The following glossary lists most of the Japanese terms, and a few non-Japanese terms, that appear on this site. The headwords in boldface indicate the modern spellings in Hepburn romanization. They are followed by brief definitions in English, their representation in Japanese, and, in a sans-serif font, the alternate spellings as they appear in the texts on this site. When an alternate spelling would fall elsewhere in the alphabetical listing, a cross-reference to the main entry is included.
Even today, the spelling of Japanese words in the Latin alphabet is not completely standardized. It was even less consistent in the 19th century, and most of the writers whose works are quoted seem to have reproduced whatever spellings they happened to come across without regard to how accurately or consistently they represented the Japanese phonemic system. Some writers just seem to have created their own spellings to try to represent Japanese words as they heard them. As a result, some words, such as jinrikisha or Tokyo, are spelled in a number of different ways.
I was unable to identify the current referents of some of the place names. Those are indicated as “uncertain.” If any reader is able to identify them, please contact me.
Ad-zu-ma Bashi → Azumabashi
Ainu
the indigenous people of Hokkaido and of islands to the north
アイヌ
Aino
Akasaka
a district in central Tokyo
赤坂
Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto
a Shinto goddess
天鈿女命, 天宇受売命
Uzumé
Amida
a celestial Buddhist figure; Amitabha
阿弥陀
amma
massage
按摩
a-ma, ā-ma
andon
an oil lamp with a paper shade
行灯
an-don
Arashiyama
a mountain and district in western Kyoto
嵐山
arigatō
“Thank you.”
ありがとう
Arima
a village in southeast Hyogo Prefecture
有馬
Asakusa
a district in eastern Tokyo
浅草
A-sa-ku-sa
Asakusa Kannon
a Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo; also called Sensōji (浅草寺)
浅草観音
Asakusa-Kwannon
Ashinoyu
a hot springs resort in Kanagawa Prefecture
芦ノ湯
Asses’ Ears → Danjoguntō
Atagoyama
a hill in central Tokyo
愛宕山
Atago-yama, Atango-yama
awabi
abalone
鮑, 鰒
awabie
Awaji
an island in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea; Awajishima (淡路島)
淡路
Awata
a district in Kyoto
粟田
Azumabashi
a bridge over the Sumida River in Tokyo
吾妻橋
Ad-zu-ma Bashi
baka
an idiot; a fool
バカ, 馬鹿
bacca
ban
a category of gold coins, including koban (小判) and ōban (大判)
判
Banko
Banko ware, a style of pottery; also called Bankoyaki (万古焼)
万古
Bentendōri
a district in central Yokohama
弁天通
Benten-Doré, Benten-Tori
bentō
a box meal
弁当
Benzaiten
the God of Music, Eloquence, and Wealth; one of the seven Gods of Good Fortune; also called Benten (弁天)
弁財天
Ben-ten
bettō
a horsekeeper; a rickshaw puller
別当
betto
bikunin
a Buddhist nun; also called bikuni (比丘尼)
比丘尼ん
Biwako
Lake Biwa, a large freshwater lake in central Japan
琵琶湖
Biwa
Biyodoin → Byōdōin
bokuchikujō
pasturage; a ranch
牧畜場
Bokujo
boo → bu
Bōshū
the former name of a section of southern Chiba Prefecture; also called Awanokuni (安房国)
房州
Brocken and Vulcan Islands
names given by Western explorers to some of the Izu Islands. The Japanese names are uncertain.
bu
a unit of currency
分
boo
bugyō
a public official; a magistrate
奉行
Buñio
Byōdōin
a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto
平等院
Biyodoin
Campira, Compera → Konpirasan
Castilla
a kind of Portuguese sponge cake associated with Nagasaki
カステラ
casteira, Castera
cha dai
a tip paid at an inn, teahouse, etc.
茶代
chirimen
silk crape
縮緬
Chūzenji
a Buddhist temple in Nikko
中禅寺
coban → koban
c’tah obee → shitaobi
Daibutsu
a large statue of Buddha. Two of the most visited ones are in Kamakura and Nara.
