Notes

T/N:

Names & Honorifics - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics

In Japan, instead of first and last names, people have family names and given names, in that order. It's polite to refer to someone using their family name, followed by an honorific like -san. Choosing not to use an honorific (yobisute) or using someone's given name could potentially be rude, unless the two people share a close relationship. When referring to others, the usage (or lack thereof) of honorifics plays a special role in conveying one character's relationship to another:
 * -san: Polite and distant, for people you don't know well or someone older than you.
 * -kun: Used primarily for male friends, males who are younger than you, or by teachers to their pupils.
 * -chan: A cute honorific used primarily towards girls, babies, and animals. It expresses that the speaker finds the addressee to be endearing, so it might be embarrassing for guys to use. (Variations include -tan, -cchan and -cchi.)
 * -sensei: Used toward teachers, doctors, and even mangaka. Can be used towards people who have taught you a lot even if they aren't professional teachers. Can be used by itself.
 * -senpai: Used for upperclassmen or senior colleagues. Can also be spelled "sempai". Can be used by itself.
 * Yobisute (no honorific): Yobisute is reserved only for people you are very close with. Referring to someone by their family name only is for best friends; using only the given name is for (younger) family members or your spouse. Taiga and Ryuuji referring to each other by their given names is a big deal.

MOTTAINAI!

One of Ryuuji's catchphrases. Roughly, it means "what a waste!"

Hatsumode - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsumōde

To celebrate the new year, people in Japan go to a Shinto shrine sometime during the first few days of January. They stand in long lines to make wishes, pray, and buy omamori (charms) and omikuji (fortunes).

Other Japanese traditions during New Year's time include:


 * Daisouji: A thorough cleaning of the entire house, like the Western idea of "spring cleaning."
 * Osechi: Traditional Japanese New Year's dishes that carry a special meaning. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osechi
 * Hatsuyume: Literally the first dream of the new year. What you see in the dream is supposed to foretell your luck in the upcoming year. Dreaming about a few specific things increases your luck, such as Mt. Fuji, hawks, and eggplants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsuyume

Boke and Tsukkomi (Manzai)

A form of Japanese stand-up comedy involving two performers - a boke and a tsukkomi. The boke's role is to be airheaded and forgetful, while the tsukkomi "butts in" and corrects the boke. Similar to Abbott and Costello, most of the jokes revolve around puns, misunderstandings, and other such verbal gags.

FAQ

Q: Why do some people refer to Kitamura as "Maruo"?

A: His nickname comes from his similarity to Sueo Maruo who is class president in Chibi Maruko-chan (shoujo manga).

Q: What's this I hear about Taiga getting fat and going to the gym with Ami?

A: That's a reference to the Spin-off light novel. You can read an English translation here.

Q: The heck is a "Zeni Geba moneyworm" anyway?

A: Zeni Geba is an old manga about a poor boy who murders people for money.

Q: Okay, what about "tsundere"?

A: Tsundere is a term to describe someone who is grouchy outside, but sweet inside. Taiga herself is a tsundere; it's part of her appeal.