Fun Fact 1 – 胡麻をする

1. 胡麻をする（Goma o suru）= literally, to grind sesame seeds

This phrase means “to attempt to obtain favors by flattery”. So, it’s just like “apple-polish” or”butter-up” in English.

When roasted sesame seeds are grinded, the sesame seeds stick to each other. So this idiom used to refer to complimenting/flattering a person to try to get closer to them or earn their favor.