Mukashi of Japan - Glossary of Japanese Terms

	Explanations and translations of Japanese words used on this site.
A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P R S T U W Y Z

B	Bo dansu	A type of chest that uses a vertical locking bar to secure the drawers behind it.
	Byobu	Japanese folding screen traditionally used as a room divider and/or decorative display.
	Butsudan	Japanese buddhist shrine found in the home. Click here for more.

C	Cha dansu	Tea Chest - used to store and display tea utensils. They usually have a combination of display shelves, drawers and/or sliding doors.
	Chirimen	A type of crepe fabric traditionally made of silk but now available in cotton, rayon & polyester.
	Choba dansu	Merchants Chest - an all purpose storage chest.

D	Dai	Stand or table. These are used as a base to display bonsai, ikebana or other decorative pieces.
	Doro	see 'Toro'

E	Edo Period	Edo Period covers years 1600-1867. Also the original name of Tokyo.

F	Fudomyoo	The protector of Buddhism. See here for more.
	Fukuro obi	A type of obi, usually about 30cm wide by 400cm long.
	Funa dansu	Sea Chest - usually small and portable, used for storage of documents and money.

H	Hanga	Woodblock printing in Japan. See here for more.
	Haori	A half coat worn over a kimono.
	Hibachi	A brazier. Traditionally filled with charcoal and used for heating. Click here to learn more.
	Hokai	A Japanese version of a picnic basket from the Heian Era. A pole was attached to the ropes and carried over the shoulder.

I	Imari	A pottery region in Kyushu. Also known as Arita-yaki. Click here to learn more.
	Isho dansu	Clothing Chest - the most common form of tansu. Many have a small door on the right side hiding smaller drawers.

J	Jubako	Stackable food storage containers, often lacquered.
	Jizo	The buddhist guardian of children. Click here for more on Jizo.

K	Kaidan	Stairs or stairway. Kaidan dansu incorporate a 2 or 3 piece chest/cabinet unit with a set of stairs.
	Kamon	A Japanese family crest.
	Kasuri	Japanese ikat. A weaving technique used to create patterns on fabric.
	Katana dansu	A storage chest for sword blades.
	Keyaki	Zelkova. A type of wood. Click here to learn more.
	Kiku	Chrysanthemum. A symbol of longevity often featured in kimono and obi, also used as a crest by the Japanese Imperial Family.
	Kimono	traditional Japanese dress
	Kiri	Paulownia. A light coloured, lightweight wood used extensively in Japan. See Paulownia below.
	Kiriko	Cut or etched glass, a glass craft developed by artisans in the late Edo era.
	Kokeshi	Wooden dolls from northern Japan. Click here for more info.
	Kusuri dansu	Medicine Chest - contains many small drawers for storage of various medicines.
	Kutani	Kutani-yaki is a pottery region in Ishikawa prefecture dating back to the Edo Period, known for bold colours and designs.

M	Maki-e	A decorative lacquer technique using metal powders. Click here to learn more.
	Meiji Period	From 1868 to 1912
	Mingei	Japanese folk art and crafts.
	Mizuya	Kitchen Chest - usually large, tall chests with a number of drawers and sliding doors providing ample storage.

N	Nagoya obi	A casual style obi, part has been folded to half width making the obi much easier to tie.
	Nashiji	A lacquer technique that produces a speckled surface - much like the skin of a pear. It literally translates to 'pear base.'

O	Obi	A type of sash used to fasten a kimono.
	Oribe	Oribe-yaki is a type of Japanese pottery known for it's use of green copper glaze and bold painted designs. From the Mino region (modern day Gifu prefecture.)

P	Paulownia	A fast growing wood prized for it's lightness (both weight and colour), straight grain and strength. Also highly resistant to insects, warping and fire (was often made into boxes to protect valuables. For more see here.

R	Ranma	Transom. A decorative panel made from wood or bamboo fixed above the sliding doors in a traditional Japanese house.
	Rokutsu	A type of obi where the pattern or design covers 60% of the length. The other 40% when tied correctly is never exposed therefore to save costs is left blank or unembroidered.
	Ryobiraki	A type of chest/cabinet with 2 doors opening out in opposite directions. Often has distinctive metalwork.

S	Satsuma	Satsuma-yaki is a pottery region in Kyushu. Click here to learn more.
	Seven Lucky Gods	The seven deities of good fortune in Japanese mythology. Click here for more info.
	Shibori	A tie-dying technique which creates numerous small white circles or rings in the fabric.
	Shigaraki	Shigaraki-yaki is a pottery region in Shiga prefecture. Click here to learn more.
	Shippo	English translation: seven treasures. Most commonly known as Cloisonne. A pattern of interlocking circles also uses this name.
	Showa Period	From 1926 to 1989
	Shunga	Japanese erotic art. See here for more detail.

T	Taisho Period	From 1912 to 1926
	Tansu	Japanese chest or cabinet, also known as 'dansu'
	Tanuki	A racoon dog or Japanese badger. An animal native to Japan. Click here to learn more.
	Tetsubin	A kettle used in tea ceremony. Click here to learn more.
	Tobe	Tobe-yaki is a pottery region in Shikoku characterised by cobalt blue handpainted designs on white porcelain.
	Tomesode	A type of womens kimono, worn on formal occasions.
	Toro (Doro)	A garden lantern. Stone lanterns (ishidoro) were originally used to light the front of Buddhist temples but now are a decorative feature in any garden.
	Tsumugi	English translation: pongee. A type of silk.

U	Ukiyoe	A style of Japanese woodblock print from the Edo & Meiji Periods.
	Usubata	A distinctive shaped metal vessel/vase used in ikebana (flower arrangement).

Y	-yaki	English translation in pottery terms: -ware. The word preceeding indicates the style or region the pottery comes from. Eg. kutani-yaki is pottery from the Kutani region or Kutani-ware.
	Yukata	An unlined, lightweight kimono usually worn in summer.