998
A few years ago I was told by a Japanese friend "社会の窓" (shakai no mado).

It was explained after some giggling that this is what is said to a man who
has inadvertently left his fly open, and that it means literally "society's
window".

So why use "society's window" for this situation? Is it actually an additional
sense added to a more straightforward older one? Or does it provide some
insight into Japanese culture why such wording would be used?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-13T04:25:06.147
997
2011-12-28T12:17:03.267
125
question
set-phrases culture idioms etymology
Why "社会の窓" (shakai no mado)?
[俗語辞書（ぞくごじしょ）](http://zokugo-dict.com/12si/shakainomado.htm) (slang
dictionary) says that that word was formed because of the radio program called
社会の窓（しゃかいのまど） around 1948-1960, which tried expose anything about
society/community.

And people start to called zip fasteners 社会の窓, because it is a hidden place
for men.

Also when zip fasteners are opened in any place other than the toilet, they
called it 社会の窓（しゃかいのまど）が開いている（あいている）.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-06-13T04:41:35.583
998
2011-12-28T12:17:03.267
2011-12-28T12:17:03.267
125
100
997
answer