adzuki - A bushy leguminous plant, Vigna Angularis, cultivated in China, Japan, and the Himalaya for its small, edible bean. Also spelled azuki.

aikido - A Japanese martial art and form of self-defense that has been developed from ju-jitsu. It uses holds and throws, utilizing wrist, joint and elbow grips, to throw or immobilize one's opponent.

ama - One of the diving girls of Japan. A Japanese woman who dives for oysters and edible seaweed.

awabi - A Japanese abalone.

banzai - A Japanese patriotic shout or cheer, particularly addressed to the emperor. Also, a shout used by Japanese combat troops when advancing or attacking.

basho - A sumo wrestling tournament. A sanctioned competition consists of seven or fifteen bouts held during a period of two weeks.

bonsai - The Japanese art or practice of cultivating artificially dwarfed plants or small trees by use of pots and by methods, such as pruning their roots and pinching and wiring their shoots and branches to a desired shape. Also, any plant or tree cultivated by this method.

bunraku - Traditional Japanese puppet theatre. Bunraku began in Osaka in 1684. It has since been overshadowed by kabuki.

bushido - In feudal Japan, the samurai code of honour and morals. Bushido emphasizes strict loyalty and obedience. Honor is valued above life.

butoh - A contemporary Japanese dance movement influenced by Western dance. It is sometimes spelled buto.

daimyo - In Japanese history, any one of the great feudal land-owning nobles, who were vassals of the shogun.

dan - A black belt rank. Any of the grades in the advanced level of proficiency in judo, karate, etc. Also, a person who holds a black belt.

dojo - The literal meaning of the word is "place of the way" or "place of the enlightenment." A dojo is a practice hall for martial arts. An area of padded mats where martial arts are practiced.

dotaku - Prehistoric, Japanese, bell-shaped, bronze objects that are usually decorated with geometric or figurative designs. The use of these objects is unknown.

fugu - Any of several species of puffer fish, which is considered to be a delicacy, especially in Japan, after removing the skin and certain organs that are poisonous.

futon - In Japan, a traditional mattress rolled out over a mat on the floor for sleeping. Also, a low-slung Japanese bed, which can be easily folded for sitting.

gagaku - A traditional type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial court for several centuries.

gaijin - In Japan, a foreigner.

go - A Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture played by two persons. The board has 361 intersections on which black and white stones or counters are placed alternately. The object is to capture the opponent's stones and control as much of the board as possible.

gobang - A simplified form of the game of GO. Players alternate and each attempts to place five counters in a row.

habutai - A fine, soft silk of a type that originated in Japan and is used to manufacture garments.

haiku - A short Japanese poem that is written in three parts and usually has seventeen syllables.

hakama - Wide, loose, ankle-length, Japanese trousers that have a long fold in the back and five in the front. It is made of cotton or synthetic fabrics and is usually navy blue or black in color. It is worn by practitioners of the Japanese martial arts.

hara-kiri - Ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword or large dagger in traditional Japanese society. It was formerly practiced by members of the samurai class when disgraced or sentenced to death.

hibachi - A small, portable, Japanese charcoal stove that is similar to a barbecue.

hibakusha - A survivor of the explosions of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs in 1945.

hiragana - The more widely used of the two cursive Kana scripts used for the Japanese syllabary. It consists of 46 phonetic characters, each of which represents a specific sound or combination of sounds.

honcho - Boss. The leader of a squad or small group. Someone who is in a position of power over others.

ikebana - The Japanese art of flower arrangement according to strict rules and particularly suitable for interior decoration in the home.

inro - A small, flat, beautifully decorated box that was suspended from the wide sash worn with the kimona and used to carry ointments, drugs, etc.

ippon - A score of one full point in judo or karate, etc. It is awarded for any of various reasons, including pinning an opponent on his back for 25 seconds or a submission due to a choke hold, etc.

janken - A children's game in which one uses the hands to represent stone, paper or scissors.

jinrickisha - A rickshaw. A small, two-wheeled, human-powered vehicle that has room for one passenger and is pulled by one man.

judo - A refined form of ju-jitsu in which dangerous throws and blows are banned and the athletic or sport element is emphasized.

ju-jitsu - A Japanese system of unarmed combat in which an opponent's strength and weight is used to disable him or her. It is also practiced today for physical training.

juku - A cramming school in Japan. A specialized school that trains students to accomplish specific goals, such as entrance exams for high schools, colleges, and universities.

kabuki - Of, or pertaining to, the traditional and popular form of Japanese drama that is characterized by elaborate costuming, rhythmic dialogue, highly stylized acting, song, mime, and dance, and with male actors performing both the male and female roles. It developed chiefly during the 17th century.

