We have begun adding to the glossary, that great volume of blue-highlighted words you are oft to see when playing the game. We definitely hope to add more when time allows, but the translation itself will come first, of course.

Be sure to note that the glossary entries will be translated directly from the game. Most of this information is very obscure, obviously, because it’s a glossary of Japanese (and foreign) culture information that Japanese people aren’t expected to automatically know. Some of them are very strange and hard to make sense of (those involving passages from old books especially, because of archaic grammar structures I haven’t mastered yet.), but we will add links to relevant information where possible, or jot down a note or two that might make sense, if possible.

A

Abduction – アブダクション

The direct translation in Japanese is “yuukai” (TN: kidnapping). It refers to incidents of abductions by aliens, or UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects / Mikakunin Hikou Buttai), of witnesses who are usually taken against their will.
“They took samples of my blood.”
“A metal implant was found in my body.”
“I have no memory of the time in which I was abducted.”
…among others, are typical hallmarks of the experience.
It is also part of the vocabulary in studies of logic, but explaining how in a single entry would be difficult.

Abe no Seimei – 安倍晴明 (Link)

Abe no Seimei – 安倍晴明 (Link)
Appears in a number of stories in the beginning of Konjaku Monogatari as an uncommonly gifted Onmyouji, his existence is the personification of his field.
Seimei’s senior schoolmate, Kamo no Yasunori, who also served as Chief Court Astrologer, taught his calender-making skills to his son, Mitsuhide, while his skills in astronomy went to Seimei, thus the Abe (later, Tsuchimikado) family started a line of Onmyoudou of equal standing to the Kamo family, and after the Kamo family line was cut off, became the only family name in the practice. (TN: You might be confused as to why it’s called “astronomy” and not “astrology.” The truth is, I am too.)
After receiving instruction in astronomy, Seimei’s last official position was that of Astronomy Professor of the Bureau of Onmyou, and though he never served as Chief Court Astrologer, when you consider that his place in the court hierarchy was Junior Rank 4, Lower Grade, it is clear that his position was quite important. (TN: The Bureau of Onmyou – 陰陽寮 – was an office of the Ritsuryou law system, located in the Ministry of the Center, one of its eight Ministries of the State. As for Seimei’s rank, here is a good source to get a feel for the hierarchy.)
Legend has it that his mother was a shape-shifted fox, and the roots of Seimei’s power as an Onmyouji reside in that lineage. His mother’s name is known as Kuzu no Ha (TN: Note that this means “tsudzura leaf”), but apparently this wasn’t before the existence of a Kabuki play in the Genroku Period.
One story has her fleeing the house when Seimei discovers her true nature, after which, yearning for his mother, he visits her in Shi no Da Forest, while in another, she runs away and lives under a bridge out of fear of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, the shikigami animated by Seimei…… One can’t say whether he loved her or hated her, but all of these stories are truly full of human foibles.

Abhidhamma Piṭaka – Ronzou – 論蔵 (Link)

A collection of notes and interpretations – and the philosophical doctrines derived thereof – regarding the Sutta Piṭaka, namely to ensure that the sutras are read and understood correctly.

Akakagachi – アカカガチ

A linguistic confusion of the base word “yamakagashi” that became “akakagashi.” The yamakagashi typically seen in Japan is written in two variations, 山棟蛇 and 赤棟蛇 (TN: the first letters being “yama – mountain” and “aka – red” respectively), and the ones with strong red coloring have often been called “akakagashi.”
At any rate, “akakagachi” is written 赤酸漿—— in other words, a hohodzuki, and has been used since long ago as an allegory to a snake’s eye. (TN: Hohodzuki – a type of lantern used in certain festivals, particularly Obon, I believe. It is made of a hollowed out fruit with a light inserted. Shines in bright red. Akakagachi is an archaic word for this object.)

Its eyes are as akakagachi, of one body,
with eight heads and eight tails.

-Kojiki passage

“Autumn comes borne on boredom born of ennui” – 飽きが来るから秋が来る – Aki ga kuru kara aki ga kuru

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
This very forced attempt to translate a pun might sound only slightly more lame than its original version, which is so obvious, even a foreigner like myself can think of it. For example, in Aoi Shiro, when I heard Momoko’s full name was Akita Momoko, and seeing her character, I instantly thought of her as “I’m bored!” Momoko.
The original meaning is about the same as the translation. “When boredom comes, autumn comes.”

B

B-29 – Bii-nijuuku (Link)

The Boeing B-29 Super Fortress. A super long-distance heavy bomber plane in the American Air Force that holds the alternate name “Flying Fortress,” and if you combine the different variations, there were about forty planes manufactured altogether.
The first finished bomber was delivered in June, 1943. Developed with a budget of three billion dollars over a span of three years, it was capable of bomb attacks from high speeds at ten thousand meters in height, and had the ability to render conventional anti-aircraft defenses ineffective.

Big tsudzura, or little tsudzura? – 『大きい葛と小さい葛どっちがいい？』

(Not in the original glossary)

This question occurs at the end of a Japanese folktale. Unfortunately, I can’t find out which one, but the concept is used throughout Japan as a way to judge a person’s character. Remember that “Tsudzura” is arrowroot, of which almost every part can be used for either food or medicine. Most people would naturally pick the bigger one, but the idea is that as you grow more mature, you begin to think harder about which one you need.

Bonshou – 梵鐘

Another name for the tsurigane found in Buddhist shrines, rung on Oomisoka, or Japanese New Year’s Eve, in a widely practiced ritual known as Joya no Kane, one ring for each of the carnal desires said to plague humanity. (TN: 108 in total.) Because the Japanese rely on it for Bon and Shougatsu, it gets its name—— most likely NOT for that reason.
Due to harsh criticism of the inscription carved on the bonshou at Houkouji, “country and house, peace and tranquility,” the Toyotomi Family fell into ruin.

C

Count Dracula – ドラキュラ伯爵 – Dorakyura Hakushaku (Link)

In light of his inordinate fame, the name has come to define and represent vampires in general, but it is the proper name for the vampire who appeared in Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. Up until then, vampires were portrayed as nothing more than fearsome monsters, thus it has earned acclaim for giving them their aesthetic image, but that change came with the movie adaptation. In the original work, he was an elderly man with a long, white beard.
“Dracula” was an alternate name given to the real life model of the character, Vlad, the ruler of the Principality of Wallachia, and holds the meaning “dragon’s child” or “demon’s child.” Other than Dracula, he also had the name “Vlad Ţepeş,” meaning “Vlad the Impaler,” derived from when he impaled 23000 enemy soldiers and decorated the streets with their corpses to erode their morale.