大仏
Dai Butsu, Dai-Bootz, Dai-butsz, Darbutz
Dai Cheenara → Kawasaki Daishi
Daikokusama
the God of Riches; one of the seven Gods of Good Fortune; also called Daikokuten (大黒天)
大黒様
daikon
a giant white radish
大根
dai-kon
daimyō
a feudal lord
大名
Daimio, Daimiyô
Daiyagawa
a river in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture; flows from Lake Chūzenji (中禅寺湖) to the Kuni River (鬼怒川)
大谷川
Danjoguntō
the Danjo Islands; an island group west of Kyushu
男女群島
Asses’ Ears
Dannoura
a section of the Shimonoseki Strait between Honshu and Kyushu; the site of a major sea battle in 1185
壇ノ浦
Dan-no-ura
Darbutz → Daibutsu
Dejima
a small artificial island in Nagasaki Bay. Dejima was the only place in Japan where foreigners were allowed to reside and trade during the Edo Period.
出島
Decima, Desima
Dosembō
a district in southeastern Kyoto
童仙坊
Dōtonbori
an amusement district in Osaka
道頓堀
Dotombori
dzukin → zukin
Ebisu
the God of Fishing and Commerce; one of the seven Gods of Good Fortune
恵比須, 恵比寿, 夷, 戎, 蛭子
Ye-be-su-sama
Edo
the largest city in Japan and the center of government in the Edo Period (1600–1867). The city’s name was changed to Tokyo in September 1868. (Also spelled Jedo, Jeddo, Yedo, and Yeddo in nineteenth-century English texts.)
江戸
Yeddo, Yedo
ennichi
a regular festival day at a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine
縁日
Enoshima
an offshore island on Sagami Bay, about nine kilometers from Kamakura
江ノ島
Epunga
a place near Nagasaki. The Japanese name is uncertain.
eta
a class of people who suffered severe discrimination during the Edo Period. They were allowed to live only in certain areas and to engage in certain occupations, such as leatherworking and the disposal of dead animals. Their descendents and others continue to suffer prejudice and discrimination. The term “eta” is used now only in historical contexts.
穢多
yeta
Ezo
the islands north of Honshu, particularly Hokkaido; also, an indigenous inhabitant of the region
蝦夷
Yesso, Yezo
Fuji-san
Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan
富士山
Fuji, Fu-ji, Fusi-yama, Fusiama, Fujiama
Fujisawa
a city south of Tokyo in Kanagawa Prefecture
藤沢
Fuji-sawa
Fujiya
a hotel in Hakone
富士屋
Fuji-ya
Fushimi
a district in southern Kyoto
伏見
Fujimi
futon
a thick mattress or bed quilt
布団
Gankirō
a brothel in Yokohama that catered to foreigners
岩亀楼
Gan-ke-ro
geisha
a woman who dances, sings, and provides companionship at banquets and parties
芸者
gaisha
geta
a wooden clog or sandal
下駄
ghe-ne, ghe-ni → zeni
Gifu
a district, now a prefecture, in central Japan
岐阜
Ginza
a commercial district in Tokyo
銀座
gobō
a plant with an edible root, sometimes called a great burdock
牛蒡
gobbo
gohei
a staff decorated with strips of white paper; used in Shinto ceremonies
御幣
Gosho
