Learn Japanese from Famous Anime Quotes ~SLAMDUNK vol.1~

Here in this article, you’ll learn some of the popular quotes spoken from the anime which brings out the humor from each character that is picked up.
Not only the introduction of each quote but as my original content, I’ll be explaining the meaning of the quotes that are in Japanese so that you can understand what kind of Japanese is used and enhance your knowledge of the language! Hope you enjoy it!

Ranking of quotes from the manga “SLAMDUNK”

SLAM DUNK,” a popular basketball-themed comic by Takehiko Inoue, was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump” (Shueisha) for about six years from 1990 and adapted into an animated television series in 1993, and has become a legendary comic that has increased the popularity of basketball.

The movie “SLAM DUNK” (title to be determined), directed and written by Takehiko Inoue, will be released in the fall of 2022, and it still boasts strong popularity 30 years after its serialization.

■ Quote Index
No. 1: If you give up, the game is over. |「あきらめたらそこで試合終了ですよ」【Anzai Coachi】(39.7%)
No. 2: “C-Coachi!!I want to play basketball…”|「安西先生……バスケがしたいです」【Hisashi Mitsui】(23.2%)
No. 3: “The player that controls the rebound, controls the game.”|「リバウンドを制する者は試合を制す」【Takenori Akagi】(17.1%)
No. 4: “Genius is 1 percent perspiration and 99 percent inspiration.”|「天才とは99%の才能と1%の努力」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(16.2%)
No. 5: “The left hand stays relaxed.”|「左手はそえるだけ」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(14.5%)
No. 6: “BecauseI’ma phenom！”|「天才ですから」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(13.0%)
No. 7: “It’s not what the team can do for you, it’s what you can do for the team.”|「お前の為にチームがあるんじゃねぇ チームの為にお前がいるんだ」【Anzai Coachi】(7.2%)
No. 8 :“Check it out”|「要チェックや」【Hikoichi Aida】(7.0%)
No. 8: “Don’t rush it. We have plenty of time.”|「まだあわてるような時間じゃない」【Akira Sendo】(7.0%)
No. 10: “First of all, you have to become Japan’s number one high school player.“|「とりあえず君は日本一の高校生になりなさい」【Anzai Coachi】(6.4%)

| Explanation of Quotes「

No. 1: If you give up, the game is over. |「あきらめたらそこで試合終了ですよ」【Anzai Coachi】(39.7%)

First place goes to a comment made to Mitsui by Anzai Coachi, who was in the audience as a guest of honor, when Hisashi Mitsui, still in junior high school, was about to give up on winning a game. With these words, Mitsui made a comeback shot and entered Shohoku High School to play basketball under Anzai Coachi.

Quote: 「あきらめたらそこで試合終了ですよ」(Akirametara soko de shiai syuryo desuyo)
Translation: If you give up, the game is over.

◼︎Japanese Words
あきらめる (Akirameru): give up
試合 (shiai): game
終了(syuryo): over

No. 2: “C-Coachi!!I want to play basketball…”|「安西先生……バスケがしたいです」【Hisashi Mitsui】(23.2%)

Due to a series of injuries, Hisashi Mitsui has lost his place in the basketball club. Mitsui, now a third-year student, rushes into the gymnasium with a gang of delinquents to crush the basketball club. Anzai Coachi appears to the rampaging Mitsui and his friends, and the words that came out of Mitsui’s mouth at the moment his heart was filled with feelings for the past came in at No. 2 on the list.

Quote: 「安西先生……バスケがしたいです」(Anzai-sensei Basuke ga shitai desu)
Translation: “C-Coachi!!I want to play basketball…”

◼︎Japanese Words
バスケ (Basuke): baske
したい（Shitai）: Want

No. 3: “The player that controls the rebound, controls the game.”|「リバウンドを制する者は試合を制す」【Takenori Akagi】(17.1%)

Takenori Akagi, captain of the Shohoku High School basketball team, says to the main character Hanamichi Sakuragi, “There is a word for basketball like this,” and explains the secret of basketball to him. This line by Akagi, aka “Gori,” whose appearance resembles a gorilla, ranks third in the list.

Quote: 「リバウンドを制する者は試合を制す」(Ribaundo wo seisuru mono ha shiai wo seisu )
Translation: “The player that controls the rebound controls the game.”

◼︎Japanese Words
リバウンド (Ribaundo): rebound
制する (seisuru): control

No. 4: “Genius is 1 percent perspiration and 99 percent inspiration.“|「天才とは99%の才能と1%の努力」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(16.2%)

Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, is said to have said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% effort,” and it seems that for the genius basketball player Hanamichi Sakuragi, effort is only 1%. However, if you read the comic, you will see that the actual Sakuragi is a man of effort. This line, which also directly conveys such a characterization of Hanamichi Sakuragi, comes in at No. 4.

Quote: 「天才とは99%の才能と1%の努力」(Tensai toha kyu-jyu-kyu pa-sento no sainou to ichi pa-sento no doryoku)
Translation: “Genius is 1 percent perspiration and 99 percent inspiration.”

◼︎Japanese Words
天才 (Tensai): Genius
才能 (sainou): inspiration
努力 (doryoku): perspiration

No. 5: “The left hand stays relaxed.”|「左手はそえるだけ」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(14.5%)

Shohoku High School, at one point down by 20 points against the Inter-High School Champions Sanno Kogyo, gradually closed the gap. With one second remaining in the game, Hanamichi Sakuragi received a pass from rival Kaede Nagaregawa and shot the ball with this line to complete the comeback victory.

This line, which shows Hanamichi Sakuragi’s attitude of going back to the basics and keeping a normal mind, came in fifth place because it was a thrilling climactic scene against the absolute champion.

Quote: 「左手はそえるだけ」(Hidari-te ha soeru dake)
Translation: “The left-hand stays relaxed.”

◼︎Japanese Words
左手 (Hidari-te): left hand
そえる (soeru): stays

No. 6: “BecauseI’ma phenom！”|「天才ですから」【Hanamichi Sakuragi】(13.0%)

The main character, Hanamichi Sakuragi, has always referred to himself as a phenom. At first, this line seems to be a gag line from an amateur, but in the latter half of the story, when we learn of his amazing growth rate, it becomes a profound statement.

Quote: 「天才ですから」(Tennsai desu kara)
Translation: “BecauseI’ma phenom！”

◼︎Japanese Words
天才 (Tennsai): phenom

No. 7: “It’s not what the team can do for you, it’s what you can do for the team.”|「お前の為にチームがあるんじゃねぇ チームの為にお前がいるんだ」【Anzai Coachi】(7.2%)

Before becoming the advisor of Shohoku High School’s basketball team, Anzai Coachi was known in the college basketball world as the “white-haired devil” or “spartan” coach.

This quote is a reminder that the sport of basketball is a team game, while skilled players tend to rely on their individual skills.

Quote: 「お前の為にチームがあるんじゃねぇ チームの為にお前がいるんだ」(Omae no tame ni team ga arunn jyane, team no tame ni omae ga irunnda)
Translation: “It’s not what the team can do for you, it’s what you can do for the team.”

◼︎Japanese Words
お前 (Omae): you
チーム(team): team

No. 8 :“Check it out”|「要チェックや」【Hikoichi Aida】(7.0%)

Aida Hikokazu, a first-year student at Ryonan High School who hails from Osaka and speaks in a Kansai dialect, ranked 8th in the list of the most popular quotes. Aida has a secret notebook in which he has checked out many famous players.

Quote: 「要チェックや」(Yo u chekku ya)
Translation: :”Check it out”

◼︎Japanese Words
チェック (chekku): Check

No. 8: “Don’t rush it. We have plenty of time.”|「まだあわてるような時間じゃない」【Akira Sendo】(7.0%)

Tied for eighth place is a quote by Ryonan ace Akira Sendo, which came from a match between Shohoku High School and Ryonan High School, a team that was competing in the Inter-High School Championships. As the game progressed at Shohoku’s pace with only a few minutes remaining, Sendo’s words of wisdom to his teammates calmed the team members’ fidgety spirits.

Quote: 「まだあわてるような時間じゃない」(mada awateru youna jikan jya-nai)
Translation: “Don’t rush it. We have plenty of time.”

◼︎Japanese Words
あわてる (wateru): rush
時間 (jikan): time

No. 10: “First of all, you have to become Japan’s number one high school player.“|「とりあえず君は日本一の高校生になりなさい」【Anzai Coachi】(6.4%)

Also ranked seventh was this comment made by Overhaul to Shigaraki during a visit to the Villain Coalition’s hideout. Overhaul is dismayed when he hears about how Shigaraki has high ideals but no plan to realize them.

It was a scene that highlighted the incompatibility between the intuitive and the logical.

Quote: 「計画のない目標は妄想と言う」(Keikaku no nai mokuhyou ha mousou to iu)
Translation: “Goals without a plan are called delusions.”

◼︎Japanese Words
計画 (Keikaku): plan
目標 (mokuhyou): Goal
妄想 (mousou): delusions

[speech_bubble type=”drop” subtype=”L1″ icon=”surprise.png” name=”Nazuna”]The quote that ranked first was “If you give up, the game is over,” by Anzai Coachi, which was cited by nearly 40% of the respondents as a memorable quote. Other than this, Anzai Coachi’s words also ranked 7th and 10th. Hisashi Mitsui’s words, which came in second place, were also memorable because of Anzai Coachi, which shows what a great mentor he is. There were many comments such as, “I wish I could have met such a teacher. What quotes resonate with you? [/speech_bubble]