“isekai” and “mangaka” are among the 23 latest Japanese words added to the Oxford English Dictionary in the March 2024 update.
The OED classifies “isekai” as a noun and identifies it as “a genre of Japanese science fiction or fantasy whose main character is transported to or reincarnated in another, strange, or alien world ”. It also provides ways to apply the genre in media such as anime, manga, video games, etc.
Meanwhile, the OED also defines “mangaka” simply as “A writer or illustrator of manga.”
These are just some of the Japanese words added to the latest version of the OED, with more than half of the new entries related to Japanese cuisine or cooking. Examples include “onigiri”, “karaage”, “donburi”, “takoyaki” and “tonkatsu” among many others.
Other new Japanese words that have been added are “washi tape,” “kintsugi,” and “kirigami.”
The editorial work of the latest additions to the Japanese language is carried out by OED editors in collaboration with research partners from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Curious readers can find the OED's complete list of the latest Japanese words on their website.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary website, The Guardian (Ella Creamer)