hakoiri musume: Literally means, "daughter kept in a box," here it means that she was born and grew up in the small back room of the store.

hakujin: Caucasian(s), white(s).

Issei(s): First generation Japanese immigrant in America.

Jodo Shinshuu: A sect of Buddhism.

juu ri: Ten 'ri', ('ri' is a unit of measurement equal to 2.44 miles).

ken(s): Prefecture(s); district(s).

kenjin: Native person(s) of a prefecture.

Kenjinkai: An association of the natives of a prefecture.

Kibei: American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.

kitoku: Dangerously or hopelessly ill; in a critical condition.

Nihon Gakko: Japanese Language School in Seattle, which was used as a hostel for families recently returning from internment, who had no other home.

Nikkei: A person of Japanese ancestry.

Nikkeijinkai: An association of Japanese Americans.

Nisei: American-born children of Japanese immigrants; second-generation Japanese Americans.

ri: A unit of measurement equal to 2.44 miles.

Sansei: American-born grandchildren of Japanese immigrants; third generation Japanese American.