#14 The Fun of Comparing Japanese & English Titles of Manga & Anime Part2
Let’s take a look at three titles again and compare their English versions with the original Japanese ones!
ハイキュー – Haikyu!!
This manga, originally serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump, became a global sensation after its anime adaptation. It’s a passionate sports series about students playing volleyball. But for foreigners, seeing the title written as "ハイキュー" (Haikyuu!!) in katakana might leave them puzzled—what does it mean?
The answer is surprisingly simple. it’s based on the Japanese translation of the word "volleyball". In Japanese, volleyball was once referred to as 排球 (はいきゅう), a term is as same as Chinese. The kanji 排 (はい) means "to exclude" or "to push out," and it’s likely that the name came from the image of pushing the ball over to the opponent's side. Though the connection feels a bit forced, doesn’t it? 😅
In reality, while many Japanese people are aware of the term, 排球 isn’t commonly used in daily conversation. However, it does make occasional appearances. For instance, when school or university teams create custom T-shirts or banners for tournaments. Writing "volleyball" in kanji instead of English or katakana adds a cool, sharp aesthetic to the design. This is somewhat similar to foreigners getting kanji tattoos because they find the characters stylish.
By the way, many other sports also have Japanese names derived from kanji, just like volleyball. Here are some examples
野球 (やきゅう - Baseball)
卓球 (たっきゅう - Table Tennis)
蹴球 (しゅうきゅう - Football/Soccer)
籠球 (ろうきゅう - Basketball)
庭球 (ていきゅう - Tennis)
Some of these, like 野球 and 卓球, are so widely used that they’ve become the standard terms in Japan, with the English names rarely used in daily life.
進撃の巨人 – Attack on Titan
This is another globally renowned manga, famous enough to inspire a live-action adaptation. The English title, Attack on Titan, differs significantly from a direct translation of the original Japanese title, 進撃の巨人 (Shingeki no Kyojin), which would be something like The Attacking Titan. The perspective flips between the two. Haha
While the English title suggests humans attacking the Titans, the Japanese title implies the Titans advancing toward humanity.
Without spoiling anything, I believe the Japanese title aligns more closely with the deeper themes of the story. However, if you focus solely on the early chapters of the series, the English title does seem to fit better. Perhaps the translators chose a title that reflected the initial narrative rather than the broader story line.
That said, let’s be honest, most readers, myself included, probably don’t overthink the title and just dive right into the story!
鉄腕アトム – Astro Boy
The creator of Tetsuwan Atom (鉄腕アトム) is Tezuka Osamu(手塚治虫), a name every Japanese person recognises. Known as the "God of Manga" in Japan, he’s an iconic figure who has influenced every manga artist that followed. Many people are probably familiar with Astro Boy thanks to its remakes as an anime.
In English, the title was translated as Astro Boy. This is a perfect example of free translation, as it’s quite different from the literal meaning. If you directly translate "Tetsuwan Atom," it becomes "Iron Arm Atom." Not exactly heroic-sounding, right? It gives the impression that only his arm is strong! 😅 Clearly, the translators had to get creative, and they settled on Astro Boy. Interestingly, this English title resonated so well that it’s even been adopted in Japan. Modern adaptations often use the combined title ASTRO BOY 鉄腕アトム, blending the English and Japanese versions. It just feels right!
That said, in Japan, the word "Tetsuwan" (鉄腕) carries a strong connotation of incredible strength. The character "鉄" (iron) is deeply associated with toughness and resilience. For example, a professional baseball player nicknamed "鉄人" (Tetsujin, or "Iron Man") earned the name for rarely suffering injuries and maintaining a stellar career.
Other expressions, like "鉄の掟" (Tetsu no Okite, "ironclad rules") or "鉄壁の守り" (Teppeki no Mamori, "iron wall defence"), further highlight how the word "鉄" symbolises strength and unbreakable reliability.
Iron is, without a doubt, strong! 💪
Summary
Across Parts 1 and 2, we’ve explored five works and their titles. We’ve seen various patterns. For example, titles that are challenging to translate due to their deep roots in Japanese history and culture, words that represent concepts without clear distinctions in English, and even literal translations that don’t sound cool at all.
Both the original Japanese and the English versions are fantastic in their own right. However, if you’re curious, looking into why they differ can be a fascinating experience. And if that curiosity sparks a deeper interest in learning Japanese or exploring Japanese culture, that would be even more wonderful!
Thank you for reading!