Buddhahead: Hawaiian term for Japanese American from Hawaii. Considered by some to be a derogatory term.

Issei: First-generation Japanese immigrant in America.

kimono: A robe with wide sleeves and a sash, part of traditional costume of Japanese men and women.

mochi: Japanese rice cake.

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

samurai: Japanese warrior or military class during feudal times in Japan.

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

tabi: Japanese socks.

tanomoshi: To rely on or depend on; Japanese American savings associations formed for mutual financial support.

yoshi: An adopted son; a son-in-law; a man who marries the eldest daughter in a family without sons and is adopted into her family to carry on the family name.