Wasshoi?

[Minabe]

Can anyone enlighten me of the meaning of "wasshoi"?
I read it in "Confession of a Yakuza" where it was used at a gambling session.

[jkid]

I've read about Wasshoi briefly and there seems to be at least two meanings. Although whether they apply to what you are reading I don't know.

First, I read it can mean "Heave Ho!"

Second, wasshoi seems to be chanted at festivals when carrying portable shrines. Apparently it means "has come".

That is all I know.

[Elfunko]

I'd take it as "yosshya" for anything other than carrying the float. Just gotta look at it in context.

[jsperttula2420]

a quote from: http://www.aiu.ac.jp/~cresi/eng/NEWSLET ... WS_no3.pdf

"Wasshoi" is considered to have developed in Edo, origintaing from the phrase "Wajo Dokei", meaning 'to unify the peoples´s hearts together and be full of enjoyment'. This "Wajo Dokei" was shortened to "Wajo", then changed to "Wakasho" (meaning to carry harmony), and finally changed to "Wasshoi", meaning 'to stay with harmony'.

[remillardn7528]

So thats why on this comdey I was watching these huge guys carrying this girl in a gient shrine seat thing were yelling WASSHOI WASSHOI WASSHOI WASSHOI! I didn't know what it was but it made me laugh.

[community.japanese]

jsperttula2420-san, remillardn7528-san,
kon'nichiwa!
yes There're some different words/expressions depending on region, but
"wasshoi" is the most common one (and all JP people would understand)

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com