The story of 活 KATSU starring a briefcase, a kit-kat and pork cutlet.
Kit-Kats are really popular in Japan. This may have more to do with the name than the taste.
The Japanese pronunciation of Kit-Kat is キットカット KITTO KATTO. This sounds like きっと かつ KITTO KATSU (sure victory), turning the chocolate wafer into a symbol of good fortune. Perfect for a nation full of superstitious students approaching big exams.
The verb かつ KATSU (To win) is not the star of this story though.
Neither is it カツ KATSU, a borrowed word meaning cutlet. (It’s an abbreviation of カツレツ KATUSURETSU (cutlet))
The star of the show is this KATSU: 活 . This lively kanji character, made up of ‘water’ and ‘tongue’, is used in the words for some of the most important activities in a Japanese person’s life.
The first of these is 生活 SEIKATSU (living / lifestyle). Actually, that’s an important word for all of us, isn’t it?
You might use the word SEIKATSU to ask a Japanese exchange in the UK a question such as イギリスの生活はどうですか IGIRISU NO SEIKATSU WA DOU DESU KA? (How is life in the UK?)
Now here comes the Japanese lifecycle explained with thanks to 活 KATSU.
For Japanese schoolkids, 部活 BUKATSU （Club activities) can consume more time than their schoolwork. 学校 GAKKOU (school) might be only from Monday to Friday, but for some dedicated kids 部活 BUKATSU such as baseball or football might be everyday.
Next in the lifecycle comes 就活 SHUUKATSU (full time job hunting).
就活 SHUUKATSU involves an immense amount of mental and physical effort on the part of University students towards the end of their degree. Attending seminars, mock interviews, volunteering or travelling overseas to improve the resume, buying a bland リクルートスーツ RIKURUUTO SUUTSU (suit for interviews), and even carrying a briefcase with nothing to put in it.
就活 SHUUKATSU is an anxiety-inducing process. It slowly seems to be changing as this BBC article points out.
After getting a steady job, many people start 婚活 KONKATSU (searching for a marriage partner).
婚活 KONKATSU can also be an all-consuming process involving registering with expensive matching agencies and attending specific events.
I read earlier about one lady who did online 婚活 KONKATSU (searching for a marriage partner) as part of her 朝活 ASAKATSU (pre-work, morning activity).
Ironically, doing my own 朝活 ASAKATSU (pre-work, morning activity) when I read that article.
Finally, we come to 終活 SHUUKATSU (preparations for the end of own’s life). And I don’t mean looking for a sword here.
終活 SHUUKATSU can involve organising the grave, funeral and distribution of assets.
Many of these lifecycle 活 KATSU words are relatively new. That’s because they are relatively new concepts.
Looking for a marriage partner was something traditionally done by parents. Looking for a job was also historically quite easy: you just did what your Mum and Dad it.
Anyway, I am dangerously generalising and stereotyping here. Please take everything I have written here with a drop of soy.
Now, I have finished my ASAKATSU, I am off for a KITTO KATSU.