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 focuses on Naruto! As one of Shonen Jump’s greatest series heads for an exciting conclusion, let’s take a look at some of the interesting names in Naruto and where they come from!

NARUTO

This week’s lesson isn’t so much about learning new words but about the origins of the names of some of Naruto’s most famous characters. What’s in a name? A lot! And in the case of Naruto, his name matches his personality. A naruto is a small fish cake that is often put into ramen. The fish cake is so named because the pink spiral in the middle resembles the famous whirlpools near Naruto City. That’s why Naruto the character loves ramen and is the master of the Rasengan!

SASUKE

Sasuke is named after another famous fictional ninja, Sarutobi Sasuke. The original Sasuke was so famous that “Sasuke” has basically become the default name for a talented ninja. Interestingly, within the Naruto series, Sasuke is named after the Third Hokage’s father whose name was...Sarutobi Sasuke!

SAKURA

Sakura is a common girl’s name and means “cherry blossom.” Her full name is Haruno Sakura, which means “Spring Cherry Blossoms.” Such a cute name for a girl with a lot of rage inside. Sakura matches her namesake with her pink hair! There’s also a nice scene early in the manga where she proves her skills in combat and “blossoms.”

Get more tips by listening to our PODCAST!