This unique manga about tax-collecting civil servants, who collect taxes from distressed delinquent taxpayers, offers readers the opportunity to learn solid honorific expressions.
ゼイチョー！ ～納税課第三収納係～
In this blog, we present manga that are not only highly captivating but also ideal for Japanese language learners. Studying Japanese through manga is both fun and effective. Manga allows you to understand the subtleties of keigo (honorifics), teineigo (polite speech), and casual conversation in Japanese.
Today's featured manga
Story overview
Hanako Doumeki, who works in the Tax Payment Division at the Kouno City Hall, is a new employee known for her unpredictable behavior despite her cool appearance. She often does things like stabbing her pen into the desk in front of customers. Paired with the laid-back and flashy civil servant, Soichiro Aiba, they confront delinquent taxpayers with honesty every day!
Why this manga is suitable for learning Japanese
The unique tax collection manga, featuring a protagonist who works in the tax payment division at the city hall and sincerely faces people struggling with tax delinquencies for various reasons, is suitable for Japanese language learners for the following reasons.
The dialogue includes many examples of proper honorific language
The main character, Hanako, works in the tax payment division at the city hall and uses very proper honorific language when dealing with citizens, who are her clients. In the realistic situations where she asks citizens to pay their overdue taxes, readers can learn solid and impeccable examples of honorific language in conversations.
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Zeicho! - Nouzeika Daisan Shuunoukakari / Yui Shin / KODANSHA
You can learn detailed information about Japan's tax system
This work is a very rare type of manga set in the tax payment division of a city hall, with taxes as its main theme. As readers progress through the story, they will gain detailed knowledge about Japan's tax system, a topic even many Japanese people are not very familiar with.
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Zeicho! - Nouzeika Daisan Shuunoukakari / Yui Shin / KODANSHA
Some points to note
It’s not office honorific language but service industry honorific language
The honorific expressions used in the work are not the typical business honorifics used in offices, but rather the type used by service industry professionals when dealing politely with customers. Please be aware that using these expressions with colleagues or superiors may come across as too formal.
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Zeicho! - Nouzeika Daisan Shuunoukakari / Yui Shin / KODANSHA
It contains a lot of information and difficult content
Since taxes are the main theme, the work frequently includes specialized explanations. With a lot of information and high difficulty, it is quite a challenging read.
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Zeicho! - Nouzeika Daisan Shuunoukakari / Yui Shin / KODANSHA
Data
* Title : Zeicho! - Nouzeika Daisan Shuunoukakari (ゼイチョー！ ～納税課第三収納係～)
* Author : Yui Shin
* Publisher :KODANSHA
* Latest volume : Vol.5
（Feb.2024 / Completed）
* Text volume : plentiful
* Challenge level : ★★★
Tips for procuring works
Why BOOK☆WALKER is the go-to for enjoying manga in Japanese - Oshikuda
In this article, you'll find insights on how to get your hands on your favorite Japanese manga titles...
