Several people have brought this to my attention, asking if it’s a reference to this site, so I figure I should provide a response…

The phrase “Hop Step Jump” is in fact part of the Japanese lexicon, popping up on occasion in Japanese pop culture, business culture, and, of course, otaku culture. The term was originally used to describe the Triple Jump athletic event, which has been a part of the Olympic Games since they first began.

Now, you’re probably asking, how did this term come to be popular in Japan? Honestly, I haven’t a clue. My guess is that the triple jump event grew to be popular at some point in the past and the catchy name caught on with people. You’ve probably seen enough anime episodes dealing with high school athletic festivals to know that they often feature events particular to Japan. Perhaps the triple jump was an important part of this line-up at some point.

Also, several Japanese nationals were Olympic medal winners in the event in the years immediately prior to the Pacific War. Of course, this was a period in which Japanese nationalism was running amok, so perhaps there was some sort of movement within Japan to train athletes to be competitive in traditionally Western events. Obviously, this would be a question for a historian, which I am not.

If you turn back to the present day, however, it’s worth noting that Shonen Jump magazine bestows an award upon promising manga artists each month, titled the “Hop Step Award”. Several well-known mangaka made it big only after winning this award, and given that the blackboard gags in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei are the work of the original manga artist’s assistant, Maeda-kun, I’m guessing that might be the source of the reference in question. Or, he just thought, “Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if I replaced the ?? with a ??” Classy, eh?