Ink

Ne:

“Isn’t it?” It can also be used as “Hey!” to get someone’s attention (like “Ne, Tanaka”)

Nerikiri:

A sweet white-bean-paste cake eaten during a tea ceremony

Nikujaga:

A Japanese dish of meat and potatoes

Noren:

An awning hung over the doorway of a shop

Ohayo:

“Good morning”

Oi:

“Hey”

Okaeri:

“Welcome home,” said when one arrives home

Okonomiyaki:

A Japanese pancake or pizza-type dish where diners choose the ingredients that go into the dish, such as cabbage or other veggies, noodles, meat or fish

Okyaku-sama:

Guests/customers

Omiyage:

Souvenirs

Onigiri:

Rice balls

Ore sa, kimi no koto ga...(suki):

“I like you” or more literally “About you, I, you know… (like you).” This is a common way for a boy to confess he likes someone

O-Torii:

The giant orange Shinto gate at Itsukushima Shrine

Peko peko:

“I’m starving,” usually said by younger children or girls to be cute

Purikura:

Print Club, little sticker pictures taken and printed by machines at arcades or department stores

Purin:

A popular Japanese pudding

Sado:

The tradition of tea ceremony

Saitei:

“You’re the worst,” something despicable

Sakura:

The cherry blossoms

Sankyu:

“Thank you”

Sasa:

A bamboo tree used for Tanabata festivities

Seifuku:

Japanese school uniform based on the look of old sailor uniforms

Senpai:

A kneeling stance used in kendo

Senpai:

A student older than the speaker

Shinai:

A sword made of bamboo slats tied together, used for kendo

Shinkansen:

The bullet train

Shoudo:

The tradition of calligraphy

Shouji:

A traditional rice-paper door

Sonna wake nai jan:

“It’s not like that!”

Sou da na:

“I guess that’s right.”

Sou ka:

“Is that right?”

Sou mitai:

“Looks that way”

Sou ne:

“You’re right, aren’t you?” or “That’s right, isn’t it?”

Su-ge:

“Wow,” slang form of sugoi Suki:

“I like you”

Sumi:

An ink stick, ground against the suzuri to make ink Sunpu- jou:

Sunpu Castle

Suzuri:

An inkstone, used in making liquid ink

Tadaima:

“I’m home,” said by one arriving home

Taihen da ne:

“That’s tough” or “That’s a difficult situation.”

Tanabata:

A holiday celebrating the stars Altair and Vega reuniting in the sky

Tatami:

Traditional mat flooring made of woven straw

Te m e :

A really foul way to call someone “you.” Usage is not ad-vised!

Tenugui:

A headband tied under the men helmet Tomodachi:

“Friends”

(Ton)katsu:

A breaded, deep-fried (pork) cutlet

Tsuki:

A kendo hit to the throat

Ume:

Plum tree

Unagi:

Eel