There used to be lots of stories about parents scolding kids for reading too many manga, but nowadays manga is recognized as a culture Japan can proudly present to the world.
And not only as a cultural product—words born from its profound stories and compelling characters can sometimes light the way in our lives.
So this time, we’re introducing memorable quotes from manga characters!
From lines that color the story to ones you might apply to real life, we’ve compiled a wide-ranging list you won’t want to miss!
At least try betting your life along with ours!!! We’re comrades, aren’t we!!!!Monkey D. Luffy
[LOB] Luffy: You're my crewmate!!!
A famous quote from One Piece.
These are the words spoken by Princess Vivi and Luffy to strengthen their bond before the final battle against Crocodile on the Alabasta continent.
In this scene, Vivi had deliberately joined Crocodile’s ranks in order to move toward liberating the continent he had seized, but after meeting Luffy, her life changed dramatically.
This is a famous quote from the final scene of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.
When Menma (Meiko Honma), who died after falling into a river, has her wish and regrets fulfilled and is about to pass on, the moment they finally say “Menma, we found you!” during one last game of hide-and-seek and she disappears in tears makes me cry no matter how many times I watch it.
You wouldn’t call practice someone else made you do “effort,” would you?Goro Shigeno “MAJOR”
What is effort?
In the manga MAJOR, Goro Shigeno has an extraordinary passion for baseball, and his sense for the game, his gifted arm strength, and athletic ability are also part of his talent.
One of his lines is, “You don’t call it effort when you’re just doing practice someone else made you do.” This quote reflects his passion for baseball, his commitment to approach it on his own terms, and his stoic mindset of not relying on a comfortable environment—pushing himself to the limit because he loves the game.
It’s a line that truly conveys his passion for baseball.
I’ll stay here, but if we meet again someday, will you call me a comrade again?!Nefeltari Vivi
[LOB] Vivi: Parting with the Straw Hat Crew
A famous quote from One Piece.
After defeating Crocodile in Alabasta, when the Marines surround them and Luffy’s crew are escaping the island, Vivi calls out to them.
As a princess, she can’t leave the country and worries whether she can still be their comrade, but by silently raising the X mark—their symbol of friendship—she sends them her resolve.
It’s a quote about how true comrades can understand each other without words.
I’ll stake my life on it, but I have no intention of throwing it away.Megumi Fushiguro
I’m willing to risk my life, but I have no intention of throwing it away.
From Aoi Todo’s words, we can see that while he is willing to risk his life for what he personally considers important, he would never throw his life away according to someone else’s values.
He is prepared to stake his life on his own convictions, but he will not die a meaningless death because someone told him to.
This line reveals Todo’s independent mindset and beliefs, showing how much he values acting straightforwardly in accordance with his own sense of values.
When you regain your steadfast self, you can become even stronger.
These are the words Muichiro Tokito remembered during the battle—words once spoken to him by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
It’s a situation where words he didn’t understand at the time now resonate with persuasive force, and through that we can see Muichiro’s growth.
The fact that he unleashed his strength the moment he became aware of the path he should follow, just as those words suggested, also shows how deeply Kagaya understands his comrades.
They’re words that convey, with clarity, the direction of growth suited to each individual, and in that sense they also reveal his qualities as a leader.
Talent is something you let bloom; sense is something you polish!!!Toru Oikawa (Haikyu!!)
Haikyuu!! is a volleyball-themed work whose appeal lies in its wide array of characters and the heat of its matches.
Among them, Aoba Johsai High’s captain, Tooru Oikawa, appears in the role of a formidable wall to overcome, and his words convey his determined approach to competition.
They clearly illustrate a captain’s mindset: how to act by drawing out his teammates’ talents, honing their instincts, and linking it all to victory.
Because these lines belong to Oikawa, who is portrayed as a hard worker, you can truly feel the strength of his conviction.
