These are names for everyday items used in Hokkaido. But what if they're not understood nationwide...!? This time, we'll introduce some surprising names for things that are only understood in Hokkaido.

1. Sabio

People in Hokkaido call adhesive bandages "Sabio" without a second thought. Many have probably been told, "Put a Sabio on it" when they got injured. Sabio was the product name of an adhesive bandage released by Nichiban in 1963. Although it was discontinued in 2002, it made a comeback in 2020 exclusively in the Hokkaido area! The day when Sabio is once again a staple in Hokkaido's medicine cabinets may not be far off.

2. Suzuran Tape

Hokkaido residents call the colored plastic tape used for bundling newspapers and other items "Suzuran Tape." This, too, was originally a product name. It is said that the factory producing this product was located in Sapporo, and the name was inspired by Sapporo's city flower, the "suzuran" (lily of the valley). The pom-poms used for school sports days were also often made from this Suzuran Tape, weren't they?

3. Gomi Station

The collection point where household garbage is left until the garbage truck comes to pick it up is called a "Gomi Station." No, it's not a train station...! At Hokkaido's garbage disposal areas, there are boxes to put the garbage in as a measure against birds and animals, and these boxes themselves are the "Gomi Station." This term is used not only in Hokkaido but also in some parts of Honshu.

4. Mama-san Dump

A very useful tool in winter is the "Mama-san Dump." Its official name is "Snow Dump." In the past, many men went to work in other areas during the winter off-season for farming, leaving snow removal to the women (mama-san) who stayed behind. This product was named so because it allows women (mama), who may have less physical strength, to clear snow easily, like a dump truck. In recent years, there are various types available, such as the "Papa-san Dump" that can carry more snow, and models with long handles for easy pushing.

5. Ring Pull

In Hokkaido, the ring on soda or canned food cans is called a "ring pull." In other regions, it's called a pull-top or pull-tab. Modern cans mainly use the "stay-on-tab" type, where the ring doesn't detach from the can, but in the past, the lid was a type where you pulled the ring up and it came off completely. The name "ring pull" is likely a remnant from that time. This might be a surprise for many Hokkaido residents.

6. Derekki

People in Hokkaido have long called the "fire poker," used for tending to firewood in a wood-burning stove or opening and closing its lid, a "Derekki." Since kerosene stoves are now mainstream, it may not be a common sight anymore. There are various theories about the origin of the name, including the Dutch word "dreg" (to pull) and the English word "derrick" (a type of crane).

Are all of these "Hokkaido Dialect" too!?

Even the "blue signs" commonly seen on national highways are abbreviated as 〇〇〇〇 in Hokkaido.

You often only realize that the names you casually use for things in Hokkaido are part of a dialect when you travel to other regions. When you discover in a conversation with someone from another area that they call something by a different name, it can be a fun way to get a glimpse into each other's local culture.

*Images are for illustrative purposes only.