*Names
Japanese read their surnames before the given names. They normally address one another by their surnames if they are not very close aquaintences yet. Sometimes honorific terms are used (eg. -san, -sama, -sensei).

-chan
A term a friend adds behind another's name given that the person being called is a young child or a girl. Sometimes used on males by their friends provided that they have known one another for a very long time, very close friends or just teasing.

-kun
A term a friend adds behind another's name given that the person being called is a male. Sometimes used on girls if they are tomboys.

-sempai
Senior, upperclassman.

-sensei
Honorific term for teachers. Can also be used for people of special occupations such as doctors.

Bunke
In Japan, it is a branch family of the line descended through the eldest male of the main family. (See Honke)

Dojo
Indoor gathering space for students of specific Japanese martial arts to conduct related activities.

Eki-ben
Takeout meals in lunchboxes that are sold at train stations.

Futon
Japanese mattress. Can be used on a bed or simply by itself.

Hokkaido
The second largest and northern-most island of the four main islands that make up Japan. Has a colder winter climate compared to the rest of Japan throughout the year.

Honke
A Japanese family title held by the eldest son of the main descended family line. The honke is keeper of the koseki, owns most of the family properties and has more power than the bunke.

Joya no Kane
Midnight tolling of the temple bells. These bells are tolled at the stroke of midnight that brings the new year. The one of the largest bells in the world is in the Chion-in Temple in Kyoto. The Joya-no-Kane is tolled 108 times to signify man's 108 sins and earthly desires and the tolling of the bell relieves man of them for the new year.

Kami-sama
God. The "-sama" is a honorific for high statuses eg. royalty, elderly members of a family, higher beings.

Katana
A curved, single-edged type of Japanese longsword, traditionally used by the samurai class.
*It is not to be used as a general name for all Japanese swords*.

Kendo
Japanese swordsmanship.

Kimono
Japan's traditional garments, still worn by men, women and children to this day. The robes are straight-lined, T-shaped and full-lengthed, to the ankle. The sleeves are full-length and commonly very wide at the wrist.

Koseki
A family registry. It is a detailed family tree, compiled with information of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and criminal convictions. Traditionally held by the eldest male descendant of the lineage (ie. honke). It is now usually held in strict privacy by the government and only family members listed on it can have access to it, other than the police and lawyers in cases of legal proceedings.

Kyoto
It is a city in the central part of Japan's main island, Honshu, and used to be the imperial capital of Japan.

Kyudo
Japanese archery.

Manga
Japanese comics.

Mochi
Japanese rice cake.

Obento
Lunchbox meals.

Ohayou
Good morning.

Okasan
Mother.

Onee-san
What younger children use to call their elder sisters. Can be used to call anyone older than themselves. Interchangeable with "Onee-chan", but is more formal than the latter.

Onigiri
It is a snack made of Japanese rice formed into triangle or oval shapes and wrapped in edible seaweed. Traditionally, the onigiri is filled with pickled plum, salted salmon, or any other salty or sour ingredient.

Onii-san
What younger children use to call their elder brothers. Can be used to call anyone older than themselves. Interchangeable with "Onii-chan", but is more formal than the latter.

Sakura
The Japanese term of ornamental cherry blossom trees.

Senbei
Japanese rice crackers.

Shimogamo
A high class Japanese restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine.

Tetsugaku no Michi
The Philosopher's Walk. It is a cherry blossom-tree lined 2 kilometres path located in Kyoto, Japan. It derives its name from the Japanese philosopher, Kitaro Nishida, who used to meditate by walking along the path.

Tokyo
The capital of Japan.

Toshikoshi-soba
Buckwheat noodles that the Japanese eat on New Year's Eve. It is a tradition with reference to "crossing over from one year to the next".

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