About Japan — How Laughter Became Grass
2026-08-17
About Japan — How Laughter Became Grass
Japanese internet slang has a funny way of evolving.
Years ago, when Japanese people wanted to show laughter in writing, they often added:
（笑）
It means “laugh” or “laughing,” somewhat like adding “LOL” in English.
As online communication became faster, （笑）was shortened. The Japanese word for laughter is warai (笑い), so people began using its first Roman letter:
w
One laugh became:
w
More laughter became:
www
And really big laughter:
wwwwwwwwww
Then someone noticed something.
A long row of lowercase w’s looks a little like grass growing across the screen.
wwwwwwwwwwwwww
So instead of typing all those w’s, people started writing:
草
Kusa means grass.
Today, if someone responds to a funny post with 「草」, they are not talking about plants. They are saying something like “LOL,” “That’s hilarious,” or simply “I’m laughing.”
So Japanese internet laughter evolved:
（笑） → w → wwwww → 草
Language changes in unexpected ways.
Sometimes it even grows like grass.
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.
Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
ken.uchikura@pspinc.com
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kenichi Uchikura is a Japanese-American entrepreneur and founder of PSPINC. Through this blog, he shares stories and insights about Japanese history, culture, traditions, business, technology, and everyday life. His goal is to help readers better understand Japan, its people, and the values that continue to shape Japanese society today.
ABOUT PSPINC
PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, was founded in 1987 and has been providing internet technology services since 1997. PSPINC offers web hosting, email hosting, software development, IT support, cloud solutions, and digital marketing services. The company operates infrastructure in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and bilingual service.
For Service & Inquiries
Call: 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808
Email: info@pspinc.com
Web: www.pspinc.com
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..
Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
ken.uchikura@pspinc.com
X (Twitter) |
Facebook |
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kenichi Uchikura is a Japanese-American entrepreneur and founder of PSPINC. Through this blog, he shares stories and insights about Japanese history, culture, traditions, business, technology, and everyday life. His goal is to help readers better understand Japan, its people, and the values that continue to shape Japanese society today.
ABOUT PSPINC
PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, was founded in 1987 and has been providing internet technology services since 1997. PSPINC offers web hosting, email hosting, software development, IT support, cloud solutions, and digital marketing services. The company operates infrastructure in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and bilingual service.
For Service & Inquiries
Call: 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808
Email: info@pspinc.com
Web: www.pspinc.com
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..