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KATSU
蛞
Naruto · Shinobi · Kanji file 053
Namekuji — Slug 蛞蝓
Pronounced na·me·ku·ji
蛞蝓 is read namekuji — the slug. In the Edo-period tale Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari, Tsunade — Jiraiya's wife — wields slug arts, and her master is the Slug Sage, Katsuyu Sennin (蛞蝓仙人). In Naruto, Tsunade summons the slug Katsuyu. And the three-way standoff: the snake beats the frog, the frog beats the slug, and the slug beats the snake — the circle that binds the three.
From Edo-period fictionEven Japanese can't write this
📖 Databook: Tō no Sho, p. 68 · Jin no Sho, p. 79
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Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database.
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YU
蝓
slug · snail
What's next
Which term should we write next?
We write in order of demand. Every name and jutsu in the official databooks is listed in our Master Index — find the one you want, and tell us via the Contact page.
Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 蛞蝓?
27 in total: 蛞 is 12, 蝓 is 15.
How do you pronounce Namekuji?
Say it na·me·ku·ji (蛞蝓). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
What characters make up Namekuji — Slug?
蛞蝓 — 蛞, then 蝓. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 蛞 kind of slug; 蝓 slug · snail.
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.