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 is all about summer. Oh, summer, what a wonderful time of year. Especially if you’re still in school and get a summer vacation!

Summer means students get a nice break from school, but things aren’t always so smooth in manga. Sometimes it means training!

NATSU (なつ)

Summer is here! What will you do for NATSU? Well, if you’re a manga character, you have options! It’s the best time to train and get stronger, for one. Saitama from One-Punch Man became super strong by not using his AC during a hot summer. I gotta try that too! The Deimon team in Eyeshield 21 decided to take part in a death march! A grueling walk from Texas to Las Vegas while pushing a bus! Not the way I’d want to spend my summer...

These guys don’t look like they’re having much fun, but perhaps victory in the Christmas Bowl is worth the suffering! The girls in Cross Manage, on the other hand, seem to be enjoying their summer! Not exactly tough training, but everyone needs a break, right? I plan to spend my summer rereading the entire Cross Manage series, now available digitally!

NATSUYASUMI (なつやすみ)

This is how you say “summer break.” School may be off, but you can still learn something. In Japan, there are often festivals in the summer. These are called MATSURI (まつり) and typically include dancing and eating delicious foods! Here’s a panel from Eyeshield 21 volume 9 depicting a summer festival in Japan! Looks like a lot of fun!

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