Rich examples of polite speech used to show consideration#

As an editor, Ei’s job is to support his authors and avoid offending them. The manga provides many examples of conversations where speakers carefully choose polite phrasing to maintain good relationships.

Source: Chiya Toriko, Hakoniwa Monster (KODANSHA)

Plenty of dialogues with superiors#

When Ei speaks with his bosses within the editorial department, he naturally uses keigo (polite speech). These exchanges offer great insight into practical, moderately formal Japanese as it appears in business settings—neither overly stiff nor too casual.

Source: Chiya Toriko, Hakoniwa Monster (KODANSHA)

What Does “Oya Gacha” Mean?#

Oya gacha (literally, “parent gacha” - 親ガチャ) is a popular slang expression among young people in Japan. It compares being born into a particular family to pulling characters in a smartphone game’s gacha—a lottery-style system where results are completely random, like drawing lots:

・Being born to wealthy or supportive parents = a rare lucky pull (atari)
・Being born to poor or difficult parents = a dud pull (hazure)

It’s a blunt way of saying that your family background is pure luck, not something you choose.

Why Did This Phrase Appear?#

Japan’s declining birthrate, widening income gap, and unequal access to quality education have left many young people feeling that their future is predetermined by the family they’re born into. No matter how hard they study or work, they see social mobility shrinking—making it feel almost impossible to “break out of” an unlucky start in life.

Social media has amplified this sense of hopelessness. Platforms constantly showcase others who were “born on third base”—with wealth, connections, or elite schooling—while those without such advantages struggle just to stay afloat. This glaring contrast fuels the belief that life’s outcomes are more about luck of birth than personal effort, giving rise to the blunt expression oya gacha.

The Rise of “~Gacha” Expressions#

From oya gacha, similar phrases quickly appeared in everyday talk:

・rinjin gacha（隣人ガチャ） – “Did you luck out with your neighbors?”
・haizoku gacha（配属ガチャ） – “Did you get placed in a good department or stuck with a bad team?”
・jōshi gacha（上司ガチャ） – “Did you pull a good boss or a bad one?”
・sensei gacha（先生ガチャ） – “Did you get a lucky draw for your homeroom teacher?”

Conversation Examples

・「今回の配属ガチャ、SSRかも！」
“I think I hit the jackpot with this team assignment—super rare pull!”

・「上司ガチャでハズレ引いたわ…」
“I totally pulled a dud of a boss this time…”

While oya gacha can spark serious social debate, these spinoffs are usually used playfully, to describe situations as if they were random luck.

Why This Word Matters for Learners#

・It shows how Japanese reflects youth culture and social issues.
・You’ll understand slang you see in manga, anime, or on social media.
・You can recognize playful “~gacha” wordplay in conversation.

Knowing oya gacha helps you see how modern Japanese speakers mix humor with serious topics—and how language evolves to describe feelings of unfairness, luck, and chance.

Japanese rap may be tricky!#

In one scene, Ei freestyles a rap to grab the attention of an author. Because rap relies on rhyming and wordplay, the Japanese here differs from standard conversational language, which may pose an extra challenge for learners.

Source: Chiya Toriko, Hakoniwa Monster (KODANSHA)