My Deer Friend Nokotan is taking the anime community by storm with its absurd humor and bizarre premise, but what exactly is the meaning of its Japanese title, Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan?
The Japanese title of the anime sounds like a tongue twister, but anime fans are also jamming to the opening song of the comedy anime, Shikairo Days, which includes 'Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan' in the lyrics!
What Is the Meaning of Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan in Japanese?
On Reddit, one user wrote the translated meaning of My Deer Friend Nokotan’s Japanese title, Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan.
Accordingly, “shika no ko” translates to “a kid deer” or “a deer child," “nokonoko” is an onomatopoeia for “walking casually,” and “koshi tan tan” is a traditional Japanese phrase with Chinese origins that means “the tiger looks down for an opportunity.”
Hence, Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan roughly translates to “Deer Kid ambles without a care as the tiger looks on, seeking an opportunity.”
While the translated meaning of Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan sounds ominous, the localized title of the anime, My Deer Friend Nokotan, makes the series friendlier and more endearing, for there’s no mention of a tiger who’s seeking an opportunity to prey on the deer.
What Does Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan Mean in My Deer Friend Nokotan? Title Explained
Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan references the names of the main characters from My Deer Friend Nokotan: Noko “Nokotan” Shikanoko and Torako “Koshitan” Koshi.
It’s as if Nokotan is the deer and Koshitan is the tiger, according to the Japanese meaning of the title.
While Nokotan looks like a deer-hybrid girl with antlers, Koshitan is a former delinquent with a tiger-like personality. Interestingly, Nokotan and Koshitan are opposites in the anime series.
While Nokotan is outgoing, playful, and carefree, Koshitan is an honor student who works hard to appear perfect in public to hide her delinquent past.
Koshitan has to deal with Nokotan’s bizarre and unpredictable behavior, especially after they become classmates and clubmates at the school’s Deer Club, to prevent the latter from revealing her long-held secret.
Things start getting difficult for Koshitan, but her life becomes more eventful thanks to Nokotan's presence.
Meanwhile, the lyrics of Shikairo Days (Deer-Colored Days in English), My Deer Friend Nokotan’s opening song performed by the main cast members, also include 'Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan,' making it catchy and upbeat, perfect for the comedy anime!
The catchy opening song continues to make waves online, having already surpassed 14 million views in less than a month!
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