a palace of the Emperor
御所
Gosha
Gotō
a group of islands west of Nagasaki
五島
Gotto
goza
matting made from rushes
茣蓙
Gumma
a district, now a prefecture, north of Tokyo
群馬
Hachimanjin
the God of War
八幡神
Ha-chi-man-sama, Hatchiman
Hachiōji
a city west of Tokyo
八王子
Hachiogi
Hakodate
a port city near the southern tip of Hokkaido
函館
Hakodadi
Hakone
a mountain resort southwest of Tokyo
箱根
Hakoné, Hakoni
hanagami
a paper handkerchief
鼻紙
hana gami, hana-gami
happi
a loose jacket
法被
how-odie
harakiri
suicide by disembowelment; also called seppuku (切腹)
腹切り
Ha-ra Ki-ri, hara kari, hara kiri, hara-kiru, hara-wo-kiri, hari-kari
Haruna
a Shinto shrine in Gunma
榛名
hechima
the loofa vine or fruit; the fiber made from the loofa
糸瓜, 天糸瓜
hibachi
a charcoal brazier used for heating
火鉢
hibacho, hi-ba-chi, shibatchi
Hikone
a city in Shiga Prefecture
彦根
Hiogo → Hyōgo
hiragana
one of the two syllabic character systems for representing the pronunciations of Japanese words; mainly used for native Japanese vocabulary, including prefixes, suffixes, and grammatical particles
ひらがな, 平仮名
Hirakana, hi-ra-ga-na
Hizen
the former name of a district in Kyushu now encompassing Saga Prefecture and most of Nagasaki Prefecture; known for the pottery produced there (Hizen yaki, 肥前焼き)
肥前
Hodsugawa → Hozugawa
Homura → Honmura
Hondō
the main building of a Buddhist temple
本堂
Honmoku Misaki
a cape in Yokohama
本牧岬
Misaki
Honmura
a district in Yokohama
本村
Homura
Honshū
the main island of Japan
本州
Honshiu
Horikiri
a place in Katsushika, Tokyo, known for its iris garden
堀切
Hori-kiri
Hōryūji
a Buddhist temple in Nara
法隆寺
Horiuji
how-odie → happi
Hozugawa
a river that runs through southern Kyoto
保津川
Hodsugawa
Hyōgo
a prefecture in central Japan; includes the city of Kobe
兵庫
Hiogo
ichi
one
一
Itshee
ichibu
a coin worth one bu
一分
i-tshe-boo, ichi-bu, ichiboo, Itsheboo, itziboos
Idzu → Izu
ikura
“How much?”
いくら
i-ku-ra
Imaichi
a place in central Tochigi Prefecture
今市
Imiachi
inkyo
retirement from work and family responsibilities; a retired person
隠居
inkyosama
Iōjima
an island at the entrance to Nagasaki Bay
伊王島
Iwosima
Ise
a city in Mie Prefecture; the location of the Ise Shrine, a popular pilgrimage destination
伊勢
isshu
a unit of currency; one shu
一朱
i-shiu
Itschee → ichi
i-tshe-boo, Itsheboo, itziboos → ichibu
Iwosima → Iōjima
Izu
a peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture
伊豆
Idzu
Jedogawa → Yodogawa
jinrikisha
a ricksha; a rickshaw; a wheeled passenger vehicle pulled by one or two people
人力車
jin-ri-ki-sha, jin-ricsha, jin-riki-sha, jinricksha, jinrika-sha, Jinriki-sha, jinriki, jinriksha, ricksha, rikky
Jiogakko → Jogakkō
Jiokoba → jokōba
jiu-jitsu → jūjutsu
Jizō
a Buddhist deity, often represented by small stone roadside statues. The full name is Jizō Bosatsu (地蔵菩薩).
