Anime Characters Are Totally Different Names In Japan

Japanese anime is loved all around the world. Anime is loved from not only kids but also any age’s people in Japan. How about your country?

Anime otaku?

Otaku is a Japanese term that refers individuals who are deeply love something such as hobby, interest or subculture. Anime Otaku is a person who are truly passionate about an anime. They sometimes carry a stereotype of social awkwardness or excessive obsession in Japan. On the other hand, they can be also simply described people who are highly knowledgeable or dedicated to their passions.

Japanese Anime

Japanese anime is translated into various languages and enjoyed all over the world. There are so many mimetic words in Japan, actually Eiichiro Oda who are the author of One Piece uses a lot of ideophones in manga. And famous quotes can give a different impression depending on the sound or rhythm of their languages. Even the names of anime characters are totally different from original one in English. It’s very interesting. Let’s see the English and Japanese names for attractive anime characters!

Pokémon

The protagonist of Pokémon is Satoshi in Japanese. He is called Ash Ketchum in English.
Jigglypuff is Purin in Japanese, and Wigglypuff is Pukurin here. They are so similar.
Charmander is Hitokage
Charmelon is Lizardo
Charizard is Lizardon
Squirtle is Zenigame
Magnemite is Coilu
By the way one of the moves of Farfetch’d, Cut is Iaigiri いあいぎり in Japanese. It’s not just a cut. Iaigiri is a word form a Japanese traditional swordsmanship. In addition, Farfetch’d is translated into Kamonegi in Japanese. Kamo is a duck and Negi is a green onion. Farfetch’d looks a duck carrying a green onion on his back. It originates from a Japanese proverb. “A duck comes carrying a green onion on its back” means an opportunity that’s too good to be true.

Doraemon

Every Japanese people know Doraemon, and they love Doraemon. Doraemon is no longer a beloved a\national character in Japan. Such an iconic characters of Doraemon have totally different name in English. It’s amazing.
Noby is Nobita
Sue is Shizuka
Sneech is Suneo
Big G is Gian
Ace Goody is Dekisugi
Incidentally, Transration Gummy is not gummy in Japan. It’s a konjac root and has unique texture. Japanese Doraemon eats a plate piled high with dorayaki which is translated into yummy bun. But the scenes are shifted because of health problems in US.

Case Closed

Case Closed is also called Detective Konan. Japanese people call it just Konan. Unbelievably, the characters of Konan are named in just English names. It’s no longer recognizable as a Japanese name.

Jimmy Kudo is Shinichi Kudo
Rachel Moore is Ran Mouri
Richard Moore is Kogoro Mouri
Harley Hartwell is Heiji Hattori
Serena Sebastian is Sonoko Suzuki

Super Mario Brothers

Toad is Kinopio
Bowser is Kuppa
Boo is Telesa
Shy Guy is Heyho
Their English name is so popular now. However, when you visit Universal Studio Japan and Super Nintendo Area, you might get confused about their Japanese name.

Ghibli

GHIBLI’s titles are beautiful in both English and Japanese. Japanese names are difficult to pronounce and it’s kind of long.
Spirited Away :千と千尋の神隠し
Whisper of the Heart :耳をすませば
Pom Poko: 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ
Castle in the Sky:天空の城ラピュタ
Princess Mononoke:もののけ姫
Porco Rosso:紅の豚
My Neighbor Totoro:となりのトトロ
Grave of the Fireflies:火垂るの墓
Let me say just one thing. My neighbor Totoro is right? Totoro is their neighbor? Is he a neighbor? It doesn’t make sense to me why the Japanese name was translated into it. Anyway, Satsuki who is main character in My Neighbor Totoro means May in Japanese. Her younger sister’s name is Mei. Both means May. It’s interesting, isn’t it?

Summary

Jujutsu Kaisen or Sorcery Fight, Attack on titan, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Among these anime, characters have same names to Japanese. Which do you like original name or translation name?