Japanese Kanji and Kid’s Names in “Assassination Classroom”

08/27/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
Have you ever heard a Japanese word "キラキラネーム(kirakira-name)"? That is a new Japanese word that was born in last 2 decades. If I translate "キラキラネーム" somehow, I'll say "Twinkling Names". Kirakira-names are unusual names like crazy unique word or abnormal pronunciation. And naming kid a Kirakira-name was a trend for a while.(not much anymore!) Kirakira Names in "Assassination Classroom" The popular Japanese anime "Assassination Classroom" is known for showing this new generation culture "Kirakira Names". 木村　正義　Kimura Jasuthisu (Justice Kimura) The Japanese kanji "正義" means "Justice" in ENGLISH. However, usual Japanese pronunciation choices are only "Seigi (justice)" and "Masayoshi". Masayoshi is very normal way to pronounce "正義" as boy's name. Jasuthisu doesn't…

Japanese Kanji Culture: The Secret of the Title “Haikyu!!”

08/25/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
I am a "Haikyu!!" fan! It's a Japanese animation about a high school volleyball team. Let's talk about some kanji stuff that I noticed. What is the Japanese Kanji Word "Haikyu"? The title of this show is after the word "排球(haikyuu)" and it's Japanese name of volleyball.  But basically NOBODY calls volleyball "haikyuu". We call volleyball "バレーボール(bare-bo-ru)". Did you notice the word "バレーボール" is not kanji? It is Japanese Katakana. In Japan we use the katakana script like this to adopt the word from foreign language and pronounce it as close as possible. However, some schools have a culture where they write everything in kanji. In that case, kanji version…

Japanese Kanji Head Band in Netflix “Little Witch Academia” season 2

08/23/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
Hey, I realized a Japanese animation produced by Netflix came out with season 2! Its name is "Little Witch Academia". The Main character Akko is kind of a lovable person but I think the cutest one is Sucy. She is the witchest witch in the main group. That's so cute. ......No? What does Japanese kanji on Akko's head band say? In the first episode of season 2 the fairies make a labor union, did you notice Akko was wearing the Japanese kanji head band? That kanji word "団結" means "unity". I've never seen a unity head band anywhere else but I guess she made it to be a part of…

Former 3 Navy Generals’ Funny Mottos in “One Piece”

08/20/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
In the popular Japanese animation "One Piece", have you ever notice that there is a sign on the wall behind the desk in each naval officer's room? Former 3 Navy Generals' Motto of Justice Their is a motto of justice for each one that explains his or her character a lot. Here are some examples. Aokiji(青雉): だらけきった正義（darakekitta seigi: Totally Lazy Justice） Kizaru(黄猿): どっちつかずの正義（docchitsukazuno seigi: Indecisive Justice） Akainu(赤犬): 徹底的な正義（tetteitekina seigi: Thorough Justice) Aokiji's motto of justice used to be "燃え上がる正義(moeagaru seigi: Burning Up Justice)" but he started questioning what is right justice, when he lost his best friend. Then he reached his new motto. Former 3 Navy Generals Name and "Momotaro"…

Sushi Restaurant Sign in “Assassination Classroom”

08/17/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
I love sushi! It's very hard to find decent quality sushi in USA...but you can enjoy nice and fresh sushi everywhere in Japan. Japanese Kanji Sign of the Sushi Restaurant In a popular animation "Assassination Classroom", I noticed a Japanese kanji sign on a sushi restaurant where Nagisa met his divorced father. The red kanji word is 元祖(ganso: originator), the black one is 江戸前(Edo-mae: front-of-Edo). Edo is old name of Tokyo. The image of sushi that we Japanese eat at restaurants came from this Edo-mae style. It's mainly Nigiri. (I've never seen Japanese people who make nigiri sushi at home! It's restaurant food!) And also the red square on the…

500 Matches in “Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma”

08/13/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
Do you watch "Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (食戟のソーマ)"? Whenever people try yummy food, their reactions go WAYtoo far. But I understand that's a very important feature for boys, fan service. Calligraphy in "Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma" I like the the Japanese kanji brush arts in this show. They look very nice. Sometimes kanjis look very different depending on each calligrapher and his or her calligraphic style but the kanjis, in this show, are very neat and readable. I saw "勝負(shoubu)" when Soma and his dad compete each other. The kanji "勝" means "win" and this one "負" means "lose". Both together, "Match". However, we Japanese use this kanji "敗"…

Students’ Calligraphy in “Assassination Classroom”

08/10/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
Koro Sensei is cute! I finally started watching "Assassination Classroom(暗殺教室:ansatsu-kyoushitsu)" Season 2. They used to focus on the yellow creature's cuteness in last season more and I kind of miss that, but I still enjoy the story learning about the class and Mr. Karasuma's muscles. Students' Calligraphy in the Assassination Classroom Did you notice students' Calligraphy on the wall in the back of the classroom? All Japanese students learn and experience Japanese calligraphy in class and write theme words like seasonal words, slogans or motto. That's why, a classroom has calligraphy work on the wall, it's a very common view in Japan. However, in this show, what they write is NOT common at…

Navy Doctors Wearing Japanese Kanji Coats in “One Piece”

08/08/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
I watch One Piece! I don't have a big passion anymore (but I still watch every week) .... Because somehow almost all characters that I love, DIED...!! I miss you "White beard" Shiro Hige!!! By the way, the author of One Piece uses a lot of kanjis in his work for extra jokes. So, possibly some of you noticed them and you were wondering about the meanings. Japanese Kanji Jokes in the Navy Hospital How about this one? After the big war, Coby was in the navy hospital and he was suffering by his own super power "haki". At that moment we see so many Japanese kanji coats in the…

The Hero’s Motto of “My Hero Academia”

08/05/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア) is one of the popular shows now airing in Japan. And, yes, I found some Japanese kanji in it! The Chivalrous Hero's Motto Currently for the work experience program at UA high school, Kirishima and Tetsutetsu are going to a professional hero named Fourth Kind, we can see them here in his office. The calligraphy on the wall behind the desk says "勝利(syouri: Victory)", 努力(doryoku: Big Effort)", "友情(yuujou: Friendship)". So, how about the red sign on the right? ...Well, that's just a safety sign with a catchphrase "火の用心(hi-no-youjin: Beware of fire)"...! The Chivalrous Hero's and Japanese Mafia Fourth Kind's catchphrase is "the Chivalrous Hero". In Japanese,…

Japanese Kanji in “Yowamushi Pedal”

08/03/2017Posted inJapanese Kanji Blog
I usually ride my bicycle 10 times a week. So, I was kind of interested in a Japanese animation called "Yowamushi Pedal (弱虫ペダル)" because I knew it was bike show. And finally I watched it! Japanese kanji "必勝 (Certain Victory)" is a very famous slogan in Japan. And has been around long before I was ever born. Did you notice it in the show? Japanese Kanji "必勝 (Certain Victory)" gloves In season 1 of Yowamushi Pedal, the second-year students Junta Teshima(L) and Hajime Aoyagi(R) showed off their perfect teamwork. Then in Episode 16, we found out that they are sharing one set of gloves to motivate themselves. Technically, they are…