Bookkeeping, which is the noun form of “keeping books,” is “boki” in Japanese. This word is written in two kanji characters, the first representing “record" or “book,” and the second, “to write down” or “to record.”

Some people may disagree, but one theory has it that the kanji are “ateji”—those that are often used to phonetically represent foreign or loan words. If this is the case, I must say they are clever and well chosen, as they correspond to the meaning of the original English word “bookkeeping” and still remain phonetically close enough to it.

Here are some more examples of ateji: The word “glass,” or “garasu” in Japanese, is written with kanji denoting “saltpetre derivative.” The ateji for “joke,” or “joku” in Japanese, stands for “redundant phrase.”

And “katarogu” (catalog), which is very much part of day-to-day Japanese vocabulary, is suddenly being bandied about now because it came to light that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had distributed catalog gifts to all 315 Liberal Democratic Party candidates who won the latest Lower House election.

The items available from the catalog are about 30,000 yen ($193) per person, which, multiplied by 315, comes to a roughly 10 million yen outlay.

When Takaichi claimed that these were nothing more than “thank you gifts,” I rolled my eyes in disbelief: She proved herself to be totally out of touch with how the average Japanese citizen today would feel about that kind of expenditure.

Just one year ago, then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba got himself into hot water for giving gift certificates worth 100,000 yen to each of the party’s 15 first-time election winners. Surely, this is too recent a memory for anyone to have forgotten already.

Since this time there are a great many recipients of Takaichi’s largesse, or “oban burumai” (sparing no expense), I am sure she anticipated this to become public.

I suspect she couldn’t care less about the public’s distaste for the LDP’s money politics. In fact, I even suspect that she actually chose to defy the public sentiment.

The two kanji for “oban” in “oban burumai” denote “a large board,” and they happen to be ateji.

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), oban burumai referred to a lavish feast hosted by the man of the house, and back then, the kanji for “oban” stood for “rice bowl.”

As the LDP president, Takaichi provided catalog gifts instead of a lavish spread in order to enhance her leadership and strengthen party unity.

But if Takaichi’s modus operandi is to be frowned upon, I should also point out that it takes two to tango.

One year ago, there was some outcry even within the LDP. But obviously, there are LDP politicians who haven’t outgrown their “old ways” and would accept gifts that are offered, and keep quiet.

And yet, they talk about “reforming” the stagnant society.

What am I supposed to make of that?

—The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 26

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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