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.