"Zoku" in Names of Anime - 続

zoku 続 in its name. Either the zoku is at the start of the name, or zoku at the end of the name. But what does this zoku mean? And why so many anime have it?

Basically, zoku means "sequel" in Japanese. Its kanji, 続, is also tsuduku 続く, which means "to continue."

Needless to say, the anime which contain the word zoku in its title are all sequels or continuations of some sort. Since there are not that many anime and zoku in their names, I gathered a list of them and translated their titles below, for reference:

• Zoku: Atakkka YOU! - Kin Medaru e no Michi 続・アタッカーYOU! 金メダルへの道 (2008)
  Continuation: Attacker YOU! - Path to the Golden Medal
• Zoku: Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei 俗・さよなら絶望先生 (2008)
  Continuation: Goodbye Zetsubou-Sensei
  (Jokingly written with 俗 instead of 続 because of the kanji's meaning: worldliness, mundane things, as opposed to spirituality, Buddhism, etc.)
• Zoku: Natsume Yuujinchou 続 夏目友人帳 (2009)
  Continuation: Natsume's Book of Friends.
  (note the space in the title. It's also written 続・夏目友人帳)
• Mushi-shi Zoku-shou 蟲師 続章 (2014)
  Mushi-shi: Sequel Chapter
  (mushi normally means "insect," but in the past the meaning of the kanji included any lifeforms, even humans)
• Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatteiru. Zoku やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。続 (2015)
  As I thought my young romantic-comedy is wrong. Continuation.
• Wake Up, Girls! Zoku: Gekijouban 続･劇場版 (2015)
  Continuation: Movie Version. (WUG had 2 movie continuations)
• Zoku: Owarimonogatari 続・終物語 (2018)
  Continuation: Owarimonogatari.
• Zoku: Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru 続 刀剣乱舞-花丸 (2018)
  Continuation: Sword Dance: Flower Circle

This one isn't anime, but it's a live-action based on a manga.

• ALWAYS Zoku: Sanchoume no Yuuhi ALWAYS 続・三丁目の夕日 (2007)
  ALWAYS Continuation: Third Street's Evening Sun

Well, this is awkward. But it seems the first anime to use zoku in their titles were, in fact, hentai. A couple of examples:

Well, this is awkward. But it seems the first anime to usein their titles were, in fact,. A couple of examples:

• Zoku: Kuroneko Kan 続 黒猫館 (1993)
  Continuation: Black Cat Mansion
• Zoku: Gosenzo San'e 続・御先祖賛江 (2000)
  Continuation: To Your Ancetors*
• Zoku: Koihime 続・恋姫 (2001)
  Continuation: "Princess of Passion."

X yori Y-san e XよYさんへ, meaning "from X to Y-san," written with the e へ particle that's normally written with the hiragana he へ instead of e え because of ateji is used, making it become written as X yori Y san'e X与利Y賛江. This happens, for example, in banners hanging on flowers given "from X to Y" in events to commemorate Y opening a new store or publishing a new book or something. Such banners are preferably written entirely with kanji, because of formality and ateji instead of writing the particles with just kana. (see hentai just made me go around the internet trying to figure wtf that means)

Anyway, if true, I'd guess that's because around that time it was normal for normal anime to be aired on and on and on for years, so sequels weren't really necessary, and only something like adult anime which were not aired on TV would need to release "continuations." (there are more recent hentai anime with zoku in the title, the practice hasn't ceased for that genre, I just haven't bothered to list them.)

*Note: because the Japanese language absolutely fucking hates you, the phraseXよYさんへ, meaning "from X to Y-san," written with the san honorific and theへ particle that's normally written with theへ instead ofえ because of reasons , sometimes needs to written with kanji , even though it doesn't have kanji , and sois used, making it become written asX与利Y賛江. This happens, for example, in banners hanging on flowers given "from X to Y" in events to commemorate Y opening a new store or publishing a new book or something. Such banners are preferably written entirely with, because of formality and aesthetics , I guess, and so they use theinstead of writing the particles with just. (see 『秋山祐徳太子の母』出版記念展オープニングパーティー to have an idea). (By the way I can't believe the title of a two decades oldjust made me go around the internet trying to figure wtf that means)Anyway, if true, I'd guess that's because around that time it was normal for normal anime to be aired on and on and on for years, so sequels weren't really necessary, and only something like adult anime which were not aired on TV would need to release "continuations." (there are more recent hentai anime within the title, the practice hasn't ceased for that genre, I just haven't bothered to list them.)

Every now and then, you see an anime with the word続 in its name. Either theis at the start of the name, orat the end of the name. But what does thismean? And why so many anime have it?Basically,means "sequel" in Japanese. Its, 続, is also the kanji of the word 続く, which means "to continue."Needless to say, the anime which contain the wordin its title are all sequels or continuations of some sort. Since there are not that many anime and OVA within their names, I gathered a list of them and translated their titles below, for reference: