Neko(k)kaburi/Kamatoto (faux-naïf)
(“Puss in Boots” deceive his enemies with this innocent look!)
(His regular look)
Let’s analyze those words:
“Neko,” as most of you may know, means “cats.” “kaburi (noun)” comes from “kaburu (verb),” which means “wear.” So, the expression, “Neko-wo Kaburu,” literally means “wearing a cat – ‘Puss in Boots’ kind of innocent looking cat.” Someone, especially women, wears a false mask to make her look innocent. When it turns into “Neko(k)kaburi (noun),” it simply means those who pretend to be what they are not. Double-faced.
(Neko(k)kaburi)
On the other hand, “Kamatoto” most likely means the women who pretend to be what they are not. This expression originates from an incident. In Japan, everybody knows Kamaboko is made of fish. Manufacturers can use several kinds of fish to make Kamaboko. That’s why the prices of Kamaboko vary depending on which type of fish they used. Anyway, no matter what kind of fish they used to make Kamaboko doesn’t matter. What matters most is Kamaboko is made of fish. Even 3-year-olds know that.
(Kamaboko)
(Fish)
However, those Kamatoto asks you, “Is Kamaboko made out of ‘Toto (old way of calling fish)’?” She does know that, doesn’t she? She simply pretends to be innocent – to look cute! Those girls and/or women are called “Kamatoto.” When you hear somone say “Kamatoto” about someone else, he almost always speaks ill of the “Kamatoto” girl. For example:
Yukiko: 「Mayumi-wa Kamatoto-yone. Koibito-ga Gonin-mo Irukuseni, Shojo-no Furi-wo Shiterun-dakara!」 (Translation: “What a faux-naïf Mayumi is! She has 5 boyfriends and still pretends to be a virgin!”)
Sounds familiar? Good. Now you got it!
