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JI
自
oneself
✎ Editor's glossoneself; by one's own hand
Naruto · Characters · Kanji file 030
Jiraiya 自来也
Pronounced ji·ra·i·ya
Jiraiya takes his name from a figure of Edo-period fiction — a ninja who wields toad magic, beloved from the Edo period to this day in stories and kabuki. The Edo-period tale Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari stars the hero Jiraiya alongside his wife Tsunade and his nemesis Orochimaru, and this trio shaped many later works. In Naruto he is one of the Legendary Sannin — and again, deeply tied to toads. The character 油 ("oil") on his forehead is thought to nod to "toad oil," a wound salve sold in the Edo period. And according to the databook Rin no Sho, the author originally imagined Jiraiya as a "greasy" character — oil (油) and grease (脂) are both read abura in Japanese. The pun was there from the start.
From Edo-period fiction
📖 Databook: Rin no Sho, p. 73 · Tō no Sho, p. 92 · Sha no Sho, p. 90 · Jin no Sho, p. 108
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Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database. The red ✎ line is the editor's gloss — the meaning that is actually alive in this name, chosen by our editors from a Japanese kanji dictionary.
2 / 3
RAI
来
come · due · next
✎ Editor's glossto come; to arise
3 / 3
YA
也
to be (classical)
✎ Editor's glossa classical ending character, common in men's names
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Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 自来也?
16 in total: 自 is 6, 来 is 7, 也 is 3.
How do you pronounce Jiraiya?
Say it ji·ra·i·ya (自来也). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
What characters make up Jiraiya?
自来也 — 自, then 来, then 也. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 自 oneself; 来 come · due; 也 to be (classical).
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.