Day 7: My Hero Academia

2025.09.12

September 12, 2025

Story

Yesterday was Patriot Day in the United States. So today, I’d like to introduce an anime that feels particularly American: My Hero Academia (hereafter “HeroAca”).

HeroAca is set in a society where about 80% of the population is born with supernatural abilities called “Quirks.” In this world, a boy born without a Quirk, Izuku Midoriya (Deku), strives to become the greatest hero, growing alongside his classmates at U.A. High School. His idol is the Number One Hero, All Might, who stands as the embodiment of the American superhero ideal.

American Names

In HeroAca, many heroes’ special moves are named after places in America. For me, as a local, hearing moves like “St. Louis Smash” and “Missouri Smash” is simply irresistible.

It makes sense to hear city names like Detroit or states like Texas, but for “Missouri” to appear—a place unfamiliar to many Japanese viewers—felt strange enough that I looked into it. The anime officially shows young All Might studying abroad in the United States. The author has also said he was deeply influenced by American superhero works, intentionally incorporating comic-book elements into HeroAca. That influence shows up in naming conventions like Detroit/Texas/St. Louis/Missouri Smash, as well as costumes reminiscent of the stars and stripes.

I’ve heard HeroAca is very popular in America, and I imagine that having your hometown or country honored in such a way must feel wonderful. I know I’d be delighted! Americans are said to enjoy stories where the roles of heroes and villains are clear—like Superman, DC Comics, or Marvel. Compared to other Japanese anime, HeroAca presents a hero/villain structure that feels very American, with good and evil visually easy to distinguish. Yet at the same time, behind that structure lies Japanese-style mentorship and community ethics. I think this blend is exactly what makes the series interesting for both cultures.

Character Names
　　　　

In addition to using American place names for special moves, HeroAca also gives its characters many unique names. I wondered if there were particular origins behind them, so I did some research and found websites that had compiled this information. Here are a few highlights:

Friends at Class 1-A

Mina Ashido (芦戸三奈)
“Ashido” is said to come from the sound of “acid.” Her hero name is the cute and fitting “Pinky.”
Tsuyu Asui (蛙吹梅雨)
“Asui” literally includes the word “frog.” “Tsuyu” means “rainy season,” the time when frogs are especially active and croak loudly.
Tenya Iida (飯田天哉)
“Tenya” is thought to come from Idaten, a Buddhist deity known for speed and helping others. His hero name “Ingenium” comes from Latin, meaning both talent and engine.
Ochaco Uraraka (麗日お茶子)
“Uraraka” means “beautiful day,” and “Ochaco” includes “ocha” (tea). Together they create a graceful, gentle-sounding name that perfectly fits her appearance. Her hero name “Uravity” combines her surname with “gravity.”
Denki Kaminari (上鳴電気)
His name already screams “lightning.” His hero name “Chargezuma” combines “charge” (electricity) with inazuma (lightning). Just hearing it makes you feel a jolt.
Koji Koda (口田甲司)
His Quirk lets him communicate with animals. His hero name “Anima” means soul or life, especially of animals. The characters “甲” (shell/armor) and “口” (mouth) also evoke voices and protective shells.

Seniors and Pro Heroes

Mirio Togata (透形ミリオ)
His surname “Togata” contains “透” (to be transparent), directly reflecting his permeation Quirk. His hero name “Lemillion” comes from the French film Le Million.
Shota Aizawa (相澤消太)
The character “消” (erase) in his given name connects directly to his Erasure Quirk. His hero name “Eraser Head” is a reference to David Lynch’s cult film Eraserhead.
Hizashi Yamada (山田ひざし)
Present Mic’s real name may be a nod to the famous Japanese DJ Yamada Hisashi. His hero name fits his energetic, DJ-like personality, and he’s always hyped up.
Tsunagu Hakamada (袴田維)
His surname includes “袴” (hakama, traditional clothing), and his given name includes “維” (to connect, or fiber). His hero name “Best Jeanist” comes from an award for denim enthusiasts, perfectly matching his fiber-controlling Quirk.

Villains

Tomura Shigaraki (死柄木弔)
“Shi” (死) means “death,” and “Tomura” (弔) means “to mourn.” Even “Ki” (木, tree) evokes the wooden grave markers (sotoba) used in cemeteries. His name completely suits his villainous presence and his deep ties to All For One.
Dabi (荼毘)
His name literally means “cremation.” The phrase “to consign to cremation” (dabi ni fusu) uses the same word. It couldn’t be more appropriate for a character who wields blue flames.
Atsuhiro Sako (迫圧紘) / Mr. Compress
His real name includes the character “圧” (pressure), directly tied to his compression Quirk. His ability to shrink anything instills the fear of compression itself.

Importance of names

　

Looking into the names of HeroAca’s characters and special moves, I realized that many are directly connected to their Quirks and personalities. The more I researched, the more I felt the author’s playful spirit and his love for American comics. I’m especially grateful that he gave us “Missouri” and “St. Louis” as move names—thank you, sensei (haha)!

Learning the meanings behind the names makes me feel an even deeper attachment to the characters. From now on, whenever new characters appear, I’ll be paying close attention to their names.

Chiren
President, Japanese Institute of St. Louis

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