A GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Archipelago- a group of islands scattered in a sea.  Japan is an archipelago made up of more than 6,800 islands.

Bakufu-  the military government of feudal Japan.  Also known as a shogunate.

Buddhism- A religion founded in India by Gautama the Buddha.  It later spread to China, Burma, Japan, and other part of southeast Asia. It holds that life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the way to end this suffering is through enlightenment that allows one to halt the endless cycle of births and deaths.

Daibutsu- Cast in 1252, the colossal Daibutsu  (Great Buddha)  is 37 feet high.  The Giant Buddha can be found in Kamakura.

Daimyo- A Japanese feudal lord who were the vassals first under the Emperor and then to the shogun. The Daimyo were great feudal landholders of Japan starting in the 8th century. By the 12th century, some daimyo had become more powerful than the emperor himself.  One, Yoritomo became the first shogun  and established a centralized feudal system.

Diet- The Japanese National Legislature.  It is made up of two houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.  Most national laws must be passed by both houses.

Emperor:  A monarch who rules an empire.
The Emperor (seated to the left) is the symbol of the State.  He has no powers related to government.  The Japanese imperial Family is the oldest unbroken dynasty in the world.  Emperor Akiihito became emperor in 1989.

Futon-  A folding mattress.  In many traditional Japanese homes futons are used to sleep on.  In the day they are stored away in closets.  As Japanese homes are small, futons are used to conserve space.

Fuji- The highest point in Japan- 12,388 ft high. 

Haiku-  An unrhymed Japanese poem generally written in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables.  Haiku's  generally have to do with with a subject that links nature to human nature.

Hashi- Chopsticks.  The Japanese use chopsticks for eating almost everything.

Hakama- worn by men on formal occasions.  The hakama is a wide-legged trousers.

Haori-  also worn on formal occasions with the hakama. The haori  is a loose jacket

Ikebana-  Japanese flower arrangement that dates from the 15th century.  The arrangements follow strict rules for representing heaven, earth, and people.

Judo-  Judo developed from the principles of jujitsu, a weaponless system of self-defense. which was developed by Buddhist monks over a period of 2,000 years.  Jigoro Kano, a Japanese jujitsu expert, created judo in 1882.  By dropping some of the more dangerous moves, he created a sport which depends for success  upon the skill of using an opponent's  own weight and strength against him.

Juku-Cram schools.  Because entrance exams into high school and colleges are so difficult, many students attend special schools (called jukus) in the evenings or on weekends.

Kabuki-  A Japanese drama developed in the 17th century characterized by elaborate costumes, rhythmic dialogue, stylized acting, music, and dancing.  Males play both the male and female roles. Kabuki has a lot of action.

Kanji-  Chinese characters that are used in Japanese.  They are used to express whole words and ideas.  There are over 2,000 Kanji in general use.

Karate-  is a sport based on a method developed in Japan of defending oneself without the use of weapons by striking sensitive areas on the attacker's body with hands, elbows, knees, or feet.

Kendo- A Japanese form of fencing using bamboo staves, with the contestants wearing head guards and protective garments.

Kimono-  A kimono is a traditional style of Japanese garment.  The style of the kimono worn depends on the wearer's age and the season or occasion.  Men wear kimono similar in cut to those worn by women but they are usually made of solid dark colors.

LDP-  Liberal Democratic Party.  A conservative political party in Japan that favors close ties with the United States.  It has consistently held office from the 1950's to 1993  when it lost the election.  Today the LDP has a majority in the Diet.

Noh-  A type of Japanese theater that was developed in the 14h century. Actors wear masks,  wear costumes, and chant their lines.

Obi-  A wide sash worn around a kimono.

Origami-  Folding squares of colored paper into different shapes.

Prefecture-  A governmental unit in Japan that is similar to a state in the United States.

Ramen-  Noodles made of wheat four.  Generally served in broth.

Samurai-  A member of the hereditary warrior class in feudal Japan.

Sensei- An instructor or teacher.

Shinto-  The native religion of Japan based on a system of nature and ancestor worship.

 A Shinto wedding.  The  bride wears a white head covering..

Shogun-  A title given  to the chief military commander between the 8th and 12th centuries CE.  After the 12th century, the term applied to the hereditary official who governed Japan with the emperor in only a titular role.  This lasted until 1868.  Areas ruled by a shogun are called a shogunate.

Sumo-  A traditional Japanese sport that is very popular in Japan.  Sumo wrestling has two very large wrestlers, wearing only belted loincloths, try  to throw each other down or push each other out of a straw ring.

Sashimi-  raw fish in thin slices served with soy sauce and horseradish seasoning

Sukiyaki-  A skillet dish of sliced meat and vegetables cooked in  sweetened soy sauce.

Sushi-  raw fish in  thin slices  on top of small blocks of rice cooked with rice wine, vinegar and sugar.

Tea Ceremony- The tea ceremony in Japan dates back  almost 800 years when Buddhist monks used tea to help them concentrate during meditation.  The host prepares and serves tea and food to guest following precise rules designed to keep the ceremony simple, attractive, and free from wasted movement.

Tempura-  A combination of various vegetables and fish deep-fried in a flour batter.

Torii- A torii is a structure that separates secular  from religious space. It takes the form of a decorative gateway or portal, consisting  of  two upright wooden posts connected at the top by two horizontal crosspieces.  It is general found at the entrance to Shinto temples.

Tsunami- ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.

Typhoon-    A tropical cyclone or hurricane off the western Pacific areas and the China seas.

Yukata-a light cotton kimono.  There are two occasions when the Yukata is most often worn.  Young girls and some women like to wear the Yukata at summer festivals. Yukatas are also offered at Japanese hotels although few people sleep in them.

Yen- The Japanese unit of currency.

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