Japanese names of characters from “Assassination Classroom”

Assassination Classroom is a Japanese science fiction comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. The series was serialized on Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from July 2012 to March 2016 and is licensed in English by Viz Media. The series follows the daily lives of an extremely powerful octopus-like being working as a junior high homeroom teacher and his students dedicated to the task of assassinating him to prevent the earth from being destroyed. The students are losers and rejects in their school and are taught in a separate building; the class he teaches is called 3-E (The “End Class”).

What is the story?

One day, suddenly a variant looking mysterious creature and an officer of the Ministry of Defense came to class 3-E where loser and reject students are gathered of Kunugigaoka junior high school. This dangerous creature that is able to fly at Mach 20, destroyed 70% of the Moon and left it permanently in the shape of a crescent claims “I will destroy the earth if you couldn’t manage to kill me by next March” and demands to be the classroom teacher of 3-E Kunugigaoka junior high school.

The government are confused but commission the 3-E students in the ‘Assassination of the mysterious creature’

Students were very confused at first yet they are motivated by the reward of 10 billion yen (i.e. 100 million USD). The creature = Koro-sensei (Korosensē) ‘s existence and purpose are only known by a very limited number of people such as leaders of each country. The students try to assassinate Koro-sensei in many ways under a lot of set rules such as “Do not disclose the existence of Koro-sensei or involving anyone in the assassination of him even your own family. If this information is leaked, they will have their memory deleted of the events, or “Koro-sensei must not harm 3-E students. However, their family and friends are ineligible.”

As much as they try to kill him, they are always stopped by Koro-sensei’s speed and unpredictable actions. Some times he even polished a student’s nail or repaired a fighter jet in return for their attempt at killing him.

In spite of the strangeness of this situation, such as assassins and the target, many of the students have enjoyed this assassination classroom and their school lives became more positive than what they used to be being part of the “abandoned worst classroom”. And at the same time, other assassins come after Koro-sensei’s life from all over the world…

What is the Japanese title for Assassination Classroom?

“Assassination Classroom” is 「暗殺教室 Ansatsu-Kyoshitsu」in Japanese.

Assassination = 暗殺 Ansatsu

Classroom = 教室 Kyoshitsu

Why is it called Assassination Classroom?

Title in English has been just simply translated from the Japanese title.

Assassination is 暗殺 and pronounces Ansatsu.

Classroom is 教室 and pronounces Kyoshitsu.

What are the meanings behind the character’s names?

Koro-sensei (殺せんせー, Koro-sensē)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue 2

殺せないKorosenai unkillable -先生sensei teacher

It is a nickname named by one of 3-E student Kayano.

Nagisa Shiota (潮田 渚, Shiota Nagisa)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue 2

潮(shio) means “tide”. 田(ta) means “paddy field”.

渚(Nagisa) means “shore”.

Karma Akabane (赤羽 業(カルマ), Akabane Karuma)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue 2

赤羽(Akabane) means “Red Wing” and 業(Karuma) means “Karma”.

His parents love Indian styles and because of that, he was named after the idea of Hinduism and Buddhism.
In Japan, these names aren’t usual and are called ‘キラキラネーム Kira Kira name’ which means too weird from common sense.

He understands his name isn’t usual but it seems he likes his name.

Kaede Kayano / Akari Yukimura (茅野 カエデ / 雪村 あかり, Kayano Kaede / Yukimura Akari)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue 2

茅野(Kayano) means “thatch filed”. カエデ(Kaede) means “maple” but in this story, this is her false name using role names from her actress career.

雪村(Yukimura) isn’t a common Japanese name.

雪(Yuki) means “snow” and 村(Mura) means “village”. あかり(Akari) means “light”.

It’s Japanese Hiragana and quite a common name for girls.

Tadaomi Karasuma (烏間 惟臣, Karasuma Tadaomi)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue 2

烏間(Karasuma) is a created family name. There is the same name read as Karasuma but kanji is different as 烏丸.

