埼玉
Saitama
Saitama is written 埼玉 in Japanese and read Saitama.
埼玉 is the name of the prefecture just north of Tokyo and also of Saitama City, its capital. To say Saitama Prefecture, add the character for prefecture after the name.
What does it mean word for word?
埼 means cape or point of land, and 玉 means jewel or ball.
Did you know?
- The name Saitama is a rare example of a place name where the character 埼 specifically denotes a 'cape', even though the prefecture is largely landlocked.
- Despite being a major hub, Saitama is often the target of self-deprecating jokes in Japanese pop culture, frequently portrayed as a bland 'bed town' for Tokyo.
- The name Saitama is globally recognized today largely due to the manga and anime 'One Punch Man', whose protagonist is named Saitama after the prefecture.
Examples in context
- 埼玉はどこですか？Saitama wa doko desu ka?Where is Saitama?
- 埼玉に住んでいます。Saitama ni sunde imasu.I live in Saitama.
- 来週、埼玉へ行きます。Raishū, Saitama e ikimasu.I am going to Saitama next week.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんは、週末どこに行きますか？Kenta-san wa, shūmatsu doko ni ikimasu ka?Kenta, where are you going this weekend?
- 健太 Kenta埼玉へ買い物に行きます。Saitama e kaimono ni ikimasu.I am going to Saitama to shop.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。私も埼玉が好きです。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo Saitama ga suki desu.That sounds nice. I like Saitama too.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんも一緒に行きますか？Himari-san mo issho ni ikimasu ka?Do you want to come along too, Himari?
