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 feature some terms seen in the newest JUMP START, The Promised Neverland. If you’ve enjoyed this series so far, don’t forget to tell us how you feel in the weekly surveys!

KOJI (こじ)

KOJI means "orphan” and KOJIIN means “orphanage.” The Promised Neverland story starts off in the Grace Field House orphanage. And while this isn’t an unheard-of setting for a Shonen Jump manga, it does feel quite fresh. Naruto was an orphan, but we never saw scenes like this. And the twist at the end of the first chapter reveals that Grace Field House is actually more like a jail than an orphanage.

MON (もん) SAKU (さく)

Once Emma and Norman uncover the truth about Grace Field House, they are determined to escape. They seem to have two main options: the MON, which is the “gate,” and the SAKU, or “fence,” which separates the KOJIIN from the forest that surrounds it. It appears that the children have chosen the SAKU as their way out, but will it lead to success?

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