Japanese Kanji Blog | KansaiChick

What Does This Kanji on My Shirt Mean?

09/11/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Hello, kanji shirt fans! Some people tend to choose kanji for its appearance. But you may be interested in figuring out the meanings, when there are some kanji happened to be printed on your favorite shirt. I'll answer a question from a kanji shirt owner today! I got a new shirt and this kanji is on it. I already figured out that the second one means "fire", but what is the first symbol? Thank you for contacting KansaiChick! 着火(chakka) means "Ignition", or I can say it "Setting Fire". The first kanji 着 contains meanings like "Wear", "Put on", and "Arrive". Then, as you figured, the second one 火 means means…

I Want to Have a Japanese Kanji Pseudonym

08/13/2020Japanese Kanji Blog2 Comments

Making up an original Japanese name is very difficult. Does it sound natural enough as a "Japanese name"? Don't the kanji symbols that I choose contain weird meanings? How do I know!?　o(>_<)o Hmmm, it's tough for me to answer everyone's individual questions about creating their own names, but KansaiChick is here for help today! I hope this post will help everyone, who wants a Japanese name, get some understanding of the thought process you can follow to create a Japanese name. I was thinking up of a name of a Japanese pseudonym of mine as "a lazy little pig" or build a pun around it. Would you help me? Thank…

Secret of Kanji Names in Haikyu!!

08/08/2020Japanese Kanji Blog2 Comments

In Japanese Anime shows, manga, or books, Kanji names often contain some information to explain the characters. But those things get usually lost in translation. Today I share what Japanese people can notice about 2 sets of duo in "Haikyu!!". Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio Hinata Shouyou(Shoyo)日向翔陽 and Kageyama Tobio 影山飛雄 are the main characters of Haikyu!!. Many people will think "These two are in contrast." when they watch this show...and YES they are! Hinata's family name "日向" means "Sunny Place". On the other hand, Kageyama is "影山", which means "Shadow Mountain". I can imagine the happy bright sunlight and the dark side of the mountain together. lol…

Meaning of Kanji on Jersey in “Yowamushi Pedal”

08/06/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Hi, Kanji fans! I'll share a question from a follower about the popular Japanese Anime show "Yowamushi Pedal" today. I like that show too!(*'▽')☆ The jerseys in Yowamushi Pedal often have Japanese characters on them. I was wondering if you could translate them. OK! Yes, I can! Thank you for the question and the nice pictures! They help me a lot.(*´Д｀) Well, those kind of jerseys usually say their school names, company names, team names, and so on. I received 3 pictures this time, and I see all those names are their school's that related to the school location. It seems that high schools are named after their location, just…

Meanings of Kanji on A Katana Sword 5

07/14/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Hello again, Samurai fans! I received a new question about the kanji on an old katana sword! (*'▽')/ Maybe you can help me translate the mei on a tang. There is also a small note on the saya. First of all, let me tell everyone about some Japanese words that katana sword owner is using. "銘(mei)" is the engraving that blacksmiths curve their address, name, date, and so on when he created the swords and things. Then, "鞘(saya)" means "Sheath" in Japanese. Well....(＠_＠;)))) ...Oh, no. I'm so sorry but I can NOT read the mei...! The engraving is not clear and it's not close enough to today's Japanese kanji that…

Japanese Kanji on Correlation Diagram: KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR

07/10/2020Japanese Kanji Blog4 Comments

Do you watch the Anime show "KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR(かぐや様は告らせたい？)"? Today I'll answer an interesting question from the follower! I'd like to know the meaning of the Japanese kanji on this diagram of relationships between Kaguya and the Shirogane family.(Season 2, Episode 10) OMG, this is cute. I don't know this show but now I'm very interested in it.(*'▽') OK, this follower knows Japanese Hiragana script, so he needs help only for kanji but I'll explain whole thing for other fans. The Relationship between Kaguya and Shirogane Family Let's see Kaguya first. There are no arrows from Kaguya to the Shirogane family. So, we can see how the Shirogane family…

How to Read the Kanji on a Souvenir from Japan 3

07/06/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Japanese paper lanterns(提灯: chouchin/chochin) are so beautiful. We can see them as decorations for stores or festivals usually. Chochin lantern making seems to be a popular thing to do in Japan! (*'▽')/ I received a question about the kanji on chouchin. I made a chochin lantern in Japan. Mine is the right one in the first photo. There was a keychain pendant in a gift box from the chochin maker. What do their kanji words mean? Wow! You did an amazing job! This is one of the Japanese traditional fonts. It's super bold and cool I think. Kanji on a Souvenir from Japan: Chouchin Lantern Your chouchin says "福神(fukujin)". That's…

How to Read the Kanji on a Souvenir from Japan 2

06/29/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Shrines and temples are the popular spot for sightseeing in Japan. Usually you can get special souvenirs around the big and famous ones. Take a look at this! I received a question from a follower about this cute little 鳥居(torii) gate this time. (*'▽')/ This small torii gate is from Fushimi Inari Taisha. The seller wrote something on it for us. What do they mean? 伊智(Ichi) is supposed to be my name in Japanese kanji. At Nara Tourist Center, they　helped me to decide my Japanese name. Nice! Fushimi Inari Taisha is known for these red gates paths! I bet so many people have ever seen the picture of them. How…

How to Read the Kanji on a Souvenir from Japan 1

06/26/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Japan is one of the attractive travel destinations. But it's very tough to read the Japanese kanji on the souvenirs from the trip! (+_+) So, KansaiChick is here for help! (*'▽')/ These two pictures are the front and the back of one envelope. What do the kanji letters mean? I got it from a friend who doesn't know what it is. My assumption is that is from a temple and maybe it's used as a package for an omamori. OK! As you say, this is the envelope from the temple. At the temples and shrines, anybody can receive the amulets and the other items, for the votive money. They use…

Meanings of Kanji on A Katana Sword 4

06/18/2020Japanese Kanji BlogNo Comments

Hello again, Samurai fans! I received another question about the engraving on an old katana sword! (*'▽')/ Let's see the katana sword! I'd like to find out where these amazing pieces of craftsmanship are from. OK, let me see.... ((( @_@) I see the second picture says "藤原清人作"! Then, the third picture says...文久...二? 年? 八月...目? or 日?? Hmmm, it's tough to tell from the photo, but I got the basic idea!(*'▽')/ The Meaning of the First Engraving on this Samurai Sword Let's talk about "藤原清人作" first! 藤原(Fujiwara) is a Japanese family name that exists even today, so I can tell this part says somebody's name clearly. When you see a…