YOUGOJITEN: GLOSSARY
(Arranged alphabetically; if you are interested in learning
more about any of these terms or learning the kanji, please e-mail me.
I also have information on websites where you can purchase your own
kimono and school uniforms.)
Akabeko: the "beef pot" shop where Kaoru's friend Tae-san works (as well as Yahiko and Tsubame), that Sano frequents (and frequently escapes paying his bill)
aku: Japanese kanji for "bad" or "evil", written on the back of Sano's coat (link)
Battousai: Kenshin's title, indicating that he is a master of all forms of battoujitsu, the art of drawing the katana
beef pot: "gyuudon" in Japanese; in the Meiji Era, a new and popular
way of eating beef with vegetables mixed together and served as stew in
a single pot
bunko-taiko: a styled way of tying the obi (link)
"Che": an expression, equivalent to "Damn!" or "Shoot!"
dojo: a place where students can practice and are trained in the martial and sword arts
"Es ist mein schatz": German (NOT Japanese) phrase, literally meaning "It is my treasure." (This has nothing to do with Kenshin, but "mein schatz", I believe, is the same phrase that Gollum uses in the German-dubbed version of the Lord of the Rings movies)
Fang: Miyuko's nickname for her sakabatou
furisode: a formal kimono worn be unmarried women, with sleeves that
are longer than a married woman's kimono; the sleeves reach past the
waist, usually to about the knees, when the arms are level with the
shoulders (this is the kind of kimono that Kaoru wears)(link)
futon: Japanese-style bedding (basically consists of a sheet and a pad on the floor)
hakama: baggy pants with a slit on either side at the waist, usually
(though not always) worn by men (like the ones Kenshin and
hakama-shita: a robe-like top, worn tucked into the hakama (link)
haori: a robe-like jacket, usually worn over a kimono or yukata (link)
hitokiri: an assassin; when used with the name of a famous killer
("like Hitokiri Battousai") it becomes a title ("Assassin Battousai")
"Ja ne": a phrase, equivalent to "See ya!" or "Later!", used mostly by males
kanji: Japanese characters (used in writing), adapted from Chinese;
note that these characters differ from kana, the hiragana and katakana
"alphabets" that are also used in writing, and that written Japanese is
a mix of all three sets of characters (link)
Kaoru: a name, represented by the kanji for "balmy/sweet-smelling"
katana: a Japanese sword with a slightly curved blade
Kenshin: a name, which combines the kanji for "sword" and "heart"
kimono: a formal robe-style of dress worn by women (like the kind Kaoru wears, though hers is technically a furisode)
kunoichi: a female ninja (like Misao); there were actually very few in
actual Japanese history, despite their popularity today in movies and
games (link)
kusoyarou: like "yarou", but more insulting ("kuso" is literally "shit", though not quite as bad a swear as in English)
"maggots": ("the deserving will be reborn into a better life...and the rest into
maggots") Miyuko is referring to the Buddhist belief of incarnation;
when one dies, they are reborn into either a better or worse position
in life, depending on the amount of rights and wrongs that one has
committed during their previous lifetimes (karma). Those who have done
very poorly will be reincarnated into lower life forms, such as an
untouchable, or even an animal (like a maggot or fly); those who have
done averagely will be reincarnated into a similar style of life (if
they were poor they will stay that way); those who have done well are
reincarnated into a higher position in life (if they were born into a
samurai family, perhaps this time they will be born into a noble
family); those who have done the very highest will finally break the
cycle of incarnation, and are allowed to join Buddha in Nirvana
Mii: a woman's name, in this case short for "Miyuko" or "Kimiyo"
Miyuko: a name, combining the kanji for "beautiful", "reason", and "child"
obi: the long, wide, sash wrapped around the waist of a kimono, and
tied in sometimes intricate bows in the back (some kinds of obi include
the butterfly, hanhaba, anesan, clam's mouth, and yanoji musubi ties)(link)
"Oro!": an expression said in times of surprise by Kenshin, meaning
approximately "Huh?"; probably derived from the Japanese expression
"Ara!" or "Oh!"
rurouni: (actually read as "rounin", but Watsuki-sensei was playing a prank) a masterless, wandering samurai
Sagara: a name, combining the kanji for "phase/mutual" and "pleasure/comfortable"
sakabatou: a reverse-blade sword (like the one Kenshin has), on which
the dull side of the blade is switched with the sharper side, so that
one's attack does not d nearly as much damage as it would with a
regular katana
sake: Japanese fermented rice wine (as a side note, most Asians
are very susceptible to alcohol of any kind; most get drunk quickly and
easily get very red faces; this occurs frequently in anime)
sakura: cherry blossoms, beloved by many Japanese; their cycle of life
lasts only a month, beginning in late March and ending in mid- to late
April.
samurai: a Japanese warrior, serving under a lord or master
Sanosuke: a name, combining the kanji for "left" and "help"
"Sa te": an expression, equivalent to "Well!"
Shizutora: a combination of shizu "silent" and tora "tiger"
Shizuyo: a name, combining the kanji for "silent" and "generation"
"Sou": an expression, equivalent to "I see" (not literally, but as in "I see what you're saying" or "Right")
Toramune: the name of Miyuko's katana, a combination of tora "tiger" and mune "heart/center of emotions"
yarou: a derogatory term, almost equivalent to "guy" or "dude"
yen: Japanese monetary unit, actually pronounced as en in Japanese
