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 a popular theme in many Shonen Jump manga series, and that’s fighting! We all love battle manga, right? Let’s jump right into battle!

KENKA (けんか)

KENKA means “fight” but as a noun rather than a verb. You can turn it into a verb by saying “KENKA SURU,” which literally means to do some fighting. But why are Shonen Jump characters always fighting anyway? Can’t we all just get along? That might be possible, but then it might not be as entertaining to read. Rivalries between characters are always fun and one of my favorite aspects of many series. The friendship and rivalry between Asta and Yuno has been some of the best stuff in Black Clover. And who can forget Naruto vs. Sasuke?!

SENTORYOKU (せんとうりょく)

SENTORYOKU means “battle strength” and is the term the Saiyans use with their Scouters. Members of Team Jump currently have a SENTORYOKU of only six, but we’ve started working out! In terms of what SENTORYOKU numbers mean for manga, that can be a mixed bag. Many series have included such a device in their plots, even One Piece! How do you feel about measuring a character’s might with a number? It can be really interesting to have a mathematical value attached to a character’s strength level, and it does make it easier to compare fighters. However, there is something to be said for leaving it up to the reader’s imagination!

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