Frequently Asked (822) | Japan Culture Navi

ArtsEssential geisha and maiko芸者と舞妓professional entertainers trained in dance, music and hosting

ArtsEssential nihon teien日本庭園the traditional garden

ArtsEssential haiku俳句the seventeen-syllable poem

ArtsEssential ukiyo-e浮世絵woodblock prints

ArtsEssential bonsai盆栽trees grown in trays

ArtsEssential wadaiko和太鼓Japanese drums and the ensembles that play them

BuddhismEssential ohakamairiお墓参りvisiting the family grave

BuddhismEssential gojunoto五重塔the five-storied pagoda

BuddhismEssential gassho合掌putting the hands together

BuddhismEssential Zen禅a school of Buddhism built on seated meditation

BuddhismEssential daibutsu大仏the great Buddha statues

BuddhismEssential nihon no bukkyo日本の仏教how Buddhism arrived, changed, and ended up handling funerals

BuddhismEssential butsuzo no miwakekata仏像の見分け方the four ranks of Buddhist image and how to read them

Martial ArtsEssential puro yakyuプロ野球Japanese professional baseball

Martial ArtsEssential mawashiまわしthe thick belt a sumo wrestler wraps around the body and grips during a bout

Martial ArtsEssential rajio taisoラジオ体操the national radio exercise routine

Martial ArtsEssential kiai気合the shout that focuses breath and energy into a technique

Martial ArtsEssential kata型a prearranged sequence of moves practiced alone or against an imagined opponent

Martial ArtsEssential gyoji行司the referee who judges a sumo bout

Martial ArtsEssential sumo相撲Japanese wrestling with Shinto roots, often called the national sport

Martial ArtsEssential sumo no shiomaki相撲の塩まきthe handful of salt a sumo wrestler throws onto the ring before a bout

Martial ArtsEssential dojo道場a training hall

Martial ArtsEssential dogi道着the uniform worn for judo, karate, kendo, and other martial arts

ClothingEssential hankachiハンカチa small cloth or towel that people carry to dry their hands

ClothingEssential tenugui手ぬぐいa thin cotton cloth

ClothingEssential kimono着物the traditional Japanese garment

ClothingEssential migimae着物の右前wearing a kimono with the left side over the right

ClothingEssential kimono rentaru着物レンタルrenting a kimono instead of owning one

ClothingEssential hachimaki鉢巻a cloth headband tied around the head to show focus and team spirit

ClothingEssential furoshiki風呂敷a wrapping cloth

ClothingEssential yukata浴衣a light cotton kimono for summer

ConceptsEssential okagesama deおかげさまでthanks to you and to unseen help

ConceptsEssential omotenashiおもてなしJapanese hospitality

ConceptsEssential otagaisamaお互いさまwe all need help sometimes, so no debt is owed

ConceptsEssential ojama shimasuお邪魔しますwhat you say when entering someone's home

ConceptsEssential otentosama ga miteiruお天道様が見ているthe sun is watching you

ConceptsEssential ganbatteがんばってthe encouragement that is not quite good luck

ConceptsEssential jankenじゃんけんrock-paper-scissors, used by adults to decide almost anything

ConceptsEssential tadaima and okaeriただいま・おかえりthe greeting exchanged when someone comes home

ConceptsEssential mottainaiもったいないwhat a waste

ConceptsEssential yoroshiku onegaishimasuよろしくお願いしますthe phrase with no English equivalent

ConceptsEssential aisatsu挨拶greetings as a social duty

ConceptsEssential isshokenmei一生懸命with everything you have

ConceptsEssential kanji hiragana katakana漢字・ひらがな・カタカナwhy Japanese is written with three writing systems at once

ConceptsEssential kansai-ben関西弁the dialect spoken around Osaka and Kyoto

ConceptsEssential go ni itte wa go ni shitagae郷に入っては郷に従えwhen in a place, follow its ways

ConceptsEssential omoiyari思いやりimagining how the other person feels

ConceptsEssential nanakorobi yaoki七転び八起きfall seven times, get up eight

ConceptsEssential deru kui wa utareru出る杭は打たれるthe stake that sticks out gets hammered down

ConceptsEssential josushi助数詞the counters Japanese puts after a number

ConceptsEssential ishi no ue nimo sannen石の上にも三年three years sitting on a stone

ConceptsEssential senpai and kohai先輩・後輩seniors and juniors

ConceptsEssential bachi ga ataru罰が当たるdivine or karmic punishment for wrongdoing

ConceptsEssential meiwaku wo kakenai迷惑をかけないnot causing trouble for others

ConceptsEssential wasei-eigo和製英語English-looking words made in Japan

CraftsEssential kintsugi金継ぎrepairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold

CraftsEssential origami折り紙paper folding

CraftsEssential noren暖簾the split cloth curtain hung at a shop entrance

Annual EventsEssential osechiおせち料理the New Year food packed in stacked boxes

Annual EventsEssential oshogatsuお正月the Japanese New Year