ING Co., Ltd., which has been providing marketing and promotion support specializing in teens for 30 years, conducted a survey of high school students sensitive to trends. Shibuya Trend Research announces the latest high school student trends, which are more real and fresher than anywhere else, based on the collected data and reflecting the authentic voices of INGteens high school members active in Shibuya. The theme of this survey is "Latest Trends for Summer 2026." ❚ What words are trending now? 1st Merói (15.2%) 2nd Wahō (13.8%) 3rd Metsu (11.5%) 4th Frenemy (4.1%) 4th Honma Yade (4.1%) 6th 67 (2.8%) 6th Shabai (2.8%) 6th Bakuretsu (1.8%) 9th 21-year-old Cabaret Girl (1.4%) 9th Dopagaki (1.4%) *Multiple answers allowed [Versatile Killer Words Dominate Top Ranks, Evolving from "Oshi-katsu" to Compliments in Daily Life] "Merói" took first place. Originally derived from "meromero ni naru" (to be head over heels), it was internet slang to praise the visuals of one's "oshi" (favorite person/character) as "cool or cute enough to make you head over heels." It has now become established as a word to praise not only visuals but also actions, atmosphere, and a person's overall wonderful inner qualities. It is now used in a wider range of situations. "Wahō" ranked second. The original source is a word uttered by YouTuber SEIKIN in a video released in 2014. At the time, it was a reaction expressing surprise or joy at intense shock or cold, but it has come full circle and is now a revived hit among current high school students as a daily exclamation meaning "I'm so excited!" or "I'm happy!" With comments like "I use it in many situations" (2nd year high school, male), its ease of use has led to explosive popularity. "Metsu" was chosen for third place. It is a phrase derived from the song "Suki Sugite Metsu!" by the five-member dance vocal group M!LK, which also topped the music charts this spring. As comments like "When something happens, I often say '~sugite metsu'" (3rd yea