Crane’s Recompense, The – 鶴の恩返し – Tsuru no Ongaeshi (Link)

Also known by the title, “The Crane Wife.”
One day, unto a man who saved a wounded crane comes a beautiful woman who becomes his wife. She later comes to weave a cloth that sells for a high price, under the one condition that the man must never look at her while weaving. When he does, instead of the woman, he sees a crane weaving cloth out of its own feathers—— the crane, who was his wife, then flies away.
Japan is a country known for the gratitude of its people, and cats, tadpoles, even Jizou statues will repay good deeds. Cranes and turtles, known as auspicious beasts who live for many thousands of years, would be no exception.

Croquembouche – クロカンブッシュ (Link)

A large pastry consisting of many miniature choux (the breaded portion of profiteroles, the meaning of the word being “cabbage” in French, stemming from its shape) and sugary sweets piled into a cone shape and decorated with candies.
The French prepare this dish for weddings, Christmas, baptisms and other such important events.
“Bouche” is “mouth” and “croque” is “crunch,” for a combined meaning. The crunchy sensation of almonds boiled down in sugar is called “croquant.”

Cupid’s Arrow

“Cupid” is the English adoption, but in Roman divine myth, it is “Cupido.” In Grecian myth, he corresponds to the son of Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty), Eros.
Eros carried arrows of gold and arrows of lead. Those pierced by the gold arrows would fall into an absolute romantic love with the first person they saw, while the lead arrows had the exact opposite effect. His marriage to Psyche is also tied in with these arrows. Because Psyche was an atypically beautiful girl, Aphrodite, in her distaste for the mortal, ordered Eros to make her fall in love with a hideous man. Just as he was about to put his arrow to the task, Eros pricked his finger, and found his heart stolen by Psyche.

D

Daruma-san has fallen down – だるまさんが転んだ – Daruma-san ga koronda

You must never move while the oni’s looking – is the rule that this traditional children’s game goes by. The players are divided into one oni against the rest, and as the oni covers her/his face and chants the ten syllables “da-ru-ma-sa-n-ga-ko-ro-n-da,” the others close in. The oni is able to capture anything she/he sees moving, and if all players are caught, then the oni wins.
Daruma-san refers to the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism, St. Bodhidharma, who went from India to the Shaolin Monastery in China, said to sit facing the wall for nine years without moving even once. Perhaps that is why, in this children’s game, they say “Daruma-san has fallen down!” It is also said that St. Bodhidharma not only transmitted Buddhism to the temple, but Kung Fu as well, and after his transfiguration crossed to Japan, where legend has it that he came into contact with Prince Shoutoku, an avid follower of Buddhism.

To think an oni would be chanting of such a great sage having “fallen down,” the game has a rather deep meaning in spite of itself.

Doutaku – 銅鐸 (Link)

A bronze instrument in the shape of a thin, constricted bell, constructed during the Yayoi period, though while it is thought that a bell tongue was hung from inside and used to make sounds, rather than a musical instrument, its usage was reserved for religious ceremony. Unlike bronze swords and pottery, this is an item that was developed and given birth in Japan.

Dragon Palace – 竜宮城 – Ryuuguujou

A different world in which the King of Dragons is said to live. A type of “wandering house.”
A character with numerous appearances in Buddhist myth, Son Gokuu of the epic novel, Saiyuuki, obtains his lifelong weapon, Myoikinkobou from the Dragon King of the Eastern Seas, Goukou, extracting it by force.

E

En no Gyouja – 役の行者

Refer to the entry regarding Odzunu.

Enju – 槐

A deciduous tree from the Pinaceae family. It grows to a height of about 15-20 meters, and blooms with white flowers in the shape of butterflies around August. After the flowers scatter, a bean pod-like fruit grows in their place.
The name “Enju” is a linguistic corruption of the old name “Enisu,” and in the scientific name, “Sophora japonica,” “japonica” means “of Japan,” but the tree actually originated in China.
When Buddhism was transmitted to Japan, the Enju was brought over as a medicinal tree, mainly by way of dried Enju flowers, Kaika (槐花), and the Kaikaku (槐角) that grow from the fruit, but aside from those, almost all of the tree, including the leaves, fruits, young branches, all bark aside from the phellem, and the sap from the trunk, can all be used as medicine.
In Chinese, the name is written as “槐樹” and read as “huái shù” and that word is derived from another word, “huái yùn,” which signifies an expectant couple, thus it is a Chinese custom for such couples to hang an Enju branch under the overhang of their roof to wish for children. In Japan as well, it is planted in Hachiman territory all over the country as a “Koyasu no Ki (子安の木),” a tree planted to wish for safe childbirth. This is because such a tree was recorded present when Empress Jinguu gave birth to Emperor Oujin, the historical figure who is the object of worship at Hachiman Shrines.

Extremes – 太極 – Taikyoku

___ that becomes a source.
The phenomena of this world, extremes that are the source for all things, are divided into poles to become yin and yang, and since, in yin and yang, there is always yang that exists in yin and yin that exists in yang, these are separated into four separate phenomena, and these four similarly divided into the eight Hakke.
Incidentally, the “Tai Chi” of “Tai Chi Chuan” (太極拳) is written with the same characters as “extreme.”

F

Fireworks – 花火 – はなび

(Not in original glossary)
The Japanese word for fireworks, “hanabi,” literally means “flower fire.” The word for “spark” is “hibana,” and also has the “flower” character. In fact, both words have the same kanji, only backwards. This is why you will see the word “bloom” associated with fireworks in the translation.
Also, Japanese sparklers are different from ours – or American ones, at least – in that the spent part falls, often causing it to go out if you aren’t holding it straight and steady. Thus, it often becomes a cooperative game to keep your sparkler lit, while lighting your friends’ after they’ve gone out.

Fox Bride’s Wedding Procession – 狐の嫁入り (Link)

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
In much the same way as Americans have their little myths about sunshowers, or rain where no clouds are seen in the sky, the Japanese have one as well, called “the fox bride’s wedding.” See the link for more details.