kagura - A form of traditional music and dance that approaches pantomime and which is performed at Shinto festivals.

kaizen - The Japanese process of continuous improvement of working practices and personnel efficiency with the help of problem-solving and analytical techniques.

kakemono - A Japanese vertical scroll painting, usually painted or inscribed on silk or paper, for use as a wall decoration.

kanji - Any of the Chinese-derived writing characters used in the Japanese writing system.

kami - A Shinto god or deity that resides in the trees, rocks or other natural phenomena.

kamikaze - A member of the Japanese air force who was assigned the suicidal mission of crashing an aircraft laden with explosives into n enemy target, such as an enemy ship during WWII. Alternatively, an airplane used for this purpose. Also, anything pertaining to a Kamikaze or the characteristics of a kamikaze.

kana - The Japanese syllabic script that consists of 73 symbols and has two written varieties.

karaoke - Literally "empty orchestra." A form of entertainment in which one sings along in public to the music track of one or more popular songs.

karate - A Japanese system of unarmed combat in which the hands, elbows, knees, and feet are used to strike the attacker's sensitive areas.

karoshi - Death from overwork.

kendo - A sport of fencing that uses two-handed bamboo staves, head guards, and protective garments.

kimono - A long, loose, wide-sleeved Japanese robe that is secured by a wide sash that is tied at the waist. .

kombu - A brown seaweed if the genus Laminaria, used in Japanese cooking, especially as a base for stock.

koro - An elaborate Japanese incense burner, usually of bronze, jade, or porcelain.

koto - A long Japanese zither that now usually has thirteen silk strings that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are picked with a plectrum.

kuzushi - The art of throwing an opponent off balance.

kyogen - A short satirical play that provides a comic interlude between performances of Noh plays.

kyu - Anyone who has reached a rank that is below that of black belt in judo, karate, and other martial arts. Also, any of the less advanced levels of proficiency in the martial arts.

mama-san - In Japan and the Far East, a woman who has a supervisory position in certain sex-related establishments and, specifically, one who is charge of a geisha-house. Also, the mistress of a bar.

manga - A Japanese comic strip or comic book.

miso - A thick fermented soy bean paste used for soups and as a flavoring agent. Miso is made from fermented soybeans, rice, barley and salt.

mochi - A rice cake or dumpling made from glutinous rice, steamed and pounded.

mondo - A Zen master's question, the immediate and spontaneous answer to which is often illuminating.

ninja - A feudal group of warriors, who have been trained in martial arts, expert in ninjutsu, and associated with stealth, spying, and assassination.

ninjutsu - The traditional Japanese techniques of espionage that were developed during feudal times.

nisei - An American who was born and educated in the United States, but whose parents were immigrants from Japan.

noh - The masked, highly stylized, traditional Japanese theatre of the pre-Edo period that developed during the 14th century.

nori - Thin, edible sheets of seaweed of the genus Porphyra, eaten dried and toasted.

nunchaku - A well-known weapon in Japanese martial arts that consists of two hardwood sticks that are connected by a strap, cord, or chain.

obi - A long broad sash that is worn around, and tied at, the waist over a Japanese kimono.

ojime - A moveable bead, often elaborate, that is used as a sliding fastener on the strings of a bag or pouch.

onnagata - A male actor who plays female roles In Japanese kubuki theatre. Also called oyama.

pachinko - A variety of pinball game that is popular in Japan.

raku - Lead-glazed Japanese pottery that is often used as tea bowls.

ramen - Chinese style of quick-cooking, noodles made from wheat flour and usually served in a broth with meat and vegetables.

ronin - The original meaning was a lordless wandering samurai, a samurai who has lost his master or was dismissed. Today, the word denotes a person who has failed his entrance exams, or who has been turned down by the company of his choice, and is being given another chance.

sake - An alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.

samisen - A guitar-like, long-necked, three-stringed Japanese lute that has an extremely long neck and is played with a pick.

samurai - A member of the hereditary military caste in feudal Japan, particularly a member of the class of military retainers of the daimyos. Today, it more commonly is used in reference to a Japanese army officer.

san - In Japan, a polite suffix attached to Japanese names. It is the equivalent of Mr., Mrs., or Miss in English.

sansei - An American whose grandparents were immigrants from Japan.

sashimi - A Japanese dish of very thin slices of raw fish, often served with soy sauce and grated horseradish.

satori - In Zen Buddhism, a sudden enlightenment.

sayonara - The Japanese word for farewell or goodbye.

seiza - Correct sitting. Sitting on one's knees, the traditional, formal way of sitting in Japan. This is used in meditation and in preparation for martial arts.

sensei - Teacher. The term by which one addresses a teacher or instructor in Japan, rather than by his or her regular name.

