

“What can you see in this drawing? Yes, it’s a person carrying a huge sword! So, this kanji character means ‘weapon.’ A sword itself isn’t a weapon. It’s the fact that a human is using it that makes it one.”


Can you tell what this character means at a first glance? On the left side, you can find a generous amount of food served on a tall tray, and on the right, a person sitting down—completely full. Yes, this character expresses the exact meaning of ‘already enough’.


On the right side of this figure, you can see a pile of blocks, while the left features a stand for sacred offerings. Therefore, this character beautifully symbolizes an ‘ancestor’—representing those who built and piled up their lives through the generations.


On the left side, you can find a crocodile-like creature, with a large bird flying high above it. This character describes a tense standoff where the land animal and the bird fight while maintaining their distance—just like boxers! Therefore, this character carries the meaning ‘away from something’.


In ancient Japan, the central government in the west considered the eastern tribes to be enemies. They called these people the ‘Emishi.’ This kanji was created to reflect the unique clothing and style of the Emishi people.


“You can see a structure made of many wooden posts in this drawing. It represents the act of assembling the same materials repeatedly—which is why this kanji means ‘again.'”