Furisode – 振り袖

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
A long-sleeved kimono. You can find a picture of one here, but it’s only the sleeves that look anything like Nozomi’s kimono. You can see a picture of the oni twins in the character page.

G

God of the Mountain – 山の神 – やまのかみ

Since time immemorial, the mountains were the domain of the gods.
Reaching up high, they were the places closest to the heavens, all the while reaching deep into the earth, an entrance to the underworld.
Throughout the world’s religions, there are divine myths that follow the basic pattern of a god descending upon a mountain summit, just as the Tenson descended from the sunlit mountaintop of Mt. Takachiho, as written in the Kiki writings. (TN: Kiki – the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki. These are also items in the glossary.)

Great Sage of Heaven – 斎天大聖 – Seiten Taisei

Refer to the entry regarding Son Gokuu.

H

Hackin’ Beef Hamburger – ハッキンビーフハンバーガー

A foreign fast food restaurant of the international franchise, famous for the jingle that goes, “Of course there’s one in my town, and prob’ly one in your town, too.♪” There is even one in Hemidzuka.
The Steak Burger, with its thickly-sliced beef wedged between two buns, is a popular item, but not well liked at present time among people with bad teeth. The Sea Urchin Burger, along with other such Japanese-styled menu items, is not unique to Japan, but is rather from a reverse-imported menu that started with the Sushi Burger.
Nickname: Hack. Its mascot is a man wielding a chainsaw. (TN: By the way, “Makku,” or “Mac” is an often used nickname for this restaurant’s real life counterpart in Japan.)

Hakke – 八卦 (Link)

Heaven – Swamp – Fire – Lighting – Wind – Water – Mountain – Earth all symbolize the natural phenomena of the world, as molded by this group of eight.

The phenomena of the Earth begin as the extremes that are the foundation of everything, split into polar distinctions which become yin and yang. For both yin and yang, there exist the yang within the yin, and yin within the yang, which create four phenomena, which are further divided into the eight Hakke. It is also said that the groupings among the eight Hakke create fourteen more ke. (TN: ke – element)

“The element of ____ is prominent,” is a phrase often often used in divination, and since the extremes that provide the foundation of everything are connected, it is possible to simulate the outcome with sticks.
Relative to their respective elements above, the eight ke are Ken (乾) – Da (兌) – Ri (離), Shin (震), Son (巽), Kan (坎), Gon (艮), Kon (坤).

Hakumenkinmoukyuubi no Daiyouko – 白面金毛九尾の大妖狐 – The White-faced, Gold-haired, Nine-tailed Great Fox Beast

It is said that an object, after existing a hundred years, comes to be possessed of a soul, and living things naturally earn a similar distinction. Even before then, by and large, foxes are said to grow an increasing number of tails the longer they live, and display stronger power with each additional tail.

The nine-tailed fox known by the name Tamamo no Mae was said to bewitch the kings of China and India and lead the countries to ruin before doing the same in Japan, a great fox and courtesan who gained in majesty as she crossed the three countries. Beginning with the history book known as Shinmeikyou, which covers the events from the time of Emperor Jinmu to Emperor Hanazono, she is featured in my traditional stories.

Crossing to Japan alongside the Japanese embassy to china, Tamamo no Mae disguises herself as a beautiful woman and earns the favor of Emperor Toba, but due to the efforts of a certain Onmyouji – the fifth generation descendant of Abe no Seimei – Abe no Yasuchika (some theories place the identity at Abe no Yasunari instead), her true nature is discovered, and is struck down in the lands of Nasuno in Tochigi Prefecture by the efforts of several of the greatest warriors at the time – Miura no Yoshiaki, Chiba Unetane, and Kadzusa Hirotsune. However, Tanamo no Mae’s malice did not die, instead remaining as the Sesshouseki, or the Killing Stone, and released a toxic gas that killed many living things until being broken by a monk of the Muromachi Period, Gennou.

Thus nine-tailed foxes were known as creatures to be hated and feared, though there was one who served Shun, one of the a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sovereigns_and_Five_Emperors” target=”_blank”>Five Emperors of ancient Chinese legend, and wed the holy emperor Yu. Also, in the Shan Hai Jing, a geographical account that nevertheless reads much like a monster reference manual, the nine-tailed fox was portrayed as “a beast that devours human flesh and makes the sound of a crying infant,” and was also seen as an auspicious omen.

Halo – 光背 – Kouhai

The decorations placed behind the back of Buddha statues, in a representation of back light, can be seen not only in the orient, but in the icons of the Christian church as well. Such representations are referred to as “haloes.”

Hatohanezumi – 鳩羽鼠

A color like the feathers of a rock pigeon, a purplish-tinted deep gray. When there is a stronger purple, it is called “hatobamurasaki”, and in the case of a brighter orange, it is called “hatoba.”

Also read as “hatobanezu.” Dove gray.

Hebi no me, kagame, kagami no me – へびのめ、かがめ、かがみのめ

(TN: Not in original glossary)

The original text of this poetic phrase reads:

Hebi no me, kagame, kagami no me—— kagami wa kage wo utsushi toraeru—–

Those who went through the Hemidzuka Regional History Museum scenes in Tsudzura’s route might understand the first three, where by a mixture of age-old worship, associations, and linguistic corruptions, the word “kagami,” or “mirror,” is theorized to come from “snake’s eye,” or “kagame.”
The latter phrase takes it a step further by turning “mirror” into “shadow,” or “kage,” and by extension, “kagemi,” or “watching shadows.” The language connected with eyes or watching, in Japanese, includes phrases like “to reflect (utsusu)” or “to capture (toraeru).”

In other words, through association and wordplay, Nozomi recites an utai, or Noh chant, which acts as a suggestion to increase her power over Kei.

Hidarimae – 左前

A kimono is called “hidarimae” when it is worn folded so as not to show the left side of the cloth, instead folding it to touch the wearer’s skin.
Garments used to clothe the dead are worn hidarimae, so for a living person to wear their clothes this way is frowned upon and considered bad luck. However, there are certain sects of Buddhism and some ancient tomb murals where one can see people wearing hidarimae clothing.

Himiko – 鬼弥呼 (Link)

The queen of Yamataikoku, a country whose existence is acknowledged in the oldest work of literature written with regard to Japan, Sanguozhi, particularly the “Wei Zhi” records located within it.