jogakkō
a school for girls
女学校
Jiogakko
jokōba
a school for girls
女紅場, 女工場
Jiokoba
jorō
a prostitute
女郎
jo-ro
jorōya
a brothel
女郎屋
jo-ro-rei
jūjutsu
judo
柔術
jiu-jitsu
jusanjo
a training and work center for the handicapped and underprivileged
授産所
Jusansho
Kaga
a region on the coast of the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture
加賀
kago
a palanquin; a passenger vehicle carried on a long pole by two or more people
駕籠
kango
Kagoshima
a prefecture in southern Kyushu
鹿児島
Kaiso → Kisogawa
kamaboko
cured fish paste shaped into semicylindrical blocks
蒲鉾
Kamakura
a city in Kanagawa Prefecture southwest of Yokohama
鎌倉
Kama-kura
kami
a deity or spirit
神
Kanagawa
formerly a village near Yokohama; now the name of the surrounding prefecture
神奈川
Kanda
a section of central Tokyo
神田
kane
money
金
kanebako
a money box
金箱
kani-box
kango → kago
Kangyōba
an institution established in Kyoto to promote agriculture, industry, and commerce
勧業場
Kuwangiyoba
Kannon
the Buddhist deity of mercy
観音
Kwannon
kappa
a mythical amphibious animal
河童
karuma → kuruma
kashi
sweets, including cakes and candies
菓子
ku-wa-shi
katakana
one of the two syllabic character systems for representing the pronunciations of Japanese words; now mainly used for vocabulary borrowed from other languages
カタカナ, 片仮名
ka-ta-ka-na
Katsuragawa
a river that runs through southern Kyoto
桂川
Kawasaki Daishi
a Buddhist temple in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. It is not certain that this is the temple referred to in the text as “Dai Cheenara.”
川崎大師
Dai Cheenara
kaya
a mosquito net
蚊屋, 蚊帳
Keiō Gijuku
a private school established in Tokyo in 1868; the forerunner of Keio University
慶應義塾
Keiogijiku
kemono, Keremon → kimono
kiku
a chrysanthemum; represented on the Imperial crest
菊
kimono
Japanese-style outer clothing
着物
kimona, kemono, Keremon
Kioto (musical instrument)→ koto
Kioto, Ki-o-to, Kiyoto, Kiyôto (city) → Kyōto
kiri
a paulownia tree, the leaves of which are represented on official Japanese government seals
桐
Kisogawa
the Kiso River, which runs from central Nagano Prefecture through Gifu, Aichi, and Mie Prefectures
木曽川
Kaiso
Kiu-siu, Kiushiu, Kiusiu → Kyūshū
Kiyô Bashi → Kyōbashi
Kiyomizu
a district in Kyoto, known for the ceramics produced there (Kiyomizu-yaki, 清水焼)
清水
Kiyômidzu
koban
a gold coin; a small ban
小判
ko-ban, coban
Kōbe
a city and port in Hyogo Prefecture
神戸
Kobé, Kobi
koku
a unit of volume used to measure grain; equivalent to about 180 liters
石
Kokura
a city at the northern tip of Kyushu
小倉
Komo
a district in Kyotanba-cho, Funai-gun, Kyoto
蒲生
Konpirasan
a mountain in Nagasaki
金比羅山
Campira, Compera
koto
a zither-like musical instrument
琴
Kioto
Kowadzu → Kōzu
Koyasu
a district in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
子易
Koyias
Kōzu
a district facing onto Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture
国府津
Kowadzu
kuji
a public official; also called kujikata (公事方)
公事
kugi
Kumamoto
a city in western Kyushu
熊本
Kunnui
a district in southwestern Hokkaido, facing onto Uchiura Bay
国縫
kuruma
a vehicle; a car; a rickshaw
車
karuma
Kurume
a city in southwestern Fukuoka Prefecture
久留米
Kuwangiyoba → Kangyōba
ku-wa-shi → kashi
Kwannon → Kannon
Kyōbashi
a district in central Tokyo, just north of Ginza
京橋
Kiyô Bashi
Kyōto
a city in central Japan; the Imperial capital from 794 to 1868
京都
Ki-o-to, Kioto, Kiyoto, Kiyôto
Kyūshū
one of the four main islands of Japan
九州
Kiu-siu, Kiushiu, Kiusiu
Mae-yaski → Umeyashiki
maiko
a dancing girl
舞妓
mamushi
a type of poisonous snake
蝮
matsuri
a festival
祭り
