Again following Omusubi vol. 7, in this first アラカルト of the year we introduce another yearly roundup, the 新(しん)語(ご)・流行(りゅうこう) 語(ご)大賞(たいしょう) . This　is an award for the most popular new expressions which appeared in 2006, and here are the トップテン!
   
　 ■イナバウアー
　 This refers to a figure skating move which 荒川(あらかわ)静香(しずか), Shizuka Arakawa used to great effect as part of her routine at the Turin Winter Olympics in February 2006. This move contributed to Arakawa winning a　金(きん)メダル, gold medal in figure skating.
　 ■ 品 格
　 This word, which means 'dignity', came to the fore in 『国家(こっか)の品格(ひんかく)』 'Dignity of a Nation', a set of essays written by mathematician 藤原(ふじわら)正彦(まさひこ), Masahiko Fujiwara. The book, which argued for a more moral approach to life than just the pursuit of money, challenged the Japanese to regain their well-deserved dignity, thereby selling over 2 million copies.
　  
　 ■エロカッコイイ(エロカワイイ)
　 This expression, meaning 'erotic-cool', and the variation 'erotic-cute' were coined to describe singer 倖田(こうだ)來未(くみ), Kumi Koda. Koda, with her risque performances and sexy costumes reminiscent of Madonna, has had an influence on young Japanese women, who are now dressing sexy and baring their flesh.
　 ■ 格(かく)差(さ)社会(しゃかい)
  This expression, meaning 'disparate society' refers to the widening gap between rich and poor in Japan. Previously the majority of Japanese perceived themselves as 中流(ちゅうりゅう), 'middle class', but now there is a growing polarization (二極化(にきょくか)) in income, education and employment. It is also a reference to the negative aspects of reforms and deregulation implemented by the Koizumi government.
　  
　 ■ シンジラレナ〜イ
  This is an utterance meaning 'I don't believe it!' by the manager of the 日本(にっぽん)ハムファイターズ, Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team, Trey Hillman in reference to the fact that his team won the Pacific League(パ・リーグ). When the team went on to star in the all-Japan series 日本(にっぽん)一(いち), he again uttered the phrase, to the delight of the fans.
　  
　 ■ たらこ・たらこ・たらこ
  These words meaning 'cod roe' first appeared in a song advertising a pasta sauce from キューピー, Kewpie Corporation. When the song, which is performed by ユニット・キグルミ, a pair of primary school girls, was put out as a CD, it reached number two on the hit parade.
　 ■ 脳トレ
　 This expression is an abbreviation of 'brain training', originally developed for the treatment of brain disease through simple arithmetic and reading aloud by 川島(かわしま)隆太(りゅうた), Ryuta Kawashima from Tohoku University. This prompted a 脳トレ boom in game software for adults which has now spread to Europe and the US.
   
　 ■ ハンカチ王子
  The 'handkerchief prince' is 斉藤(さいとう)佑樹(ゆうき), Yuki Saito, the pitcher for the winners of the annual high school baseball championship in Japan. He received this nickname from the popular press for his habit of daintily wiping his brow with a blue hanky in between pitches.
　  
　 ■ ミクシィ
  This is the name of the biggest Social Networking Service in Japan. Membership based internet networking groups are becoming increasingly popular among the Japanese, to the point where some have become ミクシィ-holic!
　  
　 ■ メタボリックシンドローム
　 Metabolic syndrome is a new catch phrase for referring to 生活(せいかつ)習慣(しゅうかん)病(びょう), lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Close to half of Japanese middle-aged men are said to have some form of this syndrome.
　  
　 This section written by Cathy Jonaki
　  
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