Chiikawa, brainrot and naphtha make 2026 buzzword shortlist

From artificial intelligence to Chiikawa, Japan's 2026 buzzword nominees offer a glimpse into a year defined by technology, economic uncertainty and internet memes. The 30 nominees for the annual list, announced Thursday, were selected by publisher Jiyukokuminsha. The objective of the list is to recognize expressions that capture the year's trends and cultural shifts. This year's contenders include AI暴走 ( AI bōsō, rogue AI), フィジカルAI ( fijikaru AI, physical AI) and データセンター ( dēta sentā, data center), reflecting the ever-increasing influence of artificial intelligence in everyday life. Other technology-related entries include 声の権利 ( koe no kenri, voice rights), highlighting recent concerns and lawsuits regarding the unauthorized reproduction of people's voices using generative AI, and スマホ農場 ( sumaho nōjō, phone farms), which use large numbers of devices to artificially inflate social media engagement. The term, similar to existing phrases in English such as "iPad kid" or "brain rotted," refers to young people hooked on instant gratification from various forms of digital entertainment.