Since 1948, a huge compendium (about 1,700 pages in its 2007 edition) of words, phrases, slang, jargon and acronyms in dozens of categories titled the "Encyclopedia of Contemporary Words (Gendai Yogo no Kiso Chishiki)" has made its annual appearance.

To get the general public involved, publisher Jiyu Kokumin-sha invites people to vote online for the Ryukogo Taisho (buzzwords of the year) awards. The top 10 winners were announced to the media with the usual fanfare at Tokyo Kaikan on Dec. 1.

The two Grand Prix went to a European athlete's name and part of a book title. Ina Bauer was the 1950s German figure skater who pioneered the "spread-eagle" move. It was used by sports commentators to describe the spectacular skating of Turin Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa during the women's free skating event. She had bent backward until her head was upside down, akin to forbear Bauer.