Below is a list of terms used in the story that western readers may not be familiar with. Commonplace words (such as ‘samurai’) have been excluded. Updated: Dec 24, 2014 (Book II Part 13)
Yokai
Yokai – Term used for a variety of Japanese spirits/demons, sometimes spelled ‘youkai’
Jorogumo – Spider yokai often appearing as a beautiful woman, eats humans
Kappa – Tricky water spirits, known for drowning humans and their love of cucumbers
Kasa-obake – Old umbrellas that have come to life after 100 years
Kitsune – Fox capable of shapeshifting, portrayed as both michevious and beneficial
Moryo – Child-sized yokai known for eating corpses
Mujina – Badgers, known for appearing as a human without a face
Nekomata – Supernatural cat with a forked tail, said to have once been a normal housecat
Nurikabe – Spirit that appears as a wall, often misdirecting humans by changing shape
Oni – Large, similar in appearance to a demon or ogre — they have horns and their skin can come in many different colors (usually red or blue)
Rokurokubi – Yokai nearly identical to humans with necks capable to stretching to great lengths
Shisa – Lion-dogs, used as guardian symbols in Okinawa
Tanuki – Raccoon-dogs with exemplary shapeshifting skills — they often enjoy causing trouble
Tengu (Karasu) – Humanoids with crow/raven features, known for living in mountains and their skill with swords / Note: Tengu with a red face and long nose are ‘Dai (great) Tengu [大天狗],’ which are different from ‘Karasu Tengu [烏天狗].’ Even so, they are commonly portrayed together.
Fictional Place Names
Furubashi – (古橋) Old bridge
Kurohane – (黒羽) Black wing
Senba – (千羽) Thousand feathers
Urameshiya – (裏飯屋) Phrase used by ghosts to express resentment, kanji can mean ‘back food shop’
Japanese Terms
Anko – A sweet paste made from red beans
Bikuni – Japanese spelling of bhikkhuni, a term for a female monk
Biwa – Short-necked lute with four or five strings
Daimyo – Powerful feudal lord, ruled over large amounts of land
Dorayaki – Red bean pancake
Fugu – Puffer fish/Blowfish
Geta – Elevated wooden sandals
Gyokuro – Valuable form of green tea grown in the shade
Hakama – Long, pleated pants/skirt
Haori – Lightweight jacket with long sleeves
Jan ken pon – Rock paper scissors (janken translating to ‘two fists’)
Jinkoh – Incense used in religious ceremonies
Kagura – Traditional Shinto dance
Kampo – Japanese traditional medicine adapted from China, uses herbs and acupuncture
Kanpai – Cheers!
Karasu – Crow/Raven
Manju – Dumpling-sized sweets with red bean filling
Miko – Shinto shrine maiden
Mochi – Rice cake
Mon – Copper coin of low value (roughly 10 cents)
Nabe – Hot pot prepared with various ingredients (meats/vegetables), often eaten in winter
Naginata – Long pole-arm with a wooden handle and a blade on one end
Obi -Sash/belt used for kimono and yukata
Ryo – Gold coin of high value (roughly $500)
Ryokan – Traditional inn
Sasumata – Spear with a forked end, used by feudal police to capture criminals
Sekihan – Rice made red by boiling with azuki (red bean)
Sencha – Common form of green tea
Shaku – Unit of measurement (roughly 1 foot/30 cm)
Shakujo – Staff with metal rings at the head, used by monks for ceremonies and travel
Shamisen – Three-stringed musical instrument
Shogi – Traditional game similar to western chess
Sika – Spotted Asian deer
Soba – Noodles made from buckwheat, served hot or cold
Sugegasa – Conical straw hat worn by travelers and farmers
Tamagozake – Cold remedy made of raw egg, sugar, and sake
Tanto – Dagger, sometimes carried by samurai in combination with a katana
Tasuki – Cord used to tie up sleeves while working
Tatami – Floor mats made of straw
Torii – Red gates marking the entrance to a sacred place
Wakizashi – A short sword, sometimes carried by samurai in combination with a katana
Yukata – Casual cotton robe worn by men and women, usually in warmer months
Zazen – Act of sitting in meditation
Zendo – Temple hall used for meditation
Plants
Azuki – Red beans
Ashitaba – Leafy perennial used in folk medicine
Mikan – Small citrus fruit, similar to a tangerine
Daikon – Large white radish, can grow over 1 foot long
Hatomugi – Commonly known as Job’s Tears, grains are used for food and medicine
Hinoki – Japanese cypress tree
Kabocha – Green, pumpkin-shaped winter squash
Kuri – Japanese chestnut
Kuzu – Fast growing vine, also known as kudzu
Momo – Peach
Natsume – Fruit commonly known as jujube, or red date
Ogi – Commonly known as astragalus
Shiso – Pointed leaf with a sharp minty taste
Sugi – Japanese cedar tree
Taro – Root vegetable, toxic when raw
Wakame – Seaweed used in cooking
Zenmai – Fern with edible fronds