The Etymology of Horumon

Horumon is not hormone. It means innards of beef or pork. We sometimes enjoy eating horumon when we have a barbecue .

I thought the word horumon was borrowed from English word because it is written in katakana. But it is wrong…

There are two theories about the etymology of horumon.

First theory is that horumon derives from the dialect word horu (“to throw away”) and mon, a dialectal variant of mono (thing). In previous times, innards are thought as a part to be thrown away after cutting other edible muscles. Horumon is very popular part of meat but it was not some time ago.

Second theory is that horumon was a name caught onto the popularity of Hormone that was a catch-phrase after the end of World War Ⅱ. The word Hormone was popular because it means physiologically active substance and it was regarded as a good word in the high economic growth period. As above, horumon had a bad image because the shape is grotesque and it is cheaper than other part of meet. But now people think that horumon is good for building energy.

I was surprised at the second theory. I don’t have a good image about hormone because some hormones are referred to as carcinogens like EDC (endocrine-disrupting chemicals).

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