Welcome to the Nihongo Lesson feature. We strive to give you useful manga-based Japanese language tips and maybe even a glimpse into the translation process. This week’s lesson will focus on the different seasons of the year. In a previous lesson we learned about NATSU (Summer), now let’s cover the rest of them!

HARU (はる)

HARU isn’t just the name of the cutest girl in Nisekoi (in some people’s opinion), it’s also the word for the season known as spring. The funny thing about Haru is that true to her name, she made her series debut in spring! Spring is a special time of the year, especially in Japan where it means the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It’s the chance to see those pretty flowers gently falling from the trees. In addition to some bear-print panties if you’re lucky!

AKI (あき)

AKI is the season of fall or autumn. In Food Wars!, we recently got through the Fall Classic arc. Talk about an epic fighting tournament, this one had it all. I don’t care if the competition is with fists or with curry recipes, a battle is a battle. This series also teaches you the importance of cooking using seasonal ingredients. A dish will always taste a lot better if the food is fresh!

FUYU (ふゆ)

FUYU is the season of winter. I was glad when the Straw Hats finally defeated Caesar and left Punk Hazard in One Piece. Half of that island was so cold that it made me shiver just reading the series. The weather of Dressrosa seems much more pleasant. Then again, you may be turned into a toy slave. Might not be worth it...

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