There is a passage regarding Himiko that reads, “She occupied herself in practices of kidou (鬼道), bewitching the people.” Oni in Chinese is read “ki,” and indicates the souls of the dead, thus the writings depict her as a shrine maiden with the abilities of an “itako”, which coupled with her advanced age, lead people to believe that she was a symbolic queen rather than queen by practice. In ancient times, mirrors, rather than being used for their actual purpose, have stronger significance as ritual objects, and it says in the writings that Himiko received one hundred bronze mirrors from the Kingdom of Wei. (TN: Kingdom of Wei – China. Itako – a miko, or shrine priestess, who stands on the boundary between living and spirit worlds, with the power to summon ghosts.)

Her status as the first Japanese ruler acknowledged in literature, coupled with her name – Himiko, in other words, Hi no Miko (日の巫女) or “Shrine Priestess of the Sun” – leads some to believe that she herself might be Amaterasu no Oomikami, and that the writings of the Nihon Shoki attributed her with the title of Empress.

Hi no Kagutsuchi no Kami – 火之迦具土神 (Link)

Since he was the god of fire, when his mother, Izanami no Mikoto, gave birth to him, she bore horrible burn wounds, and as such descended into the country of Yomi.

Because of that, the father god Izanagi no Mikoto beheads the newborn god with his sword, Totsuka no Tsurugi, thus ending the life of this unfortunate god. Apparently children were never able to choose their parents, even as early as the time of divine myth.

Hoozuki – 鬼灯 (Link)

A plant from the Solanaceae Family that bears fruit similar to a paper lantern. People often play with it by removing the contents and blowing into it to make sounds, but its color is an unusual shade of red, thus Matsuo Bashou writes:

鬼灯は (Hoozuki ha)
Hoozuki liken
実も葉も殻も (Mi mo ha mo kara mo)
By fruit, by leaf, and by shell

紅葉哉 (Momiji kana)

To scarlet Maple

…Its color is such to inspire this haiku, and it even holds the alternate name “kagachi.” (TN: As written, the characters translate to “shining blood.” This is the same fruit referred to in the “Akakagachi” entry.)

City streets decorated with hoozuki are a savored feature of the summer season, and the ones used to decorate the shrine in Asakusa between July 9th and 10th are well known. Hoozuki are a staple decoration of the Bon Festival, and serve as a guiding fire to welcome the spirits of one’s ancestors.

Houichi the Earless – 耳無し芳一の話 – Mimi-nashi Houichi no Hanashi

A story comprising the anthology, 怪談 / Kwaidan, authored by Lafcadio Hearn.
In the land of the ruined Heike, there was a shrine to mourn the soldiers who died at the battle of Dannoura. A blind monk who lived in that shrine, the Biwa Priest Houichi, was visited by a messenger one night, ordering him to perform his tale. However, this messenger was undead – a spirit of Heike. (TN: “Messenger” and “undead” in Japanese are homophones: Shisha (使者 – messenger) and Shisha (死者 – dead person). The idea is actually pretty close to the word “angel” or “herald,” but that image doesn’t quite fit “the dead,” despite the thematic similarity.)
Out of concern for Houichi’s safety, the other monks of the shrine write Buddhist sutras across his body to hide him from the spirits. However, the only pieces of his body they forgot to cover, his ears, wound up being taken away by the dead.

Care takes a second; injury takes your life. (TN: That’s the literal translation of the Japanese phrase, “注意一秒、怪我一生,” or “chuui ichibyou, kega isshou.” A widely used English equivalent is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Hysterical Strength – 火事場のばか力 – Kajiba no Bakadjikara (Lit. “Hysterical strength at the scene of a fire”) (Link)

Humans are only able to use a limited percentage of the power they actually possess. This is due to limiters put in place to prevent the brain or body from breaking, but in such times as when one is pressured by obvious dangers, such as a fire, there’s understandably no point to that precaution if the body dies, so those limiters are occasionally disengaged.
There are times when inebriated individuals display unexpected superhuman strength, but this is also because their limiters have been removed.

I

Iikagen; tekitou – いいかげん・適当 – “absurd; suitable”

(TN: Not in the original glossary)

The passage this entry refers to has no equivalent in English, as far as I can see. The Japanese word “iikagen,” which I translated as “absurd” can be used in many situations, mostly when someone’s actions, words, or reasoning are going completely overboard.
However, it’s contradictory. Translated literally, the expression is a noun meaning “a setup made just right.” Kei makes note of that contradiction in her thoughts:
“[iikagen] actually means ‘a setup made just right,’ so let alone ‘tekitou,’ it couldn’t fit any better—— come to think of it, even the word ‘tekitou’ is——”
Yes, “tekitou” is another contradictory word. It can be translated as “suitable” or “appropriate,” but also “halfhearted.”

Izanagi no Mikoto – 伊邪那伎命 (Link)

Male god from the country’s creation myth.

After his escape from the underworld, Yomi (refer to Izanami’s entry, if it’s there, or the “creation myth” wikipedia link), Izanagi took a bath to ritually purify himself, at which point the three noble children, Amaterasu Omikami, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto, and Susanoo no Mikoto were born, along with twenty-six other gods. Although this took place after Izanami‘s divorce from Izanagi, Susanoo still refers to her as his mother, so one can reasonably infer that their birth was a product of the two parent gods’ union.

After this event, Izanagi retires from his role and leaves the rule to his three noble children.

Izanami no Mikoto – 伊邪那美命 (Link)

The god of the country’s birth, who appears in the Kiki myths. (TN: “Kiki” is a name used generally to refer to both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki.)
Together with the husband god, Izanagi no Mikoto, she gives birth to fourteen islands and thirty-five gods (if you count the female and male gods who were paired together, then forty in total), but upon giving birth to the god of fire, 火之迦具土神 (Hi no Kagutsuchi no Kami), she is afflicted with horrible burns and descends into the country of Yomi.
It later transpires that Izanagi travels to Yomi to find her, but by then, Izanami had already tasted the food of the underworld country. In other words, she had become a denizen of Yomi.
When Izanagi glances upon the sight of her body, now host to maggots and vermin, and eight gods of lightning, he runs for the world above, chased all the while by the Yomotsuikusa (TN: 黄泉軍 – generals of Yomi) commanded by the eight gods. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave that serves as the boundary between the two worlds, Yomotsuhirasaka (黄泉比良坂), he blocks it with the boulder, Chibiki no Iwa (千引の石), and bids his farewells to Izanami.
The estranged Izanami spat a curse in return, saying, “Oh my beloved, husband of Mikoto, from this day forth, I will wring the life from a thousand of your country’s people in each passing day,” and thus a thousand people began to die, every day.
Thus Izanami, who remained forever in the country of Yomi, came to be known by Izanagi as Yomotsu Ookami (TN: 黄泉津大神 – Great god of Yomi).

