Japanese names of characters from “Gurren Lagann”

Contents

What is the story?
What is the Japanese title of Gurren Lagann?
What are the meanings behind the characters’ names?
Interesting lines and phrases – Learning Japanese
- EN/ ‘Beleive in me believing in you!’ JP/「お前をOmaewo 信じるShinjiru 俺をOrewo 信じろ！Shinjiro! 」

What is the story?

The story takes place in a fictional future where human beings were forced to live in underground villages completely cut out from the surface world. Under the threat of earthquakes and roof fall, they had to keep on digging to survive. One day a young boy named Simon discovers a glowing drill shaped key and a mysterious Gunmen (robot). Suddenly the ceiling crashed and a huge Gunmen started to attack them. With the help of a girl who appeared from the surface world, Simon activates the robot with the drill shaped key and defeats the Gunmen. Curious Simon and Kamina headed to the surface world and learned that the world was taken over by the Spiral King Lordgenome.

Image by: Gurren Lagann official website ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

What is the Japanese title of Gurren Lagann?

The Japanese title is called ‘天元突破グレンラガン’ (Tengen Toppa Guren Ragan). ‘Tengen’(天元) means the origin of life and ‘Toppa’(突破) is to breakthrough. ‘Guren Ragan’ is the name of the machine with a huge drill.

Image by: Gurren Lagann Comic 1 ©GAINAX, KADOKAWA

What are the meanings behind the characters’ names?

In Japanese culture, names have significant meanings that are supposed to represent you as a person. Names can be expressed in hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Let’s find out the meanings of some names of characters from Team Gurren!

Simon (シモン, Shimon)

Image by: Gurren Lagann Ep 17 ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

Simon, the main character of this exciting series grew up in an underground village, digging towards his dream to be on the surface one day. The origin of his name Simon came from the word ‘Shimo’(下) which means down.

Kamina (カミナ, Kamina)

Image by: Gurren Lagann Ep 16 ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

Kamina is a charismatic young man from the underground village. He is the leader of team Gurenn who fights against Lordgenome. The origin of his name Kamina is from the word ‘Kami’(上) which means up.

Nia (ニア, Nia)

Image by: Gurren Lagann Ep 17 ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

Nia, the curious daughter of the Spiral King, Lordgenome. She grew up in the kingdom on the surface world and spent almost all her time there. So, she is curious about the world and the underground village just like how they are curious about the surface. The origin of her name is ‘Near’ which in Japanese is ‘Chikai’(近い).

Yoko (ヨーコ, Yōko)

Image by: Gurren Lagann Ep 16 ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

Yoko came from the underground village next to Simon and Kamina’s village. She is a skilled sniper in team Gurenn. Yoko’s name came from the word ‘Yoko’(横) which means ‘Next To’. This is a common Japanese girl’s name and there are many other ways to write Yoko.

Kittan (キタン, Kitan)

Image by: Gurren Lagann Ep 24 ©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakajima, ANIPLEX, TV Tokyo,

Kittan, leader of the hunter group ‘Black Siblings’ is an energetic and aggressive young man. The origin of his name came from the word ‘Tanki’(短気) which means short-tempered.

Gimmy (ギミー, Gimī)

Gimmy is one of the ace pilots in the Grapearl squad who later joins team Gurren to support Simon. His name Gimmy is derived from the word ‘Migi’(右) which means the right.

Darry (ダリー, Darī)

Gimmy’s younger sister Darry is also one of the ace pilots in the Grapearl squad. The twins have a special bonding and are always together even when they join team Dai Gurren. Darry’s name is derived from the word ‘Hidari’(左) which means the left.

Interesting lines and phrases – Learning Japanese

Here are some useful phrases from Gurren Lagann that will help you along with your Japanese studies!

EN/ ‘Beleive in me believing in you!’
JP/「お前をOmaewo 信じるShinjiru 俺をOrewo 信じろ！Shinjiro! 」

‘Omae’(お前) is a way to call a person but it is rude to use it against strangers or people you are not so close to. ‘Ore’() is a way boys call themselves.
‘Shinjiru’(信じる) is to trust and ‘Shinjiro’(信じろ) is to tell a person to trust!

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