In Japan, a rōnin (浪人?) is a student who has graduated from middle school or high school but has failed to enter a school at the next level, and consequently is studying outside of the school system for entrance in a future year.[1] The term "rōnin" is colloquial; the word kanendosei (過年度生?) is more formal. "Rōnin" derives from their having no school to attend, as a ronin (a masterless samurai) had no leader to serve.
In popular culture[]
Rōnin appear frequently in fiction and popular culture. As an example, the manga and anime series Love Hina features the main character, Keitaro Urashima, who is described as a rōnin (in the sense that he has not entered college), throughout most of the series. In the manga and anime series Chobits, the protagonist, Hideki Motosuwa, is a rōnin studying at a preparatory school to get into college.
See also[]
- Jaesusaeng
External links[]
- Rōnin-sei no Tanjō thesis at Keio University
References[]
- ↑ Akihiko Yonekawa. Beyond Polite Japanese. page 25. Kodansha 2001. ISBN 4-7700-2773-7
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