baishakunin: Go-between for arranged marriages; matchmaker.

bentō: Japanese style boxed lunch.

chūgakkō ni nen: Second year of Junior High School.

chūgakkō ni nensei: Second year student of Junior High School.

chūgakkō: Junior High School; middle school.

Donguri pantsu: Japanese pronunciation of "Dungaree pants".

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

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

itazura(s): Mischief; roguery; a mischievous (child).

jūdō: A form of Jujitsu developed as a sport and a means of self-defense without the use of weapons.

ken: Prefecture.

kendō: Japanese traditional fencing, in which a bamboo sword is used.

Kenjin(s): People from the same prefecture in Japan.

Kenjinkai(s): Association of people who came from the same prefecture.

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

kintoki: Abbreviation for kintoki azuki which is a large, sweet, red bean.

kokugo gakkō: Native (in this case, Japanese) language school.

Konkokyo: Church.

Kumamoto-Ken: The prefecture of Kumamoto, located on the southern island of Kyushu in Japan.

manjū: Bean-paste bun.

matsutake: A well-known type of mushroom with a distinct smell which are found under pine trees and are very expensive.

miso: Soybean paste, often used in Japanese cooking.

mochi: Japanese rice cake.

mochigashi: Sweet bean jam rice cake.

mura: Town or village.

Nichiren: A sect of Buddhism.

Nihonburo: Japanese style bath; Japanese style bathing.

Nihonjin(s): Japanese person(s).

Nihonjinkai: Association of people of Japanese ancestry.

Nihonmachi: Japan Town.

Nisei(s): American born children of Japanese immigrants; second generation Japanese Americans.

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

senbei: A Japanese rice cracker.

shibai(s): Theatrical play(s) or drama(s).

shōyu: Soy sauce.

sumō: Japanese style wrestling.

sushi(s): Vinegared rice with fish, etc.

tanomoshii: A mutual financing association; literally means reliable and trustworthy, in this case refers to a group of Japanese Americans (Issei) who pooled their money together to support their community businesses.

usu: A mortar; a bowl used for making senbei.