The Glossary
Hello Sports Fans! Welcome to the unofficial non spell-checked Glossary of Japan. Hopefully this list of people, places, and general knowledge will aid you in your reading of my blog. If not, send me some suggestions at mailto:benginjapan@hotmail.com. Enjoy!
Andee Lim - Exchange student from Malaysia who goes to my school (not in Rotary)
Bizen - A type of traditional Japanese pottery (Also a city about an hour from my house)
Cori Reed - Exchange student from Canada
Doe - A deer, a female deer
ESS - The "English Speaking Society," a not-so-secret club at school where kids with an interest in English speaking come to have fun
Hakama - skirt-like pants worn during various japanese matrial arts, including kendo and kyudo. In kendo, used to obscure foot movements from opponents
Hashi - Chopsticks, sometimes referred to as O-hashi. Materials vary from wood and plastic to ivory and bone
Hiragana - Syllabic writing system for Japanese words
Janna Hall - Exchange student from Virginia
John Davey - English teacher at my school from Canada
Judo - Japanese martial art involved in throwing your opponent
Kanji - System of Japanese writing based on Chinese characters
Katakana - Syllabic writing system for borrowed or foreign words
Koji - My friend at high school who happens to have a nice website full of poetry
Konan High School - A very difficult High School attended by my first Host brother, Shun
Kendo - Japanese martial art involving the sword (shinai)
Kyudo - Japanese martial art involving the bow (yumi)
Mai Watanabe - My host sister, 21, who is studying Dentistry in Chiba
Masatoshi Watanabe - My host father, a children's physician, who enjoys going to lectures and collecting all things dog-related
Miyu Watanabe - My host sister, 18, who is studying English in Kobe
Mayumi Kawai - My second host mother, who works as a pharmacist. Is always laughing (hopefully not a result of the drugs)
MES - My second host father's place of work, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Check it out on the web
Okayama - The Prefecture of Japan in which I live
Okayama City - About an hour away by train or bus, lots of entertainment
Osamu Kawai - My second host father. Oversees the chemical plant of the the MES shipbuilding corporation
Purikura - Shortened form of "Print Club" translated into Japanese, sort of an awesome photo booth
Saeki-san - My next door neighbors in Tai. The father, Jirou, is an excellent guitar player. The mother, Harumi, is a good cook. The son, Takurou, goes to Konan, the same school as my first host brother, Shun
Sensei - Title given to doctors, teachers, and various other professional positions
Shinkansen - High speed bullet train
Shoko Watanabe - My host mother, enjoys painting
Shun Watanabe - My host brother, 16 years old
Sumo - Japan's traditional form of wrestling. Competitors enter the ring (dohyo) wearing only the waistband-loincloth (mawashi)
Tai - The part of Tamano where my second host family, Kawai-san, lives
Tamano - My town in Japan
Tamano High School - Also known as Tamako, about 15 minutes away by bike
Tanaka-san - A man who lives close to my house and has traveled the world, picking up many languages. He teaches english for free and sometimes I help in the evenings
Tomoya Kawai - My second host brother. Plays the base and attends Uno Middle School
Wataru - My friend who is a 3rd year student at Tamano High School. Plays in a band called HOOP with three other Tamano High School students
Andee Lim - Exchange student from Malaysia who goes to my school (not in Rotary)
Bizen - A type of traditional Japanese pottery (Also a city about an hour from my house)
Cori Reed - Exchange student from Canada
Doe - A deer, a female deer
ESS - The "English Speaking Society," a not-so-secret club at school where kids with an interest in English speaking come to have fun
Hakama - skirt-like pants worn during various japanese matrial arts, including kendo and kyudo. In kendo, used to obscure foot movements from opponents
Hashi - Chopsticks, sometimes referred to as O-hashi. Materials vary from wood and plastic to ivory and bone
Hiragana - Syllabic writing system for Japanese words
Janna Hall - Exchange student from Virginia
John Davey - English teacher at my school from Canada
Judo - Japanese martial art involved in throwing your opponent
Kanji - System of Japanese writing based on Chinese characters
Katakana - Syllabic writing system for borrowed or foreign words
Koji - My friend at high school who happens to have a nice website full of poetry
Konan High School - A very difficult High School attended by my first Host brother, Shun
Kendo - Japanese martial art involving the sword (shinai)
Kyudo - Japanese martial art involving the bow (yumi)
Mai Watanabe - My host sister, 21, who is studying Dentistry in Chiba
Masatoshi Watanabe - My host father, a children's physician, who enjoys going to lectures and collecting all things dog-related
Miyu Watanabe - My host sister, 18, who is studying English in Kobe
Mayumi Kawai - My second host mother, who works as a pharmacist. Is always laughing (hopefully not a result of the drugs)
MES - My second host father's place of work, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Check it out on the web
Okayama - The Prefecture of Japan in which I live
Okayama City - About an hour away by train or bus, lots of entertainment
Osamu Kawai - My second host father. Oversees the chemical plant of the the MES shipbuilding corporation
Purikura - Shortened form of "Print Club" translated into Japanese, sort of an awesome photo booth
Saeki-san - My next door neighbors in Tai. The father, Jirou, is an excellent guitar player. The mother, Harumi, is a good cook. The son, Takurou, goes to Konan, the same school as my first host brother, Shun
Sensei - Title given to doctors, teachers, and various other professional positions
Shinkansen - High speed bullet train
Shoko Watanabe - My host mother, enjoys painting
Shun Watanabe - My host brother, 16 years old
Sumo - Japan's traditional form of wrestling. Competitors enter the ring (dohyo) wearing only the waistband-loincloth (mawashi)
Tai - The part of Tamano where my second host family, Kawai-san, lives
Tamano - My town in Japan
Tamano High School - Also known as Tamako, about 15 minutes away by bike
Tanaka-san - A man who lives close to my house and has traveled the world, picking up many languages. He teaches english for free and sometimes I help in the evenings
Tomoya Kawai - My second host brother. Plays the base and attends Uno Middle School
Wataru - My friend who is a 3rd year student at Tamano High School. Plays in a band called HOOP with three other Tamano High School students