J

Jagansou – 蛇含草

Title of a comic story.
Deep in the mountains, there are pythons who will occasionally eat passing travelers and hunters. But, no matter how big the snake is, it has to eat the victim whole, and a whole human body can’t help but stick in its digestive track. When this occurs, it eats grasses to help its digestion. This is where the jagansou joke comes into play.
A man goes to a retirement office and, giving tit for tat, stuffs his gullet full of mochi (rice cake). And would you believe that having to go home with a belly full of nothing but mochi, he puts some jagansou in his mouth and——

“Oh my god! The mochi put on human clothes and sat down!”

(TN: The punchline is that he thought the grass would help with digestion, but in reality it dissolved his body instead.)

K

鏡開き – Kagami-biraki – “Mirror Christening”

(TN: Not in the original glossary)

The literal meaning is “the opening of the mirror,” and refers to the ceremonial cutting of the New Year’s rice cake on January 11th. Those of you who played Tsudzura’s route, do you remember what that’s called? Kagami-mochi! There are loads of significance to be found in the phrase. If you want to learn about it, you should go through her route.
“Kagami-biraki” is also a type of christening ceremony performed at weddings and the like in Japan, where they break a cask of sake (much like we would break a champagne bottle or something).

Kagemi – 影見

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
Those who have played through Tsudzura’s route may realize that this word bears a strong resemblance to “mirror,” or “kagami” in Japanese. The route doesn’t go over it overtly, but this word could be the missing linguistic link between “kagame” and “kagami.”
The literal meaning of the two characters would be “watching shadows.” There are other glossary entries accessible from Tsudzura’s route where I expound on this a bit.

Kagutsuchi – カグツチ

Refer to the entry regarding Hi no Kagutsuchi no Kami.

Kakure-Oni – 隠れ鬼

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
A Japanese children’s game that is akin to hide-and-seek.
The one doing the seeking is termed the “oni,” who closes her/his eyes while the other players find places to hide, occasionally shouting “mou ii kai? (Are you ready?)” to which the others reply either “mada da yo (not yet),” or “mou ii yo (I’m ready).” Unlike the American game of hide-and-seek, the other players are not allowed to move until found, and there is no chase or tag involved.

Kamikakushi – 神隠し (Link)

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
Literally translated from Japanese, it means “hidden away by the gods. In English, this legendary phenomenon is more commonly referred to as being “Spirited Away.” The Miyazaki movie is also based on this concept. (Its original Japanese name was Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi. If you saw this movie and thought it was stupid, you should watch it with subtitles. You’ll be surprised how much the English version was dumbed down.)

A number of kamikakushi legends exist, with the most famous one probably being the story of Urashima Tarou. Such stories typically involve a significant amount of missing time (300 years in Urashima’s case). However, while Japanese people might use the word to refer to a missing person in the present day, typically, they’ll be perfectly aware that the biggest likelihood is that the person ran away, was kidnapped, or killed, etc. In the case of the story Tsudzura was relating, probably the latter.

Kandata – 犍陀多

A character from Akitagawa Ryuunosuke‘s short story, The Spider’s Thread.
A scoundrel at his core. Naturally, he was sent to Hell, but back in his past, when he encountered a tiny spider on a road and almost stepped on it, he stopped his foot and let it escape, thus committing one plainly faint and unworthy act of benevolence. In spite of that, however, Shakyamuni, deciding to rescue him from Hell if possible, finds a spider on a lotus flower in paradise and lowers its thread to Hell. Kandata was plainly a lucky man.

In the end, Kandata fails in his escape due to his own vices, but one could say this story shows per example the inordinate value placed on a small virtue in a sea of evil deeds.

Kashima Shintou-ryuu – 鹿島新当流 (Link)

A sword style established by the sword saint, Tsukahara Bokuden, as a combination between the martial arts of what can be called the two great holy lands of martial disiplines, Kashima and Katori.

The main premise, said to be transmitted only to the successors by word of mouth, appears in the representative military book of the Edo Period, Kouyou Gunkan, only as the description, “To the stone tachi, one place, one tachi, one tachi, and in this way you make distinct three blades of one.” Anything more descriptive than that is still shrouded in mystery.

(TN: The original text of the Gunkan is not only archaic, but seems like a riddle, most likely by design. This is by no means a studied and articulate translation, mind you.)

Kashima Shrine – 鹿島神宮 – かしましんぐう (Link)

A shrine established back during the reign of Emperor Jinmu (and the first shrine ever built). The god worshipped there is Takemikadzuchi no Kami, who was active about the time of the nation’s bequeathing unto human beings. During the Eatern Expedition, when Jinmu’s army was passing through the Kumano region, they fell unconscious from the poison gas of the regional god, who had transfigured into a bear. It was the spirit sword, Futsu no Mitama,sent to the earth by Takemikadzuchi, that dissolved the evil god’s poison mist with its heavenly light. Thus Kashima was built to enshrine the sword.

In the courtyard of the shrine that favors this god is a stone called Kaname Ishi (要石), or “The Cornerstone.” This is a National Protection stone, and is said to extend deep into the earth to keep something sealed. Thanks to certain Ukiyoe that grew popular after the Great Ansei Earthquake, it became widely believed that the stone pressed down on the head of a giant, earthquake-causing catfish, but an older variation tells of a giant serpent encircling the Japanese Islands such that its head overlaps its tail, and the cornerstone is said to calm it. (TN: The Ukiyoe that started the catfish craze is likely the one pictured here.)

