Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

On English-language TikTok, the fabric name “polyester” has begun taking on a new life as an insult meaning “cheap” or “hollow,” according to a report from overseas outlet TABI LABO. A post captioned “a polyester lifestyle” reportedly drew nearly 40,000 likes. On 5ch, the news sparked a wave of comments pointing out polyester’s genuine functional strengths, noting that Japan has had its own decades-old tradition of using synthetic fibers as a metaphor for cheapness, and explaining the differences between polyester and other synthetic fibers like polyethylene and polypropylene — turning the thread into an impromptu trivia session on textiles themselves.

“Polyester” Becomes a Gen Z Insult. What Does It Mean on TikTok? | TABI LABO

When you hear “polyester,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably the fabric label on a shirt tag. But right now, English-speaking Gen Zers are starting to use the word in a completely different way — as a new insult for judging the quality of a person or content: “cheap,” “shallow,” “not the real thing.”

A “polyester lifestyle” post racks up 40,000 likes

Source: tabi-labo.com / Read the original article here

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Breaking News+) thread ““Polyester” Becomes a Gen Z Insult. What Does It Mean on TikTok?“

Yamagata Prefecture’s branded rice “Yukiwakamaru” has earned Japan’s top “Special A” rating in the annual rice-tasting rankings for eight consecutive years since its debut, but sales of the 2025 harvest have stalled amid rising prices and a growing consumer shift toward cheaper rice. JA Zen-Noh Yamagata is holding down its provisional purchase price for the 2026 harvest, and the prefecture is stepping up promotion with a supplementary budget. On 5ch, some argued the price simply needs to come down, while others pointed out that the brand is stuck in an awkward mid-price spot, overshadowed by the premium “Tsuyahime” brand — though plenty of posters were also coolly dismissive, saying there are just too many rice brands to tell the taste apart anyway.

Yamagata’s branded rice “Yukiwakamaru” is facing a make-or-break moment. With prices surging and consumers turned off by the so-called “Reiwa rice panic,” more people are hunting for cheaper rice, and sales of the 2025 harvest struggled as a result. JA Zen-Noh Yamagata is keeping its provisional price for the 2026 harvest low, while Yamagata Prefecture has put together a supplementary budget to boost promotion. This autumn looks like a decisive test for growing both sales volume and brand recognition.

For the 2025 harvest, being positioned as the mid-priced “little brother” to the premium “Tsuyahime” brand became a liability

Yukiwakamaru debuted in 2018 and, thanks to its strong heat tolerance, has steadily expanded its planted acreage ever since. For the 2027 harvest, growers expect to plant 7,700 hectares and produce 45,430 tons. By requiring growers to register in order to maintain quality, the brand has earned Japan’s top “Special A” rating in the rice-tasting rankings for eight consecutive years since its debut.

Source: kahoku.news / Original article here

193AnonymousSep 22, 2026 09:08

Re: #1
Just use the rice to make ohagi (sweet rice cakes)

*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “[Branded Rice] Yamagata’s Yukiwakamaru: Taste-Rated “Special A” 8 Years Running, Yet Sales Struggle — A Decisive Autumn, “This Year For Real”“.