You probably know the anime called "しかのこのこのここしたんたん (shikanokonokonokokoshitantan)". A great "nonsense" anime that went viral. In this article, we will understand the real meaning of Shikanoko nokonoko koshitantan.
In this anime, a delinquent girl pretending to be a saint called "Torako Koshi" ends up meeting a servant girl called "Noko Shikanoko" who is usually nicknamed "Nokotan".
Usually, the name of the anime is translated as "My Friend Nokotan is a Deer," but does the Japanese title really have that translation? Wouldn't there be some secret or crazy riddle behind it?
See also the Anime Page: Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan
Table of Content
しかのこのこのここしたんたん
The first part of the anime's name is basically the name of the protagonist "Shikanoko Noko [鹿乃子のこ]". In this name, the first ideogram refers to "Shika," which means deer. The second ideogram refers to the particle [の] followed by the third ideogram that means son.
Basically, the name of the protagonist means daughter of a deer. Now the surname, which is basically the repetition "のこ," can be a bit confusing. In fact, "のこのこ" is an onomatopoeia that means careless, desperate, cheeky. This reflects well the personality of the protagonist, who is quite slow-witted.
"のこのこ" also means something like walking carelessly, which reflects the extreme and nonsensical events of the anime. Everything that happens in the anime is practically crazy, ignoring any problems or common sense.
See too: Learn 200 Japanese Onomatopoeias
The Meaning of Koshitantan [虎視眈々]
虎視眈々 (koshitantan) is a Japanese idiomatic expression that literally means "staring intently like a tiger." However, its figurative sense is broader and is generally used to describe someone who observes patiently, waiting for an opportunity to act or attack.
Here is a detailed explanation:
- 虎 (こ, ko) means "tiger".
- 視 (し, shi) means "to look" or "to observe".
- tantan means "focused, attentive" or "with fixed and vigilant eyes".
Therefore, the expression is used to describe the character "Torako Koshi," who even has the ideogram for tiger in her name. This protagonist is always lurking, watching closely, and waiting for the right moment to act with precision or achieve her goals.
The term also refers to the hunt between the predator tiger and its prey a deer. Fortunately, in the anime, we only come across increasingly absurd scenes that make us rethink who had the idea for this work or simply its enigmatic name.
The Meaning of Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan
By combining the two parts, the phrase 鹿乃子のこのこのこ虎視眈々 poetically describes a deer cub walking nonchalantly while, at the same time, a tiger is keeping a close watch. The half-deer protagonist isn't entirely innocent either, and it turns out that the girl with the tiger personality is always the one to lose out.
The idea behind this name can be an interesting contrast between the innocence of a deer and the focused and strategic attention of a tiger, thus suggesting the friendship between the two girls.
It is interesting to highlight that all the characters in the anime have names that reference animals. I hope you enjoyed knowing the meaning of [鹿乃子のこのこのこ虎視眈々]. Finally, here is this beautiful opening:
