Yoisho is an utterance, often uttered as a chant or shout or exclamatory remark, just before Japanese people are about to do certain actions, to make sure they are ready for them. As far as the writer of this article is aware, there is no equivalent expression in English. “Alley-oop” and “heave-ho” are the closest old expressions, but they are not used in day-to-day situations. On the other hand, yoisho is a common expression you may hear from anyone, anywhere.
Where does yoisho come from?
As is often the case with exclamatory expressions, the etymology of yoisho is not clearly known. One explanation is that it is a combined word of yoi＝ii (よい＝いい good) and deshō (でしょう may be), hence yoideshō (よいでしょう) means “it may be good”. Then gradually, in a colloquial parlance, it became shortened to yoisho (よいしょ). Another theory is that it is a shortened form of Yōi-shiyō (用意しよう let’s prepare). Certainly, if you repeat this word quickly, it sounds like yoisho. There are a few other explanations, including it is coming from Hebrew, but the above two explanations seem to match not only phonetically but also meaning-wise.
Yoisho for lifting up or putting down heavy objects
When people are just about to lift up and/or put down heavy objects, they make sure they can do those actions without fail by telling their brains, hands and muscles to get ready through saying yoisho. In other words, they tell themselves that “I’m going to lift up/put down this heavy object, so I have to be ready to do so”. This one-word utterance makes the person’s body and spirit become alert and concentrate on the action of lifting up/putting down. When a few people try to lift up/put down heavy objects, say a huge parcel box, washing machine and refrigerator, together, they usually say “See-no (せえの equivalent to “Ready?”)” first to make sure that all involved are in unison. Then all who are involved say “Yoisho” together to lift up/put down.
Yoisho for carrying/pulling heavy objects
Similarly, when people are carrying heavy objects such as Mikoshi (神輿a portable shrine), often with a group of people, they shout out yoisho along with other rhythmic chants to entertain spectators as well as encourage themselves. However, by far the most common and popular shout or chant for carrying Mikoshi is Wasshoi (わっしょい) nowadays.On other occasions, people shout out yoisho to pull heavy Dashi (山車 festival decorated float), for example, to energise the crowd and themselves. Another example of yoisho can be heard when several fishermen are all pulling a huge fishing net that has been cast into the water and caught lots of fish. From time to time, yoisho is followed by the similar chant/shout korasho (こらしょ) and dokkoisho (どっこいしょ) to retain a pleasant rhythm and continuing the actions smoothly. Hence one cycle is Yoisho, Korasho, Dokkoisho.
Yoisho for sitting down and getting up
In addition to the usages mentioned above, yoisho is frequenty heard from any adult Japanese, regardless of age, when they are just about to sit down to chairs, floors, sofas, cushions, etc. or when they are just about to stand up from the sitting position. They sometimes use this expression when they are just about to get into a car to help make their action smooth. As you might suspect, this usage is mainly adopted by older generations.
Yoisho in sporting scenes
Obviously, the sport that requires lifting of heavy things is weightlifting, but it is not the only event in sport where you might hear yoisho. When athletes in Jūdō (柔道) try to throw their opponents, they murmur yoisho to time their attack smoothly. Another notable usage is in Sumō (相撲). When Yokozuna (横綱 Grand Master in Sumō) displays Dohyōiri (土俵入り Yokozuna ring-entering ceremony), during the stylised ceremony, he lifts up his right leg and left leg up high one by one and put them down to the dohyō (土俵 ring) firmly one by one again. At that time, all spectators shout to him with yoisho in sync to demonstrate their satisfaction.
Yoisho in a totally different context
Yoisho is also used as a verb in the form of yoisho-suru (よいしょする) . Unlike the usages mentioned above, which are basically positive and encouraging, this verb in Japanese has a somewhat negative connotation. Depending on the context, it means to flatter, to praise excessively, to suck up to or talk someone up. So, please be careful when using this verb to avoid misunderstandings.
Author
Shunichi Ikeda
BAS Hons (ANU)
MEd (SUNY at Buffalo)
Visiting Fellow, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
