Japan Glossary

A

Awamori A popular distilled alcoholic beverage unique to Okinawa. It is typically 30% alcohol.

B

Bento A Japanese lunch box; A meal.

Bunraku Japanese traditional puppet show.

C

Cha-no-Yu The Japanese tea ceremony.

Chaya A Japanese teahouse.

Chikan Perverts.

F

Furoshiki A kerchief used by the Japanese to help carry things around; Some even practice the art of wrapping things with a furoshiki in a beautiful way.

G

Gaijin A tourist; An outsider; Someone not from Japan.

Geisha A female entertainer that is often seen accompanying men. Not to be mistaken for prostitutes, geisha utilize their talents and skills such as dancing, and playing instruments.

H

Hanami A flower-viewing festival held in parks for people to appreciate the flowers (particularly the sakura) in bloom, around March to April every year. Today, the festival is usually spent by gathering underneath the trees and having a party or picnic.

Harajuku A term that collectively refers to Japanese street fashion patronized by teenagers, being influenced by popular subcultures. Harajuku is the name of the district where these teenagers are usually seen.

Hashi The Japanese term for chopsticks used in eating.

Hashi-oki A chopstick rest, where the chopsticks are placed when unused.

Henro A pilgrim opting to visit Japan's Shinto shrines.

I

Idol / Ai-doru A media personality that is usually a member of a music group / band.

Izakaya A Japanese pub that serves sake and other food; A usual hangout place of locals after work at night.

K

Kabuki A Japanese dramatized performance; Maybe considered as the counterpart for Europe's operas.

Kami "God"; A Shinto deity; Usually divinized people representing certain things such as wealth, love, etc. Some are also believed to be guardians of towns, mountains, shrines.

Koban A small police station box usually seen around the city.

Kogal / Kogaru / Garu A youth subculture popular in Tokyo characterized by local teenage girls attempting to look like California Valley girls, complete with artificial tan, designer clothes, and dyed (usually blond) hair.

Kurishitan The Japanese pronunciation for "Christian"; it refers to Japanese Catholics that have been persecuted back in the 19th century.

M

Manga A Japanese comic book; Popular among locals, young and old.

Minshuku A Japanese bed-and-breakfast inn; Usually family-operated.

O

Okiya A house where geisha train and live.

Onsen The Japanese term for hot spring.

P

Pachinko A Japanese game machine that resembles pin ball, minus the flippers. The object of the game is to have the ball fall into the marked slot.

Purikura Short for "Pu-rinto Kurabu" (Print Club); A photobooth popular among Japanese girls where the photos can be customized and printed as small stickers.

R

Rotenburo An open-air hot spring, usually seen in rural areas, particularly in mountainous regions.

Ryokan A traditional Japanese inn.

S

Sake A highly popular Japanese beverage, which is basically rice wine; Best served hot or cold.

Sakura A term referring to either the Japanese cherry blossoming tree or the blossom itself.

Shochu Kyushu's signature alcoholic beverage, it is made of brewed barley, sweet potatoes, or rice. With its 25% alcohol content, it is stronger than sake, but weaker than whiskey or standard vodka.

Shoyu Japanese soy sauce. It tastes sweeter rather than salty, as the condiment usually is.

Sushi Probably the most popular Japanese food, it is vinegar rice topped with other ingredients such as egg, fish, or shrimp. Often dipped in wasabi and soy sauce.

W

Wanko-soba A popular eating custom in Morioka, it is the Japanese take on an eat-all-you-can feast, with soba served in small proportions as the main food. Once one bowl is finished, the server flings another bowl of soba, one after another, until the guest is full

Washi Rice paper.

Y

Yukata A traditional garment worn during festivals.

Z

Zen A stream of Buddhism which is very common in Japan.