Miaco, Miako → Miyako
Mibu
a place in Shimotsuga-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture
壬生
mino
a straw raincoat
蓑
Misaki → Honmoku Misaki
Mishima
a city in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture
三島
Mita
a district of Tokyo; the location of Keio University
三田
Miyako
the capital of Japan, specifically Kyoto until 1868
都
Miaco, Miako
Miyanoshita
a district in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture
宮ノ下
Miyatsu
a city in northern Kyoto Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast
宮津
Miyadju
mochi
rice cake
餅
mogusa
艾
moxibustion; a medicinal therapy in which sticks of dried mugwort are burned and placed on certain points on the patient’s body
moxa
mon
a former unit of Chinese currency; called “cash” in English
文
cash
moosmi, moosoome → musume
Motomachi
a commercial district in Kobe
元町
Moto Machi
moxa → mogusa
Mukōjima
a district in Tokyo east of the Sumida River
向島
musume
a young woman; a daughter
娘
moosoome, musumé
Nagasaki
a city and port in Kyushu
長崎
Nangasaki
Nagoya
the third largest city in Japan, located in Aichi Prefecture
名古屋
naibun
privacy; secrecy
内聞
nayboen
Nakada
a place in Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture
中田
Nakata
Nambu
the former name of the area around Morioka in northern Honshu
南部
Nangasaki → Nagasaki
Nantaisan
a volcanic mountain in northwest Tochigi Prefecture
男体山
Nan-tai-Zan
nanten
a kind of flowering plant; called nandina or heavenly bamboo in English
南天
Nara
a city in central Japan; the Imperial capital from 710 until 784
奈良
nayboen → naibun
Nectarine
an brothel in Yokohama; called Shinpūrō (神風楼) in Japanese
ネクタリン
netsuke
a decorative toggle attached to clothing
根付
nitski
nibu
a coin worth two bu
二分
Nigatsudō
a hall located within the Todaiji temple compound in Nara
二月堂
Ni-gwatsu-dō
Nihon
Japan. In many cases on this site, the word refers only to the island of Honshu; today, its meaning includes Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, and many smaller islands. In modern Japanese, the name of the country is pronounced either Nihon or Nippon.
日本
Niphon, Nipon
Nikkō
a city in northwest Tochigi Prefecture
日光
ningyō
a doll
人形
nin-gi-yo
ninsoku
a laborer; a coolie
人足
Nin-so-ku
Niphon, Nipon → Nihon
Nishi Honganji
a Buddhist temple in Kyoto; also spelled Nishihongwanji or just Hongwanji
西本願寺
Nishihanguan-ji
nishu
a unit of currency; two shu
二朱
ni-shiu
nitski → netsuke
Nivarra
a place in the Seto Inland Sea. The Japanese name is uncertain.
Nokogiriyama
a mountain in southwestern Chiba Prefecture
鋸山
norimono
a palanquin; a kago; a passenger vehicle carried on a long pole by two or more people
乗物
Norimon, no-ri-mo-no
ōban
a gold coin; a large ban
大判
O-ban
obi
a wide belt worn with a kimono
帯
Obee, obé
o-cha no yu
the tea ceremony
お茶の湯
Odaszu
a village in Hokkaido. The current Japanese name is uncertain.
Odawara
a city in southwestern Kanagawa Prefecture
小田原
Wodowara
Ogi → Ōji
o-hayō
“Good morning.”
おはよう
O-hay-o de goza-i masu, O-hay-o, Ohaio
Ohosaka → Ōsaka
Oity → Ōtsu
Ōji
a district in northern Tokyo
王子
Ogi
o-mawari-san
a policeman
お巡りさん
Ōmori
a district in southern Tokyo
大森
Omora
Ōsaka
a major city in central Japan
大阪
Ohosaka, Osaca, Ozaka
Ōshima
an island in the Izu chain
大島
o-tentō-sama
the sun; the God of Heaven
お天道様
O-Tenz-to-sama
Ōtsu
a city in Shiga Prefecture, on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa
大津
Otzu, Oity
Owari
a region in western Aichi Prefecture
尾張
Ōyama
a place in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture
大山
o-yasumi nasai
“Good night.”