烏(Karasu) means crow. 間(Ma) means relation, pause, room, gap and more.

Tadaomi is a boy’s name. 惟(Tada) means “think”, “consider”.

臣(Omi) means “vassal”, “liege”.

Interesting lines and phrases – Learning Japanese!

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode1, page14

EN/ “Yeah! You’re cheating!”
JP/ 「そうだ！Sohda!ずるいぞ！Zuruizo!」

Souda is more accurate to write down but when you try to say it, prefer to pronounce Sohda would be more natural 😉

☆Although, In Japanese comic, it’s just agreements saying 「そうだ　そうだ！」”Sohda Shoda!”.

In this case, repeating twice means strong agreement.

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1 episode1, page16

EN/ “It’s weird but we’ve kinda gotten used to it.”
JP/ 「奇妙Kimyoだけどdakedo僕たちはbokutachiwa慣れてnareteきていたkiteita。」

Weird can translate as 変Hen as well. Kimyo is a more literary way to say.

Gotten used to (something)　= (something) ni Nareta に慣れた。

☆It might be useful to say “I’ve gotten used to speaking in Japanese !” Nihongo日本語 deで Hanasu　話す kotoni 事に　Nareta　慣れた!　；） Wish you could say it soon!  

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode2, page77

EN/ “I became your teacher because I made a promise to someone…”
JP/ 「 私がWatashiga先生になったのは、sensei-ni-natta-nowaある人とaruhitoto約束yakusokuしたからです。shitakaradesu」

Made a promise to someone = Darekani 誰かに Yakusoku-shita 約束した。

Became = Natta なった

☆”I made a promise to myself to keep studying Japanese.”

“Jibun-jishin to 自分自身と Nhongo-no日本語の Benkyo wo　勉強を tuzukeru to　続けると yakusoku shita　約束した”

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode4, page115

EN/ “Kidding! Sorry I’m late.” “It’s nice to meet you, Korosensei!!”
JP/ 「冗談！johdan! 遅れてごめんなさい。okurete-gomen-nasai よろしくyoroshikuお願いします。onegai-shimasu殺せんせい。koro-sensei」

☆Obviously, this is useful for your daily life! If you want to say “It’s nice to meet you” in a more frank way, you can shorten the word as just “Yoroshiku よろしく.”

“Sorry I’m late” “Okurete Gomen-nasai 遅れてごめんなさい” is also useful when you’re late for a meeting with your friend! Don’t make your friend wait for you too long!

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode5, page137

EN/ “What’s the matter, everyone?”
JP/ 「どうかしましたか、douka-shimashitaka,皆さん？minasan」

☆”What’s wrong?” is the same meaning and translation as Douka-shimashitaka? どうかしましたか? Obviously, the situation is something wrong. You might say this when your friend or someone close to you looks down.

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode7, page166

EN/ “Is that so?” “Lemme try it!”
JP/ 「そうなんですか？Soh-nandesuka?試させてください！Tamesasete-kudasai!」

Try = Tamesu 試す

☆Frank way, you can short the word as “Soh-nano?そうなの？” and “Tamesasete! 試させて！”

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode7, page170

EN/ “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” “What’s he talking about?!”
JP/ 「私がWatashiga美しいからってutsukushii-karatte嫌わないで。kirawanaide.」「何の話？！Nan-no-Hanashi?!」

Hate = Kirai 嫌い

Beautiful = Utsukushii 美しい

☆That’s the feeling of all readers as well! lol

Suddenly Koro-sensei lost his mind…

Or you can ask somebody in the same way when you join the middle of conversation 😉

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue2, episode8, page10

EN/ “It’s been a while since I last saw you.”
“It’s finally payday.”
JP/ 「久しぶりHisashiburiだねぇdane」
「やっとYatto給料日kyu-ryobiなんです。nandesu.」

☆Japanese is short for the first phrase because it just makes sense as Hisashiburi.

