Here is a proposition for you: Understanding is vastly over-rated. How boring life would be if we understood everything.

Why would we ever listen to anything if we knew we were going to perfectly understand every single bit of it?

Even in our native languages we don’t understand all the time. My teenage nieces recently taught me the hidden meaning of ‘peng’, ‘extra’ and ‘peak’.

I have tried and failed to use those words myself, but I have forgotten the meanings. I will enjoy finding out again.

Even my 4 year old nephew teaches me words, mostly the names of dinosaurs but the other day he introduced me to ‘98 speed,’ which is apparently precisely how fast he runs Junior Park Run.

Not understanding happens much more when listening to or reading Japanese of course. That’s what makes the language so interesting. I’m basically nosey, I want to know what’s happening.

Reading Usami Rin’s, prize-winning book 推し，燃ゆ OSHI, MOYU for the first time was extremely confusing.

The story is written from the perspective of a teenage Japanese girl of a similar age to my nieces. The girl, Akari has an intense obsession with a pop idol - a little like my nephew’s obsessions with dinosaurs.

The language in the book reflects the preoccupations of this confused and obsessed Japanese teenage girl.

The very first word in the book, 推し OSHI confused me.

It is a relatively new word in Japanese term meaning the idol or thing that you support.

According to the Japan Times, OSHI derives from the verb 推す OSU (to recommend/support) which was used in the expression 推したいメンバー OSHITAI MENBAA (the member of a group you support).

Akari’s life is devoted to 推し活　OSHI-KATSU (activities to support her idol).

OSHI-KATSU have apparently been thriving in the pandemic. As the pandemic drags on, more in Japan find solace in 'oshikatsu' devotion | The Japan Times

At one point, Akari says of her OSHI:

命にかかわる　INOCHI NI KAKAWARU (TomTranslation: It’s a matter of life or death)

推しを推すことがあたしの生活の中心　OSHI O OSU KOTO GA ATASHI NO SEIKATSU NO CHUUSHIN (TT: Supporting my idol is the centre of my life)

Her bedroom is decorated in the colours of her idol, and filled with his merchandise.

The focal point of Akari’s bedroom is:

棚のいちばん高いところに推しのサイン入りの大きな写真 TANA NO ICHIBAN TAKAI TOKORO NI OSHI NO SAIN-IRI NO OOKINA SHASHIN (TT A large signed photo of my idol on the highest part of my shelf)

The placement of this photo is compared to how a cross marks the focal-point of a church,

Akari remains loyal to her idol, Masaki when news breaks on social media that he has punched a fan. ファンを殴ったらしい　FAN O NAGUTTA RASHII (He’s apparently punched a fan).

Her devotion to her falling idol, and her struggles with the intense strain of family and school life are vividly depicted.

Apparently an English translation will be out later this year. It will be really interesting how the world of 推し OSHI and 推し活　OSHI-KATSU comes out in English.

Maybe I’ll learn some new English words….