お休みなさい
Ozaka → Ōsaka
pan
bread
パン
Papenberg
the name given by the Dutch to an island at entrance to Nagasaki Bay; called Takaboko-jima (高鉾島) in Japanese
Pappenberg
ricksha, rikky → jinrikisha
Ri-yo-go-ku → Ryōgoku
Rock Island
an island among the Izu chain. The Japanese name is uncertain.
Rokkōsan
a mountain in southeast Hyogo Prefecture
六甲山
rōnin
a free samurai, one without a master
浪人
Ro-nin
ryō
a unit of currency
両
rio
Ryōgoku
a bridge across the Sumida River in Tokyo; also, the district near that bridge
両国
Ri-yo-go-ku
Sagami
a region southwest of Tokyo, facing onto both Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay, that corresponds to the present-day Kanagawa Prefecture. “Cape Sagami” is now called the Miura Peninsula (Miura Hanto, 三浦半島).
相模
Saibai Shikenjo
an agricultural laboratory that was located in Kyoto
栽培試験場
Saibaishi Kenjo
Sakai
a city and port immediately south of Osaka
堺
sake
rice wine
酒
saké, saki
sakura
a Japanese cherry tree; the blossoms of that tree
桜
-sama
a suffix added to names of gods; now used as very polite suffix when referring to or addressing other people
様
Samisen → shamisen
samurai
a member of the warrior class of premodern Japan
侍
Sanjūsangendō
a Buddhist temple in Kyoto
三十三間堂
Sanji Sanguento
satsu
paper money
冊
satz
Satsuma
a district in western Kagoshima Prefecture
薩摩
satz → satsu
Seboo → shibu
Seikakujō
a tannery; a leather processing plant
製革場
Seikuwajo
Seimikyoku
an institute for research and education on science and technology, established in 1869
舎密局
Semikiyoku
Sekigahara
a place in southwestern Gifu Prefecture; site of a major battle in 1600
関ヶ原
Semikiyoku → Seimikyoku
sen
a unit of currency equivalent to one-hundredth of a yen
銭
Senkōjō
an institute devoted to dyeing technology
染工場
shamisen
a three-stringed plucked musical instrument
三味線
Samisen
Shiba
a district in Tokyo
芝
Shi-ba
shibatchi → hibachi
shibu
a coin worth four bu
四分
Seboo
shikimi
the Japanese star anise tree
樒
skimmi
Shimizudani
a place in central Tokyo
清水谷
Shi-midzu-dani
Shimoda
a port city on the southeastern tip of the Izu Peninsula
下田
Simoda
Shimonoseki
a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture at the western tip of Honshu
下関
Simonosaki, Simonoseki
Shimosuwa
a town in central Nagano Prefecture
下諏訪
Shimo-no-Sewa
Shinagawa
a district in southern Tokyo
品川
Sinagawa
Shinbashi
a district in central Tokyo
新橋
Shin Bashi
Shintō
the indigenous polytheistic religion of Japan
神道
Sintooism, Sintoo, Sinto, Sintu
shipō
cloisonné
七宝
shippo
shitaobi
a loincloth
下帯
c’tah obee
shōji
a sliding paper screen or door
障子
shokkōba
a weaving factory
職工場
shōyu
soy sauce
醤油
sho-yu
Simoda → Shimoda
Simonosaki, Simonoseki → Shimonoseki
Shimo-no-Sewa → Shimosuwa
Sinagawa → Shinagawa
Sintooism, Sintoo, Sinto, Sintu → Shintō
skimmi → shikimi
sōshi
paper used for writing practice
草紙
so-shi
Sumida
a river that runs through Tokyo
墨田
Sumiyoshi
a section of southern Osaka Prefecture
住吉
Suōnada
the western portion of the Seto Inland Sea
周防灘
suzumy → tsuzumi
