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 two latest Jump Start series—Teenage Renaissance! David and I’m from Japan. These might be some of the wackiest series we’ve ever done! If you’d like to see more of these two series, make your voice heard by filling out the Shonen Jump survey!

SHISHUNKI (ししゅんき)

SHISHUNKI means “puberty” or “adolescence.” It was translated as “teenage” in the title of the manga to make it sound a bit more natural. This stage of life can be a rough time for just about anyone, but it seems to be hitting David especially hard. It’s a bit unclear what a SHISHUNKI renaissance is, but it sure involves a lot of peeing!

JIMOTO (じもと)

JIMOTO means “hometown” or the area you’re originally from. It can also mean “the local area” depending on the context. I’m from Japan is a series all about respecting and appreciating where you’re from, as well as Japan as a whole. It’s quite the refreshing series, and you can learn a lot about Japan while reading it. And based on chapter 2, it should be advised not to mess with people from Saitama!

Read the latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump today!