manufacturers are also busy developing new products.

As times change, so do feelings of dislike. Bob Dylan, known as the god of folk music, brought an electric guitar to the Newport Folk Festival in May 1965 for the first time, causing a huge uproar and booing from fans who had previously believed in acoustic guitars. There was a real backlash and dislike for the electric guitar. Some high schools in Japan even banned electric guitars, believing them to be for delinquents. Even the Beatles, who are said to have revolutionized the music world, were viewed with unease by some adults when they debuted, with comments like, "What's with that long hair? It's so dirty!" As we all know, both Bob Dylan and the Beatles are now unshakable artists who have left their mark on music history.

In terms of fashion, camouflage pants, worn by military-pattern lovers like me, were once only worn by right-wingers, and wearing them on a date would surely have made people unpopular. Also, if I wore a black suit, people would ask me, "Are you on your way back from a funeral?" Before we knew it, they had become the standard for job interview suits, for both men and women. I've never heard of a strange rule anywhere in the world that says black suits are convenient and appropriate for job hunting. It's something I've always felt uncomfortable with. Repeatedly saying "sorry" during conversations, nodding more than necessary, always starting conversations with a negation like "but..." or "you mean...," looking down at your phone while you're talking... These kinds of discomforts, bordering on disgust, are also present in everyday conversations.

Many new dislikes have been born. Tonight I'll have "chilled oden," which I've never tried before. For dessert, I felt a bit strange at first, but now everyone loves "strawberry daifuku," so I'll cheer myself up!

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