Glossary

Arigatou gozaimasu: a polite way of saying “thank you”

Bakamono: idiot, fool

Bō-hiya: fire arrows

Gaijin: foreigner, literally meaning “outsider”

Hakama: wide pants worn over a kimono

Haori: a wide-sleeved jacket worn over a kimono

Inoshishi: a Japanese wild boar

Kamisori: a traditional type of straight razor used for shaving

Kanpai: “cheers” said before drinking

Katana: the longer sword used for fighting

Ndamoshitan: Kagoshima/Satsuma dialect meaning “oh my,” “what?” or “seriously?”

Noren: fabric curtains used as dividers, often painted with words when used in restaurants or shops

Ohayou: an informal way to say “good morning.” Adding gozaimasu makes it more polite

Oi wa omansa ga wazze sujja: Kagoshima/Satsuma dialect meaning “I like you a lot”

Oniisan/oneesan: friendly, polite terms used for a young man and young woman, respectively

Onsen: a natural hot spring

Sensei: teacher, instructor

Seppuku: ritual suicide

Shinseifu: the new government, established after the Meiji Restoration in 1868

Shōchū: an alcoholic beverage distilled from barley, rice, or sweet potatoes

Wakizashi: shorter sword used for close-range combat and for suicide

Washi: handmade decorative paper used for walls

Watashi wa anata no koto ga daisuki desu: standard Japanese meaning “I like you a lot”

Yōkai: a spirit or ghost of Japanese folklore