GLOSSARY

DAISHO: The dual swords a samurai uses, katana and wakizashi.  The katana the longer blade was mainly used for slicing as it could pierce armor while the shorter blade was used for close combat, stabbing, blocking,  and seppuku.  Both blades together tell of social status and personal honor.

BUSHIDO: Meaning, Way of the Warrior. Is a Japanese code of conduct samurai warrior were meant to follow those include: Gi-Rectitude, Yu-Courage, Jin-Benevolence, Rei-Respect, Makoto-Honesty, Meiyo-Honor, and Chungi- Loyalty.

KISSAKI – Tip of sword

MENPO – Metal mask cover all or part of the face

HANAMACHI:  A community formed by successful Ochaya and is generally made up of retired Geisha and their families, where they hoped for female children to carry on the lineage of Geisha. 

BOKKEN: A bokken is a wooden Japanese sword used for training, usually the size and shape of a normal katana.  Bokken are lethal weapons in themselves and Miyamoto Musashi was infamous for fighting fully armed foes with only one or two bokken.  – Young Samurai

KENJUTSU – The Art of the Sword

TAIJUTSU – The Art of the Body

KYUJUTSU – The Art of the Bow

DIM MAK – Death Touch

KAI – Ninja hand sign for sensing danger

NINJATO – Ninja sword

TANTO – Knife

DOKUJUTSU – Art of Poison

GOTONPO – Art of Concealment

SHINOBI SHOZOKU – Clothing of a ninja (Shinobi – stealer in)

GAIJIN – Derogatory term for outsider or foreigner

HAKAMA – Traditional Japanese trousers

HASHI – Chopsticks

INRO – Small carrying case for small objects usually attached to the obi

KAMI – Spirits within objects of the Shinto faith

SENCHA – Green Tea

NAMING EXTENSIONS

san– used informally such as someone we know more personally and formally such as Mr. or Mrs like you would adress a teacher.

sama – is used for someone of higher status

kun and chan – are normally used at the end of children’s names sometimes a boss would use it addressing an employee. 

Dono and tono – roughly mean “lord” or “master”. This title is no longer used in daily conversation, though it is still used in some types of written business correspondence.