Glossary

A

Amaterasu
Shinto sun goddess, part of the basis for Aeka in the Tenchi Muyo OAV series

Art of War
Classic treatise on warfare by the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu, emphasizing deception and strategem

B

baka
fool, idiot

bento
boxed lunch, usually containing an assortment of foods

bokken
wooden practice sword

Book of Five Rings
work by famed samurai Miyamoto Musashi, detailing his school of strategy, swordsmanship, and personal philosophy

bowing
the longer and deeper the bow, the more respect is shown; the most respectful bow involves kneeling, placing one's hands on the floor, and one's forehead on the backs of one's hands

bushido
code of honor followed by samurai

C

-chan
honorific used when addressing children or those one is close to

chopstick etiquette
placing one's chopsticks vertically in the rice is done only when offering the rice to the dead. Licking one's chopsticks is considered a lewd gesture

chou
butterfly

D

daikon
large radish native to Japan

daimyo
Japanese feudal warlord

dashi
soup stock

domo
"thanks"

domo arigato gozaimasu
"thank you very, very much"

-dono
honorific used to show respect but not necessarily love

doujinshi
manga produced by fans, frequently a parody or pornographic version of a commercial title

E

ecchi
perverted

F

four
giving things in groups of four is considered impolite, as the Japanese kanji for four ("shi") sounds the same as a different kanji meaning "death"

Fuji-san
Mount Fuji

G

gaishou
whore

gambatte
do a good job; hang in there; don't give up

geta
wooden sandals

gochisou sama deshita
"thank you, it was a feast"; phrase used to express gratitude after receiving a meal

gomen nasai
"I'm sorry"

H

hai
yes

hassheen
launch

hentai
pervert; perverted

-hime
princess

I

inro
container hung from an obi, used to carry small items

itadakimasu
phrase used to announce that one is about to eat

J

jan ken
short for "jan ken pon" or "rock-scissors-paper"; used like a coin toss for random decision making

jiichan
grandfather (affectionate form of address)

joou-sama
empress; queen

JSDF
Japanese Self-Defense Force

K

kaizoku
pirate

kami
spirit or deity

Kami-sama
God

kami shrine
shelf with a miniature shrine, used for praying and making offerings to the spirits of the deceased

kana
phonetic Japanese characters

kanji
pictographic Japanese characters

kanpai
"cheers"

kappa
Japanese water sprite

katana
long-bladed Japanese sword; carried with a wakizashi by samurai

kawaii
cute

kendo
Japanese fencing; emphasis is on style and discipline, rather than on practical use

kimono
traditional Japanese robe

koinobori
carp streamer; carp are symbolic of strength and perserverence, thus the koinobori is flown on Children's Day so that children will show those attributes

koneko
kitten

konichiwa
good day

-kun
honorific used when addressing males from high-school through college age

kuso
shit

L

Lily of the Valley
rubbing a penis between a woman's breasts; thus when Ryoko asks Aeka if she's tried "the Lily of the Plateau", it is intended as an insult to Aeka's "terrain"

M

miso
cultured paste made from soybeans and other grains such as rice and barley; different regions have their own miso with different color and taste due to ingredients and preparation methods; Kyoto miso is white and sweet; Tohoku miso is red and salty; Hatchou miso is brown and savory

Murasama blades
swords made by the insane smith Murasama of Ise, said to infect the wielder with their maker's madness (no relation to the sword Murasame)

N

nani
"what?"

neechan
older sister (affectionate form of address)

-nii
first luietenant

niichan
older brother (affectionate form of address)

nosebleed
indicator of stress, especially male sexual arousal

O

O.L
office lady, secretary

obi
cloth belt worn with a kimono

ochinchin
childish word for "penis"

ohayo
good morning

ojiisama
grandfather (respectful form of address)

oneesama
older sister (respectful form of address)

onsen
hot spring

okaeri
welcome home

okaeri nasai
welcome home

okonomiyaki
batter mixed with meats and/or vegatables and fried like a pancake

otou-sama
father (respectful form of address)

oujo-sama
princess

oujo-sama to oyobi
"call me 'princess'"

oyako donburi
a chicken, egg, and vegetable mixture served over rice in a bowl; "oyako" means "parent and child", referring to the chicken and egg

oyasume nasai
goodnight

oyasumi
goodnight

P

pink salon
Japanese sex club specializing in inexpensive fellatio

R

raised little finger
gesture used when referring to a mistress or girlfriend

Ryoko no Ryo-ohki
Ryoko's [ship] Ryo-ohki

S

sailor fuku
uniform worn by Japanese schoolgirls

sake
rice wine

-sama
honorific used to indicate respect, devotion, and possibly love; roughly equal to "Lord", "Lady", or "beloved", depending on context

-san
honorific indicating politeness, approximately equal to "Mr." or "Ms."

sayonara
goodbye

-sempai
honorific used when addressing students or co-workers senior to oneself; also used as a word by itself

-sensei
honorific used when addressing teachers, doctors, nurses, and those who are respected in their field; also used as a word by itself

seppuku
ritual suicide by disembowelment; frequently, the actual killing is done by the person's "second", who stands behind them and beheads them with a sword

shakuhachi
bamboo flute; fellatio

shogun
feudal overlord of Japan

-shousa
major; wing commander

shouyu
soy sauce

soapland
a combination of an erotic massage parlor and a brothel

Susanou
Shinto wind god, part of the basis for Yosho in the Tenchi Muyo OAV series

T

tabi
two-toed socks

tadaima
"I'm home"

taichan
younger brother (affectionate form of address)

takenoko gohan
rice with bamboo shoots

tanuki
a racoon-like animal believed to have supernatural abilities

tatami
rectangular floor mat

Tokugawa period
period of Japanese history from the early 1600's to the mid/late 1800's

torii
wooden arch-like structure at the entrance to a shinto shrine, usually painted red

tyourei
gathering of the student body at the start of the school day, to be addressed by the principal

U

unagi
eels; traditionally considered a stamina-building food and eaten on hot summer days

uwakionna
slut

Uzume
The Dread Female of Heaven, part of the basis for Ryoko in the Tenchi Muyo OAV series

W

Waga Seishun no Arcadia
Arcadia of My Youth

wakizashi
short-bladed Japanese sword; carried along with a katana by samurai

Y

yakuza
Japanese mafia

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