ゆるげども

Yurugedomo (even should it lash out)

よもや抜けじの要石
Yomoya nukeji no kaname ishi (the cornerstone shall surely stand firm)

鹿島の神の

Kashima no kami no (as long as the god of Kashima)
あらん限りは
Aran kagiri wa (remains there)

There is a legend in the Filipino island of Mindanao where the gods steady the earth with a pillar, while a giant snake lies at its base. In Norse mythology, the world is encircled by the giant serpent Jörmungandr, which swallowed its on tail to form a ring, and the world tree, Yggdrasil, more than fit to be called a “pillar”, is said to have countless snakes biting at its roots, causing the world to grow unstable.

Kashiwade – 拍手

The practice of clapping your hands together, to make a purifying plosive sound. From a joined position, the hands drift vertically about the length of one joint, then spread out to shoulder width before being brought back together in a clap.
Much the same as the Chinese custom of sounding firecrackers to welcome the New Year, such sounds are said to have the power to drive away evil spirits.

Typically, it is done as two bows, two claps, and one prayer. In the case of Shintou funerals, a soundless (or just quieter) variety, called “shinobite” is used.

Kibidango (Link)

Native specialty of the Okayama region. An item made by dusting a glossed dumpling of glutinous rice and sugar with millet powder, used for feeding animals. Momotarou was able to use these to give orders to his servants.

Kinpukurin – 金覆輪

Fukurin are the gold or silver platings that decorate the edges of katana handguards, sheaths, and horse saddles. “Kin” denotes that the metal is gold rather than silver.

Kojiki – 古事記 – Ancient Chronicles (Link)

Japan’s oldest historical book, comprised of three volumes(Upper, Middle, Lower) that detail the period between the creation of Heaven and Earth and the imperial reign of Empress Suiko, grouped together with the “Nihon Shoki” under the name “Kiki.” Dictated by Hieda no Are and incribed by Oo no Yasumaro into a compilation.

One of the most important compilations, a great percentage of all legends set in Japan draw from it as a source.
Its name used to be read “Furukotobumi,” but in present times, the greatest majority call it “Kojiki.”

Kotodama – 言霊 (Link)

To speak of language, one refers to a spell, used to give thought a concrete form, and as a rule, thought itself is derived from language. Even in cases where one’s imagination is comprised of images in their mind, it is a consciousness derived of language that provides that image with meaning.
Meanwhile, respiration – namely, patterns of breathing – are viewed as having utmost importance in the various types of martial arts that involve damaging attacks. Any sort of “ki” involved relies on methods of respiration throughout the body. While the focus of this game is upon the power dwelling within blood, of the necessities it is used to pass throughout the body, one of these is the oxygen gained from breathing.
Stemming from these to aspects of language and breathing comes the voice, given unto words, and it is only natural for there to be some sort of power attributed to them. This is what you call “kotodama.”
According to the world’s genesis as given in the Old Testament, God said “let there be light,” and thus light was there. Continuing afterward, it was its proclamations through words that changed the form of the world. Shintou priests offer Norito (TN: Shintou ritual prayer), monks chant sutras, and Catholic priests and clergy incant scripture passages. Curses and magical rituals are typically accompanied by long incantations.

Kujira Maku – 鯨幕

A variety of manmaku. It consists of white and black cloth sewn into stripes, and in the present day is typically hung for funeral services, but can also be found hung in some long-established cultural festivals. On the other hand, the auspicious combination of red and white is also known as “manmaku,” with vertically sewed stripes known as “man,” and horizontal stripes known as “maku.” “Maku” such as these were treasured as a wartime implement among warriors, and serve as the origin of the word “Bakufu” that crowns the eras of the Kamakura and Muromachi Edo periods.
As for why white and black are referred to as “kujira maku,” (TN: Lit. “Whale curtain”) there are numerous theories such as “because the colors of a whale’s belly and back are white and black” or “because the skin of whales is black, while the blubber on the underside of it is white”… at any rate, the word is derived from whales. Prior to Japan’s westernization in the Meiji era, the consumption of land-based animal meat was not very widespread, whereas whale meat was eaten in abundance. The Japanese were quite well acquainted with whales. Perhaps if pandas had inhabited Japan, and had a greater influence on daily life than whales, they might have been called “pandamaku” instead.

M

Mary Celeste Incident (Link)

Belonging in the most famous of categories, and ranking among the most mysterious of marine accidents, the story of Mary Celeste is an exemplary incident of human disappearance.
On December 4th, 1872, Mary Celeste was discovered seven hundred miles west of the Portuguese Saint Vincent’s shoreline.
When the discoverers, the shipmates of Dei Gratia, boarded the vessel, the captain and the seven other passengers, including his wife and daughter of two years of age, had left the ship a completely empty shell.
If only there were the telltale signs of being stranded in a storm, or evidence of conflict, this would never have been the least bit mysterious. However…

We received the impression…
…that people had been aboard only minutes before.

Accounts tell of the inside of the vessel having a warm, partially eaten breakfast, a boiling soup pot over a lit burner, a razor from an unfinished shave, and a ship’s log reading “December 4th, My wife Mary” that was left yet unwritten. Truly, it had every indication of the crew being present just moments before discovery, and many points are still shrouded in mystery.

Incidentally, considering that it was a British vessel with a British captain, it would seem that the correct reading from English would be “Me-a-ri” rather than “Ma-rii.” (TN: This last paragraph is only Fumotogawa-sensei proposing a more accurate Japanese adoption of the word “Mary.”)
(TN: By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, these glossary entries are more likely to depict the realities of the Akai Ito universe than our own. If you want a better grasp of the actual details surrounding this incident, you’d be better off reading the Wikipedia article.)

Min – 旻

A priest scholar from the Asuka Period.

Redispatched to China alongside Ono no Imoko as an Imperial Embassy, he spent the next twenty years studying the culture of the Tang Dynasty before returning to Japan in the company of Inugami no Mitasuki. (TN: Mitasuki – another imperial envoy. He crossed over during the Chinese Sui Dynasty, and later became the first embassy to the Tang Dynasty.) In the Taika Reforms to follow, he was appointed to the position of Kuni no Hakushi by the newly established government. Kuni no Hakushi is a type of political position. (TN: Kuni no Hakushi – 国博士 – literally means “Professor [with regard to matters of] the State.” See the link for “Taika Reform” for a few more details.)

Miwa Mountain – 三輸山 – みわやま

A mountain in Nara Prefecture cleanly shaped as a three-sided pyramid. Lies within the precincts of a Shintou shrine that pays homage to the God of Miwa – Oomononushi – and is barred from entry.

