A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Delightful Kumamoto-Specific Terms Recently Brought to Our Attention (it’s a small desk, out in the hallway): 肥後の猛婦 - “Higo no moufu.”
The expression is attributed to sociologist Ooya Souichi (大宅 壮一, 1900-1970), who studied advances during the Meiji Era of female roles and literally translates as “fierce housewives of Higo;” the contextual nuance is positive.
To paraphrase a paraphrase of Ooya, “An army of female leaders forced initiatives to prompt the ladies’ masses to resolve vices and bad habits long rooted in male-dominated Japanese society. They were known as the ‘fierce woman.’” Not surprisingly, Kumamoto women were well-represented. (On a personal note, my wife’s mother, daughter of a fishmonger, was the first female in Yabe to obtain a driver license - she had to drive down and up that steep mountain road to Tasaki market before daylight each morning to fetch fish.)
So now I have a new, very appropriate nickname for both my wife and daughter. Info on the phrase derivation is below. - William
