X-file: Shimoneta
:: Aug 4, 11:51 AM

Last night, I had dinner with my boyfriend, his two band mates and one of his band mates’ wife. Over habanero hot sauce and a fried camembert wheel, the topic of “shimoneta” came up. This topic of conversation has come up many times since living in Japan and although I had gotten the general gist of the word, I was still hazy on how overarching it is in application. The term “shimoneta” is comprised of two parts (words): “shimo” or “low, down” and “neta” of which Wikipedia provides the following definition:

neta

Reverse spelling of the word tane (種), meaning “seed” or “pit”. A neta is the background pretense of a konto skit, though it is sometimes used to refer to the contents of a segment of an owarai act, a variety show, or a news broadcast.

In simple terms, I take the word “neta” to mean “topic, subject, gag, etc.” Therefore, the literal translation of “shimoneta” can be taken as “low topics.”

The term “shimoneta” comes up most certainly when Yuuki (the guitarist) strikes the “Comaneci” pose made famous by Takeshi Kitano (a.k.a. Beat Takeshi). This is a pose involving a swift diagonal motion with one’s hands outlining a “V” to one’s groin area. Apparently it is a motion which evokes Romanian gold-medal gymnast Nadia Comeneci’s hi-cut leotard. Other instances which give rise to the topic of “shimoneta” are laughable references to female and male plumbing.

Naturally, I had come to conclude that “shimoneta” simply meant “dirty jokes,” quite harmless and all made in good fun. But last night, when I had asked the table if this was correct, I was met with some apprehension. It seems as though “dirty jokes” are just a part and parcel of “shimoneta.” I had then asked if it also included, for instance, discussions regarding sex and sexuality – discussions one has amongst girlfriends, think SATC. I was met again with a question mark… I was confused, they were confused, we were all confused. Girl-talk discussion of sex can be humorous but also be very serious, so something too technical may not be coded as “shimoneta.”

The other hint I got last night was from Mitsui (the bassist) while discussing the fact that “shimoneta” brings people of all ages together. The 23 year-old freshly minted part-timer to the hardened 57 year-old department head – everyone unified over “shimoneta.” But then I started to envision males only.

But to further complicate things, apparently the reigning king (ahem, queen) of “shimoneta” in the Mitsui husband-and-wife team is Moriiwa-san (wife). So again, I am left to ponder the depths of “shimoneta.” Crossing generations and gender groups, it seems to blanket quite a wide range of ideas.

I was not sure if I had embarrassed the group by asking them to define this term for me – demanding an example from each, only to be met by apprehensive avoidance. I felt that I had suddenly taken the air out of the “fun-ness” when I tried to dissect the term.

The dinner ended with me having more questions than answers. Surprisingly, I did not find much on the internet – just a brief definition on Wikipedia.

I decided to pare my questions down to the essentials and will bring it to the table next time. Maybe then can I start to grasp the depth and application of “shimoneta.”

Does “shimoneta” have to be humorous? Must “shimoneta” have an element of innocence – is there room for cynicism or irony? Can the discussion of eroticism also be considered “shimoneta?” Is “shimoneta” usually a one-liner or a can it also refer to a discussion? How Japanese is “shimoneta” (i.e. is there a moment in American TV or movies that can be coined as “shimoneta”)?

Understanding this term will be a great lesson in Japanese culture. Or… maybe there isn’t much to understand… maybe I shouldn’t get all X-Files on it.

1. let me talk to Yamahomo about this tomorrow.

   that one WWF wrestling duo DX also makes that crotch motion while they scream “SUCK IT”, which was popular with the tweens for a while.

   i also make that reference when i’m feeling a bit beligerent. but now i will start saying “Comaneci!”

   — kayoko    Aug 5, 12:28   

2. I think the polite term for it in the US is ‘bathroom humor”, though that certainly precludes any possibility of serious girl talk. Incidentally, I think the guy equivalent of “girl talk” on sex would encompass the wide ranging topic of which bitch they did last night.

   — lakshman    Aug 20, 04:35