Moudouken/Moudoukon – 盲導犬/盲導コン

(Not in the original glossary)
A moudouken is a guide dog. Kei then switches “kon” in to make it “fox” instead of “dog.”

Kei’s guide dog / guide fox switch is something like a pun. The onyomi – or Japanese approximation of the original Chinese pronunciation – for the “dog” character is “ken,” and for “fox,” it is “ko,” but Kei added an “n,” making it “ken” and “kon,” which correspond to the onomatopoeia for a fox’s cry.

God of the Mountain – 山の神 – やまのかみ

N

Nakatomi no Kamatari – 中臣鎌足 (Link)

Worked with Prince Naka no Ooue – who would later become Emperor Tenji – to assassinate Soga no Iruka, and played a prominent role in the Taika Reforms. After that, he took the family name, Fujiwara, and as the progenitor of that powerful family, wielded his political might for a long time after.

With an extensive family line of shintou priests, the name “Nakatomi” was said to mean “standing between humans and gods.” In the disputes against the spread of Buddhism, which could be seen as the rallying cause of the Soga dictatorship, Nakatomi fought alongside the Mononobe and Miwa Clans against the religion’s spread.

The game mentions that this was passed down in the Rikutou, but the above is by Kamatari’s own viewpoint in the Taishokukanden writings.

Nee-sama / Nee-san – 姉さま / ねえさん

(TN: Not in the original glossary)

Younger sisters in Japan typically address their older sisters as “Onee-san.” Though if they’re feeling cheeky, or have a friendly relationship with her, they might use “Nee-chan.” Also, if they’re living in a wealthy family, they might use “Onee-sama.”
However, the usage of this word is not limited to family alone. If you know an older woman, typically about teen or college age, who is kind to you or is oft to help you out, you might call them “Onee-san.” Most of the time, you would say “[their name]-oneesan.” Also, if it is an older woman, perhaps at an age where they would be your mother or aunt, you might use “Oba-san,” but if you lengthen the “a” sound just a little, it would become “Obaa-san,” which means “Grandma,” which is why some women (most likely Sakuya included) will object and insist that you use “Onee-san” or call them by “[their name]-san,” most likely the latter.
And, finally, two more. When you see teenage boys asking a woman out on a date, you might hear them use the word “Nee-chan.” This usage is often translated as “babe.” And lastly, yakuza goons might refer to a female superior as “Ane-san.” This would be the kind of woman who talks really tough, wears a kimono, and has an extravagant lattice of tattoos on her back.

Nie no Chi – 贄の血

A special type of blood passed down through family lines that has been offered to gods and oni since ancient times. By drinking this blood, it is said that inhuman beings can increase the power at their disposal.

Also seen in stories like Saiyuuki, where the Buddhist Monk of Tang, Xuanzang, is targeted by monsters because “by devouring the flesh of a monk, one will cease to age, and by drinking their blood, one can gain immortality.”
In the case of tigers, lions and bears, it is said that one can increase their courage or prowess by eating their hearts, or their flesh and blood, and the idea that one can gain the qualities of special animals by eating some special body part is seen in all sorts of early religions.
There is also the legend of Yaobikuni, a girl who ate a mermaid’s flesh so as to live eight hundred years without aging, and regretting her mistake, later starved herself to death, as well as the legend of Siegfried, who became able to understand the language of birds by eating the heart of a dragon. It could be that the same pattern of thinking lies at the root of these legends.

O

Occult – オカルト (Link)

Originates from a Latin word meaning “that which is hidden,” and is occasionally translated as “the study of the unknown.”
Supernatural phenomena, ghosts and related strangeness, and whatever other incidents that don’t fall into boundaries explained by science and scholarship tend to be pushed into this category.

Ochimizu – 変若水

Water that restores youth.
An old man who left his house to cut grass drinks from a spring and returns home to a very surprised old lady. The old man had returned to a youthful state. After asking the spring’s location, the old lady left the house and wouldn’t return however long he waited, so the old man left for the spring and found a crying baby—— so goes the story of “Ochimizu” as told in Konjaku Monogatari.

There are many instances where Ochimizu is connected to the Moon:

天橋も長くもがも
As one desires the span of the heavens’ bridge…
高山も高くもがも
As one desires the tall mountain heights…
月読の持てる
Held by Tsukuyomi…
変若水い取り来て

The Ochimizu they gather to seize…
君に奉りて
And thus they beseech you…
変若得しむもの
The seekers of youth restored.

Thus it is recited from the Manyoushuu that the Ochimizu is kept by the god of the moon, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. Much in the way that the waned Moon waxes, it must have been thought that drinking the Moon’s water would return youth to an aged body.

Odzunu – 小角 (Link)

Founder of Shugendou, active in the time of Asuka during the reign of Emperor Monmu. Also known as “En no Gyouja (TN: Appointed ascetic),” and “Kamo Enkun Odzunu.”

Born of Katsuragi Kamo, the family that would later become a clan of noble clergy, he mastered the sutras of Mayuri Vidya-raja at a young age, and at the age of thirty, climbed Mt. Katsuragi to undergo training. (TN: Mayuri Vidya-raja – holder of all Buddhist mantras.)
Mayuri Vidya-raja was a feared entity, who was said to have the power to eat and kill any poisonous snake inhabiting the earth.
As described in Shoku Nihongi, “Enkun Odzunu dwelt upon Katsuragi mountain, and was venerated for his sorcery, but due to the false charges brought upon him by his pupil, Karakuni no Jirotari,” was exiled to Itou Island.”

Okaeri – お帰り (Link)

(TN: Not in the original glossary)

A greeting mostly used by a dweller of a home, to a dweller of the same home who just entered. The translation “welcome home” is not quite adequate, because it’s a greeting that almost never goes unsaid. Many anime/manga give this phrase a great emotional significance for the character hearing it (Evangelion being notable among them), mostly because it’s not a phrase they’ve heard very often. Typically, a Japanese person wouldn’t give the phrase a second thought. (I even hear it at work, which is a little scary.)
“Okaerinasai” is a little more formal, though it’s stereotypically used by Japanese mothers (“-nasai” makes it a coaxing request), and “okaerinasaimase” is what you’d more likely hear from a servant than a family member.
The literal translation of “okaeri” is “honorable return.” That sounds really strange, though, so it’s best to think of it as saying, “good of you to be home.” It is said in response to / is responded to by “tadaima.” These two partner phrases don’t have to be said in any particular order, but one almost always answers the other.
By the way, the bow that Tsudzura-chan performs would be done by a servant to a wealthy person, or a very old-fashioned wife, or someone greeting a powerful member of their family, etc. Not something you would normally see in the present day.

