The article explores the decline of the unique coded language known as 'Osho terms' previously used in Osaka's Chinese restaurant chain, Osho. This linguistic shift is primarily attributed to the introduction of Japan's specified skills system in 2019, which led to a significant increase in foreign employees, consequently reducing the prevalence of the traditional terms that were once passed down among staff. The original term for 'gyoza' became known as 'kōteru', 'fried rice' as 'sōhan', and so on, forming a distinct method of communication within the kitchens of the restaurants.

As the workforce has diversified, with nearly 90% of employees now being foreign nationals of varying nationalities and Japanese language proficiency, the use of Osho terms has diminished significantly. The traditional staff communication methods have been further impacted by the adoption of electronic order systems, which have eliminated the need for verbal communication of orders from staff to kitchen, rendering the coded language obsolete. One employee conveys that while they were taught the unique terms by Japanese colleagues, learning different names for the same dishes created confusion and some foreign staff chose not to use these terms at all.

Osho Holdings, the parent company of Osho, indicates that as they employed more foreign workers across approximately 50 direct management stores, the traditional terms fell into disuse. The implications of this shift reflect broader changes within Japan's labor landscape, emphasizing the challenges and adaptations faced in retaining cultural linguistic heritage among a rapidly globalizing workforce, where effective service and communication prioritize different standards than those historically valued.