Commonly Misunderstood (527) — page 8

Work CultureStandard rirekisho履歴書the Japanese-format resume

ArtsAdvanced iemoto家元the head of a school of a traditional art

ArtsAdvanced nihonga日本画painting in traditional Japanese materials

BuddhismAdvanced kaimyo戒名the Buddhist name given after death

BuddhismAdvanced shuha no chigai宗派の違いthe main branches of Japanese Buddhism and how they differ

BuddhismAdvanced danka seido檀家制度why every family has a temple

Martial ArtsAdvanced osu押忍the all-purpose word shouted in martial arts dojos

Martial ArtsAdvanced iaido居合道drawing the sword as a discipline

Martial ArtsAdvanced kendo no ippon剣道の一本a valid point in kendo, which needs spirit, posture and follow-through as well as a clean hit

Martial ArtsAdvanced aoi judogi青い柔道着the blue judo uniform worn in international competitions

Martial ArtsAdvanced dojo-yaburi道場破りthe movie trope of a stranger challenging a rival dojo to a duel

Martial ArtsAdvanced naginata薙刀the long-handled blade and its modern sport

Martial ArtsAdvanced banzuke番付the sumo ranking sheet

ClothingAdvanced monpeもんぺloose work trousers gathered at the ankle, traditionally worn by farming women

ClothingAdvanced kappogi割烹着the full-cover Japanese apron

ClothingAdvanced junihitoe十二単the layered court robes of the Heian period

ClothingAdvanced kimono no kaku着物の格the ranking that decides which kimono may be worn where

ClothingAdvanced kimono no kisetsu no kimari着物の季節の決まりlined, unlined and sheer kimono, and when each is worn

ClothingAdvanced kamishimo裃the formal outfit of samurai, with a stiff sleeveless top and matching hakama

ConceptsAdvanced kejimeけじめdrawing a clear line between one thing and another

ConceptsAdvanced mono no awareもののあはれthe sadness of passing things

ConceptsAdvanced ishin denshin以心伝心understanding without words

ConceptsAdvanced amae甘えdepending on another person's goodwill

ConceptsAdvanced ma間the meaningful gap

ConceptsAdvanced giri義理social obligation you cannot refuse

ConceptsAdvanced isagiyosa潔さaccepting defeat cleanly

ConceptsAdvanced kotodama言霊the belief that spoken words carry power

ConceptsAdvanced jukyo儒教Confucian ideas as they took root in Japan

ConceptsAdvanced yaoyorozu no kami八百万の神the eight million gods

CraftsAdvanced miyadaiku宮大工temple and shrine carpenters

CraftsAdvanced katana kaji刀鍛冶the swordsmiths who still forge Japanese blades by hand

CraftsAdvanced kigumi木組みjoining timber without nails

CraftsAdvanced warosoku和ろうそくJapanese plant-wax candles

FolkloreAdvanced onmyodo陰陽道the court's system of divination and calendar making

FolkloreAdvanced bakedanuki化け狸the shape-shifting raccoon dog

FolkloreAdvanced kimon鬼門the unlucky northeast direction

FolkloreAdvanced kumade熊手the lucky rake for raking in business

FolkloreAdvanced zashiki warashi座敷童子the child spirit of the house

FolkloreAdvanced yuki-onna雪女the snow woman

FolkloreAdvanced tsukumogami付喪神objects that come alive with age

FolkloreAdvanced kaso方位と家相lucky and unlucky directions in a house

Food & DrinkAdvanced kuri kinton栗きんとんtwo different sweets with the same name

HistoryAdvanced kenpo kyujo憲法9条the war-renouncing article of the constitution

HistoryAdvanced sakoku鎖国the closed country policy

HistoryAdvanced sengo no josei no chii no henka戦後の女性の地位の変化what changed and what did not

HistoryAdvanced senpuku kirishitan潜伏キリシタンthe Christians who kept the faith through 250 years of prohibition

HistoryAdvanced Taiheiyo senso太平洋戦争Japan in the Second World War

HistoryAdvanced teppo denrai鉄砲伝来the arrival of the matchlock gun in 1543 and how fast Japan copied it

HistoryAdvanced bushido武士道the way of the warrior

HistoryAdvanced bunkazai no seido文化財の制度how Japan designates national treasures and protects its heritage

HistoryAdvanced rangaku蘭学Dutch learning during the closed country period

Home & LivingAdvanced chonaikai and kairanban町内会と回覧板the neighborhood association and its circulating folder

Life EventsAdvanced yuino結納the formal engagement ceremony

Life EventsAdvanced koseki戸籍the family register

Life EventsAdvanced sankotsu散骨scattering ashes at sea, and the rules around it

Life EventsAdvanced satogaeri shussan出産と里帰りgoing home to your mother to give birth

Life EventsAdvanced hakajimai墓じまいclosing a family grave

MannersAdvanced erebeta no sahoエレベーターの作法who stands where and who presses the buttons

MannersAdvanced kokyo no ba de no kesho公共の場での化粧why it is frowned on

Modern JapanAdvanced Ainuアイヌthe indigenous people of northern Japan, recognized in law in 2019