Commonly Misunderstood (527) — page 4

Martial ArtsStandard chugakko no budo hisshuka中学校の武道必修化the compulsory martial arts unit in Japanese junior high gym class

Martial ArtsStandard dohyo土俵the raised clay ring a sumo bout is fought in

Martial ArtsStandard bokuto木刀a wooden sword used for practice

ClothingStandard tasukiたすきa cord that ties back kimono sleeves, now also a sash worn across the chest

ClothingStandard rikuruto sutsuリクルートスーツthe plain black suit that students wear when job hunting

ClothingStandard kamon家紋family crests

ClothingStandard gakuseifuku学生服the classic Japanese school uniform: the stand-collar jacket and the sailor blouse

ClothingStandard kasa笠a traditional Japanese hat, often woven from sedge or bamboo

ClothingStandard momohiki, tekko, and kyahan股引・手甲・脚絆the fitted leggings and arm and shin wraps worn for festival and traditional work

ClothingStandard sagyogi no bunka作業着の文化the culture around Japanese work clothing, from craftsmen to fashion brands

ClothingStandard mofuku喪服the black clothing worn to a funeral

ClothingStandard obi-musubi帯結びthe ways of tying the sash on a kimono or yukata

ClothingStandard jika-tabi地下足袋split-toe work shoes with rubber soles

ClothingStandard kitsuke着付けputting a kimono on

ClothingStandard kimono no nedan着物の値段why a formal kimono can cost as much as a car

ClothingStandard nagajuban長襦袢the underlayer worn beneath a kimono

ClothingStandard higasa日傘a parasol, an umbrella for blocking the sun

ClothingStandard shirotabi to irotabi白足袋と色足袋why the color of tabi socks signals how formal the occasion is

ClothingStandard haneri半襟the decorative collar sewn onto a kimono's underlayer, replaced more often than the kimono itself

ClothingStandard haramaki腹巻きa stretchy band of cloth worn around the belly to keep it warm

ClothingStandard fundoshi褌the traditional loincloth worn as underwear or festival dress

ConceptsStandard uchi and sotoウチとソトinside group and outside group

ConceptsStandard shitsukeしつけbringing up a child to behave considerately

ConceptsStandard en縁the connection between people that brings them together

ConceptsStandard enryo遠慮holding back out of consideration

ConceptsStandard on恩a debt of gratitude that you carry and repay

ConceptsStandard gaman我慢enduring without complaint

ConceptsStandard kao wo tateru顔を立てるletting someone keep their standing in front of others

ConceptsStandard konjo根性grit, and the training culture built around it

ConceptsStandard sassuru察するworking out what someone means without being told

ConceptsStandard shikatanai仕方ないit cannot be helped

ConceptsStandard shoshinsha and kuroto初心者と玄人the words for a beginner and a true expert

ConceptsStandard miuchi to yososama身内とよそ様insiders and the outside world

ConceptsStandard mizu ni nagasu水に流すletting the past wash away

ConceptsStandard seken世間the watching public around you

ConceptsStandard sekentei世間体how you look to the people around you

ConceptsStandard ikigai生きがいwhat makes life worth living

ConceptsStandard haji恥shame as a social brake

ConceptsStandard bun o wakimaeru分をわきまえるknowing and staying within your place

ConceptsStandard honne and tatemae本音と建前true feelings and public face

ConceptsStandard ryukogo taisho流行語大賞the annual award for new words, and what it really measures

ConceptsStandard wa和harmony as the thing a group protects

ConceptsStandard wabi-sabi侘び寂びbeauty in imperfection and age

ConceptsStandard sontaku忖度acting on what you guess a superior wants, without being told

CraftsStandard shibori絞り染めJapanese tie-dyeing, where cloth is tied or stitched before dyeing

CraftsStandard netsuke根付a small carved toggle once used to hang a pouch or case from a kimono sash

CraftsStandard sashiko刺し子Japanese running-stitch embroidery, first used to strengthen and warm work clothes

CraftsStandard tatami shokunin畳職人the maker of tatami mats, a shrinking trade that still measures every room by hand

CraftsStandard shokunin職人the craftsman, as an identity

CraftsStandard ningen kokuho人間国宝a Living National Treasure, a state-certified master of a traditional art or craft

CraftsStandard mizuhiki水引decorative cord on gift envelopes

CraftsStandard kumiko組子geometric wooden lattice patterns assembled without a single nail

CraftsStandard nihonto日本刀the Japanese sword

CraftsStandard Aritayaki to Imariyaki有田焼と伊万里焼Japan's first porcelain, and the export port that gave it a second name in the West

CraftsStandard wabocho和包丁Japanese kitchen knives, many of them sharpened on one side only

Annual EventsStandard supotsu no hiスポーツの日Sports Day, the second Monday of October

Annual EventsStandard koromogae衣替えthe seasonal switch between summer and winter clothing

Annual EventsStandard umi no hi海の日Marine Day, the third Monday of July

Annual EventsStandard kinro kansha no hi勤労感謝の日Labor Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd

Annual EventsStandard kenkoku kinen no hi建国記念の日National Foundation Day, February 11th