tabi
socks with a split between the first two toes
足袋
tabie
Taikun
the political leader of Japan during the Edo Period; the Shogun
大君
Tycoon, Tykoon
Tanba
a section of today’s Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures
丹波
Tamba
Tango
a section of today’s Kyoto Prefecture
丹後
tatami
a straw mat
畳
ta-ta-mi
Tatsumiya
an inn formerly located in Yoshino, Nara
辰巳屋
Tatsuta
a place in Nara Prefecture
竜田
tenpōsen
a copper coin issued during the Tenpō era (1830–33)
天保銭
tempo
Tenshi-sama
the Emperor
天子様
Tōjin
a Chinese or Korean person; a foreigner
唐人
To jin
Tokaidō
a highway that ran between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto
東海道
Tokaida
Tôkiyô, Tokio → Tōkyō
Tokugawa
the clan that ruled Japan during the Edo Period
徳川
Tōkyō
the capital and largest city of Japan; called Edo (江戸) until 1868
東京
Tokyo, Tôkiyô, Tokio
tōri
a road or street
通り
torii
an arch at the entrance to a Shinto shrine
鳥居
Tōrinji
a Buddhist temple in Yokohama
東林寺
To-rin-gee
Ts’kiji → Tsukiji
Tsugaru
the western part of Aomori Prefecture. The Tsugaru Strait separates Honshu and Hokkaido.
津軽
T’zugar
Tsuki-sama
the moon
月様
Tsukiji
an area of central Tokyo where foreigners were allowed to live in the late 1800s
築地
Ts’kiji
tsuzumi
a hand drum
鼓
suzumy
Tycoon, Tykoon → Taikun
T’zugar → Tsugaru
Ueno
a place and park on the northern side of central Tokyo
上野
Uyeno
uguisu
a bush warbler
鶯
Uji
a section of southern Kyoto
宇治
Umeyashiki
a tea house in what is now Ota Ward, Tokyo
梅屋敷
Mae-yaski
Uraga
the place in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where the American ships commanded by Matthew C. Perry arrived in 1853
浦賀
Utsunomiya
a city in central Tochigi Prefecture
宇都宮
Uyeno → Ueno
Uzumé → Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto
wakamiya
an auxiliary Shinto shrine, dedicated to the son of the god of the main shrine
若宮
waraji
straw sandals
草鞋
Wodowara → Odowara
Yaami
a hotel in Kyoto
也阿弥
yakunin
a government official or bureaucrat
役人
Yacoonin, yakoneen, yakonin, ya-cu-nin
Yamada
a former name for an area in Ise City, Mie Prefecture
山田
yamakago
a palanquin (kago) used in the mountains
山駕籠
yashiki
a samurai’s residence
屋敷
ya-shi-ki
Ye-be-su-sama → Ebisu
Yesso, Yezo → Ezo
Yeddo, Yedo → Edo
yeta→ eta
yen
a unit of currency. Pronounced “en” in modern Japanese, but the spelling “yen” is standard in English.
円
Yodogawa
a river that runs from Lake Biwa to Osaka Bay
淀川
Yodi-gawa, Yodo-gawa, Jedogawa
Yokohama
a city and port in Kanagawa Prefecture
横浜
Yokuhama
Yokosuka
a city in Kanagawa Prefecture
横須賀
Yokuhama → Yokohama
yoroshū
“All right.”
よろしゅう
yo-ro-shiu
Yōsanba
a facility for raising silkworms
養蚕場
yose
a theater for storytelling
寄席
Yoshino
a section of southern Nara Prefecture
吉野
Yoshiwara
a brothel district in Tokyo
吉原
yottsu
Definition
四つ
yutz
Yumoto
a hot-springs resort near Hakone
湯本
Yurappu
a place in western Hokkaido
遊楽部
Yurup
yutz → yottsu
zeni
money; cash
銭
ghe-ne, ghe-ni
zōri
sandals
草履
zodie
zukin
a headscarf; a hood
頭巾
dzukin