The “Maritan” way to learn English slang まりたん集中ドリル
What can you say about Hirai Yukio’s Maritan?
Mari-tan (tan being the alternative cute way of saying “chan” - like in the OS-tan post) is a pint-sized pink-haired girl who is part moé 萌え, lolicon ロリコン and tsundere ツンデ who hurls English expletives like a US marine!
The web comic follows the life of Maritan who is a Princess from the Magical Kingdom of Paris Island, which has signed a treaty of co-operation and friendship with the USA.
Maritan’s day job is as a Drill Instructor (modelled like the U.S. Marines) who trains new recruit Army-tan, under the supervision of Lieutanent Commander Navy-tan. There’s also GA-tan a meganekko メガネ attached from the Japanese Self Defence Forces.
A book Maritan Concentration Drills 魔法の海兵隊員 ぴくせる☆まりたん．まりたん集中ドリル, (Magical Marine Pixel Maritan Focus Drills) was released last summer (see some sample (very NSFW) pages pictured below) showing Maritan using her excellent knowledge of US Marine vocabulary to teach Japanese readers about really crude English slang.
Later this month another book, Maritan Concentration Drills Special Supplementary Lessons and Compilation Drama CD & Visual Book “Maritan to Hanasou (Eng. Let’s Talk with Maritan) F・●・C・K！(provisional title)” will be released.
In the voice CD of the book, Seiyuus Ai Tokunaga 徳永 愛 (as Maritan) Yukari Tamura 田村 ゆかり, Ayako Kawasumi 川澄 綾子, Mai Kadowaki 門脇 舞以, and Tomoko Kaneda 金田 朋子 are featured.
Although these books and CD look like a fun way to learn English slang and the web comic is really cute, the whole Maritan concept is really a parody of militarism.
Other Japansugoi.com articles of possible interest
- Maritan’s third book Maritan Concentration Drills for Marine Corps 3rd edition
- Maritan and Moetan exchange costumes
- Shinchosha 新潮社 to deliver digital comic book Com2 to mobile phones
- Ishihara Mariko actress videos
- Don’t laugh in the classroom.
- Automatic Japanese translator
- Aya Hirano releases first photobook Aya H Stairway to 20
- Japanese potty training book
- Marty Friedman Tokyo Jukebox and Jpop book
- Nozomi Sasaki Photo book Visual Young Jump
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(Japan Sugoi)
April 16th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Holy Batman! Next time I date a Japanese girl I will have to ask if she learned English from this book!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I want this book! Where can I get it?
April 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I’d be shocked if my cute Japanese g/f started talking like a US marine!
September 20th, 2007 at 12:25 am
[...] From Japanese Sugoi ขออนุญาตไม่แปลนะครับ เพื่ออรรถรสในการอ่าน (จริงๆขี้เกียจ) [...]
November 5th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
[...] from JapanSugoi: [...]
January 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I think thats really sick. Swearing isn’t a good thing…urgh!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am
That’s the most disgusting, unnecessary, offensive…and funniest book I’ve ever seen! LOL
May 4th, 2008 at 1:25 am
[...] foul mouthed Princess is back. For those of you who are unfamiliar, I present this link to JapanSugoi, who is apparently willing to post a page from one of the two Maritan “study guides” [...]
May 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
A parody of militarism? In your liberal wet dreams. Ever heard of Moe-tan? Get a fucking grip, soldier!
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Correction: PARRIS ISLAND, not Paris Island.
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 am
[...] Funniest language book I’ve ever seen. [...]
October 15th, 2008 at 1:48 am
[...] If you don’t know who is Maritan, you can take a look at JapanSugoi post. [...]