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In Ichigo Mashimaro, Ana is embarrassed by her surname "Coppola". It's implied
that it has some meaning (or perhaps sounds like something) in Japanese, but I
couldn't figure out what. What does Ana's name sound like, and why is it
embarrassing to her?

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/gpLEr.jpg)


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2013-04-28T05:52:56.307
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question
japanese-language strawberry-marshmallow
Why is Ana embarrassed by her surname?


According to the [Japanese Wikipedia article for the
series](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8B%BA%E3%81%BE%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8D#.E4.B8.BB.E8.A6.81.E3.82.AD.E3.83.A3.E3.83.A9.E3.82.AF.E3.82.BF.E3.83.BC):

> Because she has almost completely forgotten how to speak English, she has a
> complex about her last name "Coppola". When she changed schools, she hid her
> last name "Coppola" along with the fact that she couldn't speak English and
> could speak Japanese. However, she was quickly exposed by Itou and her
> friends.

So it seems like she's embarrassed because she has a foreign last name but
can't speak English.

Also, on an English blog, someone asked the same question, and [a Japanese
viewer provided their insight via
comments](http://www.darkmirage.com/2005/11/21/ichigo-mashimaro-
coppola/#comments) (comment #15, don't think there's a way to permalink it):

> Kappore was a joke show in the Japanese feudal age. Coppola has a similar
> pronunciation to Kappore (especially in japanese’sound). now almost Japanese
> don’t know the meaning of Kappore, but we feel funny when we listen the word
> like kappore.

There don't seem to be many English resources on kappore, but you can also
search on Youtube for some modern examples.

On the same blog's comments, another Japanese viewer comments (comment #17):

> The reason why koppora sounds weird to the Japanese has something to do with
> the accents of the 19th century peasants in northeastern Japan. They used to
> pronounce “kon-na koto” as “koddara godo”, “chotto” as “chokkura”, “bikkuri”
> as “beggura” and so on, which is not considered very elegant among the
> white-collar class. And, the family name Coppola doesn’t sound like British
> but reminds us of Italian immigrants, which further highlights the
> awkwardness of Ana’s phony “British Style.” That’s probably why Miu always
> mentions “koppora” whenever Ana gets a bout of British chauvinism (as in
> drama CD’s) or her facade is wearing off.

So there are three different theories for you. Seems like even the Japanese
aren't 100% why it sounds so funny.


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There's a really no deeper meaning behind the name, beside that it sounds
silly when you say it.

She is given the "nickname" 穴骨洞（あなこっほら, Anakohora, using the kanji for "hole"
and "bone cave") by Miu, partially because it suits her proper Japanese
personality (reflected by her polite and feminine use of Japanese). There's no
deeper meaning behind this aside from the irony and that it just sounds funny
when you say it in Japanese and associate it with kanji.

It's just like if there was someone named Will Power, Anita Man, or Joy Ryder
in English.


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