Japan's top policymaker is also the top trendmaker of phrases. (Jiji) TRENDIEST PHRASES OF 2001: Prime Minister Koizumi Takes Top Honors January 22, 2002 Six phrases coined by Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi during 2001, including "structural reform without sanctuaries," were chosen by a selection committee as best representing the trends of the year 2001. Attending the December 3 ceremony announcing the selections, a radiant Prime Minister Koizumi remarked, "I'm happy that the people have shown an interest in words that describe politics." "Koizumi Quotes" Sweep Awards Of all the phrases that are born each year, the new and fashionable ones that cleverly express conditions in society and achieve wide currency among the public are considered for this award, which has been presented every December since 1984 by Jiyukokuminsha (site is Japanese only), the publishing company that releases Gendai yogo no kiso chishiki (Basic Knowledge of Current Terms). Readers of this book can nominate their favorite phrases, and the final winners are determined by a selection committee that includes Jiyukokuminsha's senior editors. The six "Koizumi quotes" chosen for the award in 2001 are "100 sacks of rice," the title of an anecdote extolling self-sacrifice for the sake of the future that the prime minister made reference to in his first policy speech to the Diet; "no fear, no hesitation, and no constraint," also used in the same speech; "structural reform without sanctuaries," which became his slogan, expressing Koizumi's determination to lay the hands of reform on areas that had hitherto been considered untouchable; "the pain of reform"; "honebuto no hoshin" ("the thick-boned plan"), referring to the economic policy guidelines that were decided on by the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which is chaired by Koizumi; and "the wide-show cabinet," as the new, media-savvy adminitration was dubbed. With his unprecedented public-approval rating and his use of catch phrases, it is perhaps no surprise that Koizumi emerged as the father of the year's most popular phrases. The top ten runners-up include "there's always tomorrow," the title of a popular song; "e-politics"; "mad cow disease"; "biological weapons"; "the forces of resistance," meaning those who oppose Koizumi's plans for structural reform; "domestic violence"; and "broadband." The selection committee also chose the most memorable quotes of the year. The committee selected a remark made by Mitsushige Takechi, a fisherman who was rescued after being stranded in the Pacific Ocean for one month, drifting all the way from Nagasaki to Chiba for a distance of about 800 kilometers (500 miles). Upon rescue he said, "People just don't die that easily." People all over Japan were surprised that he had come back alive, and his philosophical pronouncement became a popular topic for discussion. Also chosen was the statement made by Tsutomu Wakamatsu, manager of the Yakult Swallows, following his baseball team's victory in the Japan Series. Wakamatsu said, "To all the fans: Congratulations on becoming number one in Japan!" to which the fans in attendance roared their approval.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend Past Winners Looking back at the new and popular phrases and quotes that have been chosen in past years, a number of them stand out as being particularly interesting. For example, the winning quote in 1996 belonged to Yuko Arimori, the marathon runner who captured the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Arimori's battle to overcome injuries and a slump were widely reported by the media, so her statement, "I want to congratulate myself," was readily accepted by the public. Another award winner that same year was a memorable buzzword coined by Shigeo Nagashima, the manager of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants who retired at the end of the 2001 season. On July 6, 1996, Nagashima's Giants stood 11.5 games behind the first-place Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the Central League, and most thought that winning a title that year was out of the question. But the Giants began to win games one after another, and on July 16 Nagashima was quoted as saying "make drama." The Giants managed to completely turn their season around and ended up winning the pennant in a dramatic come-from-behind style. Many of Nagashima's statements over the years have become famous, but this one was the most popular. This is an example of popular phrases not only reflecting the world but affecting it as well. Copyright (c) 2002 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.