Do you know the word “Yavay?”

 Do you know the word "Yavay!
It was born in the Edo period (1603-1868) and is still used today.

Nowadays, it is used in the same way as Amazing! These words have positive meanings.
But at the same time, they are also used in a negative sense, such as “Damn,” “terrible,” or "Dangerous. One recent example is the title of the sixth episode of the anime "Dan Dadan. The title “Yave (=Yavay) onna ga kita” is translated as "A Dangerous Woman Arrives. Here “yabai” is used in the sense of "Dangerous.
(Perhaps the Japanese title had two meanings, “Amazing” and “Dangerous”. I just thought so.)

By the way, the original word “Yava” for ‘Yavay’ is used in the comedy novel “Tokaido chu hizakurige” written by the Edo period writer “Jippensha Ikku”.

The comedy novel “Tokaido Chu Hizakurige” tells the story of two men, Yajirobei (Yaji-san) and Kitahachi (Kita-san), who travel from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto and Osaka. They are deceived, seduced by the opposite sex, take the wrong road, and encounter all sorts of trouble along the way.

“Tokaido” refers to the road connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Ise Shrine (Mie Prefecture). The word “hizakurige” means to use one's legs (knees) like a horse, and also means a poor trip on foot.

 
During the Edo period, this novel was a big hit. It was written with illustrations and simple hiragana so that many common people could read it.

The first episode “Shinagawa~Hakone” was printed in 1802, and a sequel was produced in 1810. The story was completed in 1822.
It is still a popular content that continues to be made into movies, TV dramas, and manga.

The book in the photo was printed in 1933. The book can be downloaded by anyone at “National Diet Library Digital Collections”.　https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1209654/1/7

 Two men, Yaji and Kita, boarded a ship from Fushimi to go to Osaka. However, at a stop along the way, they boarded the wrong boat and returned to the starting point. On the way, they got into trouble with the ship's crew and were scolded not to do anything dangerous.

As can be seen here, the word “Yavay” is slang used since the Edo period.

So, I am curious where this slang came from.
It seems that in ancient times, a prison was called "yava.

If I go on too long, I will get tired, so this is all I have to say today. I will dig deeper at the next opportunity.

By the way, Yaji and Kita are lovers, in the relationship of actor and fan.
(Correction of error. According to the specialist, "They are both womanizers at heart. Bisexual, so to speak." 

 

(((Now, “hy4_4yh” is transmitting “Yavay” and the world from Japan.)))