Even in English, you often just say “Been a while!” right?

If you want to know “since I last saw you” in Japanese, it’s “Konomae この前Atte Kara(irai)会ってから（以来）”.

And Payday is important for everyone so as Koro-sensei!

Everybody desperate for a payday to come every month!

Huh? Is it just me???

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue2, episode8, page11

EN/ “I have to come here in disguise, but it’s worth it!”
JP/ 「変装してでもHensou-shitedemo買いに来るkainikuru価値はありますねぇ。kachiwa-arimasune」

In disguise = Hensou 変装

It’s worth it! = Kachi-ga-aru　価値がある

☆Not sure how much use the word “in disguise” in your daily life “but it’s worth learning it in Japanese!” ;P

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue2, episode8, page13

EN/ “Thank you!! I owe you one!”
“I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me!!”
JP/ 「ありがとうございました！Arigatoh-gozaimashita借りがKarigaできてdekiteしまいました！shimaimashita!」
「このKonoご恩はgo(short pronounce) -on-wa忘れません！！wasuremasen」

“I owe you one” = Kariga dekita借りができた

☆The second phrase, “I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me” translation is her way to say as in a bit of exaggerated expression. When you feel so and still want to express this feeling, it’s more natural if you say “Anataga あなたがsitekuretaしてくれた kotowa ことはzettaini絶対に wasuremasen忘れません”.

Want to use this phrase to show your great appreciation for someone you owe!

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue2, episode8, page17

EN/ “Don’t let her fool you, Koro-sensei!”
JP/ 「騙されないで、Damasare-naide,殺せんせー！koro-sensei!」

Fool somebody = Dareka(wo) 誰か(を)Damasu 騙す

Fool also means Karakau からかう. This means more joking somebody.

☆I wouldn’t recommend you fool someone!

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue2, episode8, page21

EN/ “Could you do me a little favor?”
“Piece of cake.”
JP/ 「お願いがOnegaigaあるのaruno」
「お安いOyasui御用goyohです。desu.」

☆Do you want to ask somebody a favor? Then use this phrase but you might need to change “Aruno” to “Arimasu”. In this case, it’s a female way to say and it’s a little bit frank way. If you need, change that and it’s a polite way. It might be a better way to say as it’s a favor 🙂

“Piece of cake” is in Japanese is a bit old generation type to say so as “Piece of cake”.

However people still use them, right? Just for something easy to do.

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue4, episode26, page16

EN/ “Nice work!”
“You must be thirsty.”
“Here, have a cold refreshing drink!!”
JP/ 「お疲れ様！Otsukare sama!」
「喉がNodoga乾いたkawaitaでしょdesho」
「ハイ、Hai,冷たいtsumetai飲み物!!nomimono!!」

☆”Otsukare sama” is very useful. Use this phrase when you see someone finish their job, school and was something working on. In a polite way, “Otsukare sama deshita” would be preferable. Frank way, when you want to say to your colleague or friend, you can short the word as “Otsukare”!

When you want to say “I’m thirsty”, it’s “Nodoga Kawaita.喉が乾いた。”

Cold = Tsumetai 冷たい

Refreshing drink = Nomimono 飲み物 (In this case don’t have to say refreshing in Japanese. combined as just a drink.)

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue4, episode26, page18

EN/ “How about a piggyback ride, Mr. Karasuma?”
JP/ 「おんぶOnbuして、shite,カラスマ！！Karasuma!! 」

Piggy back ride = Onbu おんぶ

Image by: Assassination Classroom Comic issue1, episode3, page97

EN/ “That’s so unfair!!!!”
JP/ 「ずるい！Zurui!」
Unfair = Fukohei 不公平, Futoh 不当

☆”Zurui” is also “cheating”. What he does isn’t fair in this scene so it’s cheating is the same way to say.