Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Japan names 30 candidates for its 2026 buzzword award
Japan has announced 30 candidates for its 2026 New Words and Buzzwords Award.
The annual award highlights words that became prominent in public conversation, and the winner will be chosen on December 1.
“Rikuryu,” the nickname for figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, is on the list after they won Japan’s first Olympic gold in pair skating.
AI-related terms feature prominently, including “AI runaway,” about AI autonomously launching cyberattacks, and “voice rights,” over the unauthorized use of AI-generated imitations.
Other candidates include “extreme heat day,” “data center” and “dopagaki,” an internet slang term linked to short-video use and difficulty sustaining concentration.
The list spans technology, sport and everyday culture, and the award’s winner is due to be announced on December 1.
The 30 candidates for Japan’s 2026 New Words and Buzzwords Awards were announced on November 5.
The nominees include “AI runaway,” “extremely hot day” and “Rikuryu.”
Several candidates relate to artificial intelligence, including “voice rights,” “physical AI” and “data centers.”
“Rikuryu” refers to figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won Japan’s first Olympic gold in pairs skating.
The award winner is due to be announced on December 1.
- Who
- The organizers of the 2026 New Words and Buzzwords Awards announced the candidates.
- What
- They named 30 words and phrases as nominees for the award.
- When
- November 5, 2026. The winner is due to be announced on December 1.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- The nominees were selected from words and phrases that attracted attention during the year.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara were photographed at Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena, according to the caption in Mainichi Shimbun.
Miura and Kihara announced their engagement.
The 30 award candidates were announced.
The award winner is due to be decided.
- Number of candidates
- 30
- Announcement date
- November 5, 2026
- Winner decision
- December 1, 2026
- Rikuryu
- Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara
- Olympic achievement
- Japan’s first gold medal in pairs figure skating