Modelpress Buzzword Awards 2026 First Half: 20 Winning Phrases Announced, Including "〇〇 de Metsu," "Monaki," and "Bondoro," Garnering 14 Million Impressions on X

Tokyo, Japan – Net Native Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshinori Matsushita), operator of 'Modelpress,' one of Japan's largest entertainment and lifestyle news sites for women, has announced 20 winning words for the first half of the year as the [Modelpress Buzzword Awards 2026 First Half], based on a reader survey. Approximately 17,000 votes were cast, and the X post regarding the announcement received over 14 million impressions, creating a significant buzz within the industry.

◆ "Modelpress Buzzword Award" Selection Criteria
(1) Results of the reader survey
Survey Period: April 27, 2026 – May 17, 2026
Number of responses: 17,978
(2) Judging by the "Modelpress Editorial Department"

◆ Modelpress Buzzword Awards 2026 First Half (in alphabetical order)
A-U / Seyayona / Tagosaku Syntax / Darich's Denim / Dancin' Odotte Bailarin Keram Bujiglef Sho-Kiss / 〇〇 de Metsu / Dubai Choco Mochi / Naphtha Shortage / Ba-ku-re-tsu♡ / Bikkurishita, 〇〇 ka to omotta / Frenemy / Bondoro / Mejirushi Charm / Monaki / Yoru no Odoriko Meme / Rikuryu / Reboot / Lookism Caricature / RUDE! / Watashi!?♡

◆ Detailed Explanations
◆ A-U
An impressive phrase from a McDonald's commercial featuring Maika Sasaki of the idol group =LOVE. Her stunning visuals and an off-shot video of her pretending to eat became a hot topic. Producer Rino Sashihara tweeted about it with a photo of the product, leading to a surge in users imitating the post.

◆ Seyayona Trio
A phrase used by Motoki Ohmori of the band Mrs. GREEN APPLE during their Osaka concert became popular among fans. The unique nuance of this affirmation spread widely with affectionate teasing.

◆ Tagosaku Syntax
Originating from the speaking style "~ is 〇〇. That is because ~" of the mysterious middle-aged man Suzuki Tagosaku, played by actor Jiro Sato in the movie "Bomb" (2025). The phrase became an internet meme on X after the movie started streaming on Netflix in 2026, gaining more viewers for its logical yet humorously intimidating tone.

◆ Darich's Denim
Denim pants from Darich that became a major topic on social media for being "too small." The "XS Challenge," where people tried to fit into the jeans, became a major trend, especially among beauty-conscious youth.

◆ Dancin' Odotte Bailarin Keram Bujiglef Sho-Kiss
A line from the song "SWEET STEP" by the 7-member idol group SWEET STEADY. The catchy, spell-like feel of the lyrics matched well with TikTok dance videos, making it a hit as an addictive sound bite.

◆ 〇〇 de Metsu
A phrase derived from the title of the song "Suki Sugite Metsu!" (I love you so much, I'll perish!) by the 5-member dance-vocal group M!LK. The memorable lyrics and catchy choreography quickly went viral on social media and became a meme.

◆ Dubai Choco Mochi
A Korean-born evolved sweet that incorporates elements of the globally popular "Dubai Chocolate." The combination of the crispy texture of pistachios and kataifi with the chewy texture of mochi became a huge trend among Japan's Gen Z.

◆ Naphtha Shortage
A phenomenon where a supply shortage of the petroleum product "naphtha" led to price hikes, causing widespread effects such as Calbee's "Potato Chips" temporarily changing to black-and-white packaging. This unusual situation caused a major shock on news and social media, becoming a hot topic online partly due to its visual impact.

◆ Ba-ku-re-tsu♡
A line from M!LK's song "Bakuretsu Aishiteru" (I love you explosively). The phrase, combined with quirky and surreal choreography, went viral on TikTok. Its versatility, allowing other four-syllable words to be substituted, generated numerous social media posts.

◆ Bikkurishita, 〇〇 ka to omotta
A popular Oogiri-style (comedic improv) phrase used on social media with images or text. The style of posting this text with an image that actually says 〇〇 became widely popular among users.

◆ Frenemy
A portmanteau of "Friend" and "Enemy," referring to an enemy pretending to be a friend. The word gained attention for pointing out the real dark side of human relationships.

◆ Bondoro
An abbreviation for "Bonbon Drop Seal," which are three-dimensional, plump stickers. The trend caught fire with the boom of sticker books and sticker trading, leading to nationwide shortages. At one point, Loft suspended sales at all its physical and online stores.

◆ Mejirushi Charm
Small charms with silicone rings attached as markers for one's belongings, like umbrellas or water bottles. The boom was fueled by the release of gachapon (capsule toys) of popular characters, such as Bandai's "Mejirushi Accessory." It became a hit for combining practicality with cuteness.

◆ Monaki
A four-member group with an average age of 33, formed mainly from members selected from about 1,000 applicants in the "Second Chance Audition" produced by Junretsu's leader, Kazuyoshi Sakai. Before their major debut, they recorded an exceptional buzz, with their debut song's social media video surpassing 700 million views, 30,000 pre-orders for their debut single, and a mini-live event being canceled on the day due to overwhelming popularity. They made their major debut on April 8th.

◆ Yoru no Odoriko Meme
A dance challenge with a unique rowing-like motion set to the rock band Sakanaction's 2012 single "Yoru no Odoriko." The surreal movements appealed to young people, leading to an explosive buzz with cover videos being uploaded by everyone from Japanese idols to K-pop artists.

◆ Rikuryu
The nickname for figure skating pair Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara. They captured the hearts of Japan by winning the nation's first-ever gold medal in the pairs event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. In April, amidst growing attention not only for their stunning on-ice performances but also for their close off-ice relationship, they announced their retirement, leaving a great legacy in the history of Japanese figure skating.

◆ Reboot
A TBS Sunday theater drama from the January season starring actor Ryohei Suzuki. The unpredictable plot, mixing lies and truth, sparked heated discussions and theories after each weekly broadcast. The word was used to mean "becoming a different person through plastic surgery" and went viral on X.

◆ Lookism Caricature
Illustrations that depict the trend of lookism (appearance-至上主義) in modern society with sarcasm and humor. They sparked deep empathy and discussion, mainly among young people.

◆ RUDE!
A song by the girl group Hearts2Hearts, released on February 20th. The spoken-word part delivered in fluent English by member STELLA became a hot topic, leading to a meme on X where users would post fast-spoken lines in time with the music.

◆ Watashi!?♡
An idol group produced by Rino Sashihara.