refined Tokyo uptown speech
Refers to the polite, standard Japanese traditionally associated with the Yamanote area of Tokyo, often contrasted with the earthy Shitamachi dialect. Used in discussions of sociolinguistics and Tokyo history.
Yamanote kotoba is a refined way of speaking used in the Yamanote area of Tokyo.
Shitamachi kotoba is the more casual, direct speech of Tokyo's old downtown, contrasting with the polite Yamanote kotoba.
Compound of 山の手 (Yamanote, Tokyo's uptown area) and 言葉 (kotoba, speech). The term emerged as Tokyo's Yamanote area became associated with the educated, upper-class dialect.