seppuku - Hara-kiri. Ritual suicide by disembowelment.

shakudo - An alloy of copper and gold, typically 97 percent copper and 3 percent gold, used particularly for Japanese sword mounts.

shakuhachi - A Japanese flute that is made of bamboo and has four finger holes and one thumb hole.

shiatsu - A kind of Japanese acupuncture that use no needles. Pressure is applied by the thumbs and palms to specific points on the body.

shogi - A Japanese board game that resembles chess. The board has 81 squares and each player has 20 pieces.

shogun - Any of the succession of hereditary military rulers of Japan who held power from the Kamakura period through the Edo period.

shoyu - Soy sauce. A sauce that is made from fermented soy beans, wheat and salt.

shuriken - The ninja throwing star. A star-shaped weapon that has projecting blades or points and is used in some martial arts.

sogo shosha - A very large Japanese trading company that sells a wide range of goods and services internationally.

sukiyaki - A Japanese dish that consists of thin slices of beef, chicken, or pork that is cooked in a shallow pan with vegetables and tofu in soy sauce, sugar, and stock.

sumo - A form of heavyweight wrestling in Japan in which a contestant wins by forcing his opponent out of the circle or causing him to touch the ground with any part of the body, except his feet. Also termed a sumo wrestler.

sumotori - A sumo wrestler.

sushi - A Japanese dish that consists of rolls of cold, cooked rice flavored with a seasoned vinegar and garnished with a variety of raw seafood and vegetables.

tabi - A thick-soled, split-toe, Japanese ankle sock worn with thong sandals.

taiko - Literally "big drum." Any drum used in classical Japanese music. .

tamari - A type of soy sauce used in Japanese food, It is wheat-free, darker in appearance, and thicker than regular soy sauce. It is closest to the original soy sauce introduced to Japan from China.

tanka - A Japanese poem that consists of thirty-one syllables in five lines, the first and third lines each contain five syllables, whereas each of the remaining three lines contains seven syllables. A tanka is also called a ura.

tempura - In Japanese cookery, a dish consisting of seafood or vegetables that have been dipped in batter and deep-fried.

teriyaki - In Japanese cookery, a dish that consists of fish or meat that has been marinated in sweetened soy sauce and then grilled.

tofu - A soft, bland, white, cheese-like food made from curdled soybean milk. Tofu is high in protein. Although used originally in Oriental cookery, it is used today in a variety of soups and main dishes.

torii - A decorative gallery or portal used as a gateway to a Japanese Shinto temple. A torii has two upright wooden posts that are connected at the top by two horizontal crosspieces.

tsugi ashí - A manner of walking in which the same foot always leads. The second foot never passes the first.

tsukemono - A variety of Japanese pickles, usually vegetables, which are typically served with rice.

tsunami - An unusually high sea wave that travels very quickly and often builds up sufficiently in height in shallow water to flood the land. A tsunami is produced by an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, or other similar disturbance. .

tycoon - A title given by foreigners to the shogun of Japan who was in power between 1865 and 1868. Also, a businessman of great wealth and power.

uchiwa - A flat, round, Japanese fan. The large, flat surface of this bamboo and paper fan.

udon - In Japanese, thick wheat noodles that are used in soups and stews. A thick strip of wheat flour pasta.

ukemi - The art of falling safely. The martial arts technique of falling and recovering with minimal impact.

ukiyo-e - Literally "pictures of the floating world." Colorful woodblock prints or paintings of everyday subjects.

wakame -A curly, green, edible Japanese seaweed that is used in the preparation of soups, salads, and vegetable dishes.

wasabi - A traditional condiment that comes from the greenish root of the plant, Eutrema wasabi. It is used in Japanese cookery as an accompaniment to raw fish. Japanese, green, horse radish powder.

washi - Traditional Japanese handmade paper of the type used to make lantern shades, kites, etc.

yakitori - A Japanese dish consisting of pieces of chicken that are marinated in teriyaki sauce and then grilled on a skewer.

yakuza - Professional Japanese criminal gangs that are akin to the mafia. Also, a Japanese gangster.

yukata - A light cotton kimono. Worn as a bath gown, morning gown, nightgown, housecoat, or without underwear as a cool summer dress.

zabuton - A flat floor cushion for use in sitting or kneeling.

zaibatsu - The great banking or industrial cartels or conglomerates of Japan. Also, the members of such a Japanese cartel or conglomerate.

zazen - Meditation in the prescribed cross-legged posture.

Zen - A school of Mahayna Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and personal awareness. It was introduced to China during the 6th century A.D. and to Japan during the 12th century.

Zendo - The room in a Zen monastery for meditation and study.