Glossary

Who did a what with his what now?

"Memoirs" contains a lot of Japanese names and terms. For those not familiar with the language, many of them may be difficult to remember, or their significance may not be apparent. Therefore, this page is a compilation of all the Japanese names and terms that appear in their story, how they are written, and what they mean.

A

• Akagane (赤金) - "Copper"
• Atashi (あたし) - "I", first-person pronoun used by girls
• Azuki (小豆) - "Red bean"

B

• Bake-inu (化け犬) - "Monster Dog"
• Bokusenou (朴仙翁) - "Venerable Magnolia Sage" (canon character)

C

• Chan (ちゃん) - An honorific typically applied to and used by children or close female friends
• Chokutou (直刀) - (A double-edged straight-bladed sword)

D

• Dono (殿) - An honorific used to convey respect for someone of equal or lesser status

E

• Eika (詠歌) - "Poem"

F

G

• Genkyou (減響) - "Decrease Resonance"

H

• Hisui (翡翠) - "Jade"

I

• Ihoujin (異邦人) - "Outsider"

J

• Jorougumo (女郎蜘蛛) - "Spider Mistress"

K

• Kakyou (加響) - "Increase Resonance"
• Kane (金) - "Money"
• Kane (鐘) - "Bell"
• Kannushi (神主) - (A Shinto priest)
• Kogane (黄金) - "Gold"
• Koma-inu (狛犬) - (This term does not translate, and is the name of the pair of lion-dog statues that guard Shinto shrines)
• Kougyoku (光玉) - "Ball of Light"

L

M

• Midoriko (翠子) - "Green Child" (canon character)
• Miko (巫女) - (A Shinto priestess)
• Mokuzenmei (黙然鳴) - "Mute Knell"
• Myouga (冥加) - "Divine Protection" (canon character)

N

• Naginata (長刀) - (A Japanese polearm with a sword blade at the tip)
• Nomi (ノミ) - "Flea"

O

• Omosaki (面崎) - "Mask Cape"
• Oni (鬼) - (A mythological humanoid creature typically depicted with fangs and horns)
• Onishika (鬼鹿) - "Oni Deer"
• Onitengu (鬼天狗) - "Oni Tengu" (A tengu is a mythological creature with a crow's body and a man's face, with a long, beak-like nose)
• Oniuma (鬼馬) - "Oni Horse"
• Ore (俺) - "I", first-person pronoun used by men

P

Q

R

• Ryakki (掠鬼) - "Robbing Oni"
• Ryuukessei (龍血精) - "Dragon Blood Born"

S

• Saihakujin (西白人) - "Western White Person" - a nonsense word that is the miswriting of "Yonhyakuhachi" (四百八)
• Sama (様) - An honorific used to convey respect, setting them at a higher status than the speaker
• San (さん) - An honorific used to convey impersonal respect, setting the person equal to the speaker
• Sansazume (三叉爪) - "Three-forked Talon"
• Shigeka (草花) - "Grass and Flowers"
• Shikon no Tama (四魂の玉) - "Jewel of Four Souls" (canon item)
• Shirabyoushi (白拍子) - (Heian-era female court performances)
• Shishi-gami (獣神) - (Beast God)
• Shishigari Wanami (鹿狩罠網) - "Hunter's Snare"
• Souzou Tennou (創造天王) - "Lord of Creation"

T

• Takemori no Masakiyo (竹森之雅清) - "Brightly Refined One of the Bamboo Forest"
• Tamaokuri no Nari (霊送りの鳴り) - "Soul-sending Chime"
• Tougoku (東国) - "Eastern Country"

U

• Unjouden (雲上殿) - "Cloudtop Palace"

V

W

• Wan (ワン) - "Woof"

X

Y

• Yachouon (夜潮音) - "Sound of Waves at Night"
• Yakurou Dokusen (薬老毒仙) - "Elder of Medicine, Sage of Poison" (canon character)
• Yari (槍) - "Spear"
• Yarisugi (やり過ぎ) - "Overkill"
• Yonhyakuhachi (四百八) - "Four hundred and eight"
• Youkai (妖怪) - (Generic term for a range of Japanese supernatural creatures)
• Youki (妖気) - "Youkai Aura" (canon term)

Z