Onikiribe – 鬼切部

A name given to the groups of people who make it their calling to slay oni.
Long ago, the name didn’t hold the “kiri” character, instead being called “Onibe,” but due to a decline in the noble families from the years 58X AD to 59X AD, they inserted the “kiri” character and have been called the “Onikiribe” ever since.

Onikiri no Kashira – 鬼切り頭 – Head of the Oni Slayers

The existence that governs the Onikiribe.
After the time in the Heian Period in which the Bureau of Onmyou was established, and the Kamo Family became its directors, there was a tendency for the Chief Court Astrologer (TN: 陰陽頭 – Onmyou no kami) to also take the position of Onikiri no Kashira. In recent years, it has been the head of Wakasugi who inherits this position.

(TN: The Bureau of Onmyou – 陰陽寮 – was an office of the Ritsuryou law system, located in the Ministry of the Center, one of its eight Ministries of the State.)

Onikiri-Yaku – 鬼切り役

Oni slayers appointed to their position by the official decree of the Onikiri no Kashira are called Onikiri-Yaku. Long ago, it was Emperor Kourei‘s third prince and four-circuit shougun, Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto, who had the right to make such appointments.
In situations like in warrior family societies, where the main house takes lead over family and followers, only the representative of that house is given the title, and generally, appointment as Onikiri-Yaku is equivalent to being recognized as the clan head. However, just as there are clans where the clan head and Onikiri-Yaku are different people, there are also clans with multiple people appointed Onikiri-Yaku.

Onmyouji – 陰陽師 (Link)

Users of Onmyoudou.
Onmyoudou is a discipline that crossed over from china, consisting of the ideology and esoteric arts from a combination of Wu Xing and Yin & Yang. However, upon its arrival in Japan, it also came to include curses, and eventually took a form individual to the country.

They performed a number of tasks, including fortune telling, the use of shikigami, demon and disease exorcism as well as the use of medicine-like skills, but their most valued practice was the making of calendars, and there were two positions established in the Onmyou Bureau for the Professors of Rekidou (TN: calendar making) and Tenmon (TN: Astronomy). The well-known Abe no Seimei was also a Professor of Tenmon, and his family crest, known as the “Seimei Seeman,” consisted of a pentagram. (TN: The Bureau of Onmyou – 陰陽寮 – was an office of the Ritsuryou law system, located in the Ministry of the Center, one of its eight Ministries of the State.)

In the game it is explained that an “oni” is equivalent to a human soul, but in China, it has an equal relation to stars. (Soul=oni=star). Death is a suggested meaning of the phrase, “I became a star!” and the most famous examples of this are in Grecian mythology, where according to legend, dead heroes are raised into the night sky to become a constellation.

Oomononushi – 大物主

The god who is paid homage at Miwa Mountain, who appeared before the gods who would create Japan and proclaimed, “If you do not worship me, I doubt this country’s creation will proceed as smoothly as you hope.” His basic nature is of a god who curses, and it is supposed that an epidemic came about during the reign of Emperor Sujin because he was not being worshipped at the time.
Oomononushi is equivalent to Oooninushi, meaning an oni god, or a ruler of evil spirits.

Orochi – オロチ (Link)

A large snake who was the god of a mountain.
In the past, snakes were truly gods. The poison of such a tiny bite that could end in death was widely thought to be a kind of curse. Not to mention its lack of legs and arms, and the shedding of its skin; such characteristics only made more obvious its status as a life form far removed from humans. The word “Joumon” from the Joumon Period comes from their culture of decorating pottery with images of rope knots (nawame – 縄目), but it may be interesting to know that snakes were known by the word “kuchinawa” in ancient times. The culture of Joumon patterned its decorations after snakes.
Even as the country passed into the Yayoi Period, snakes were still gods. To the peasant farmers, whose staple crop was rice, the types of field mice who upset the harvest of their primary crop was the most destructive animal of the time, and the snakes and foxes who preyed on them were more than adequate as objects of worship. However, more serious than the field mice was the question of adequate sunlight, and the highest providence of the gods at the time was stolen by the sun.
As long as you read the kanji normally, 大蛇 will not produce the sound “orochi.” Much like the reading of “tasogare” (TN: 黄昏 – twilight) stems from the synonymous phrase, dare-so-kare (TN: 誰そ彼 – “who is that?”), it could be that the word “orochi,” which indicates a great serpent and mountain god, could stem from a more ancient “worochi;” “wo” being “峰,” (TN: the meaning being “mountain summit”) “ro” being a grammatical particle, and “chi” being “霊” (TN: spirit). (TN: 誰そ彼 – a phrase synonymous with the word “tasogare,” or “twilight,” which has a connotation of ambiguity. It is a time of silhouettes, and also a period of lengthening shadows, thus it’s harder to tell who you’re looking at. Dare-so-kare – although it could be dare-so-gare, da-so-kare, or anything in between – illustrates this concept as connected with “twilight.”)

P

Polar distinctions – 両義 – Ryougi

Two things grouped into a pair as polar opposites. From the distinct extremities come yin and yang, death and life, woman and man, unclean and clean.
(TN: Not all cultures endorse this type of binary thinking. There are some activists for peace and equality who think of these polar distinctions as the most powerful and pervasive form of thought control in existence. For example, in English at least, you often find binaries ordered in terms of importance: “man and woman, subject and object, black and white, aggressor and victim.” This ordering arises from the English linguistic postulate of assigning importance to number, with “one” being the most important, another insistence that you won’t find in all cultures.
Since language influences thought, English minds naturally find associations between the respective upper and lower halves of different binaries. You may have heard such phrases as “the objectification of women” or “the black aggressor.”)

Potsdam Declaration – ポツダム宣言 – Potsudamu Sengen (Link)

America, Britain, and China; named via the joint headquarters of these three countries, this was a joint ultimatum calling for Japan’s unconditional surrender, issued July 26th in the year of 1945.
This policy was adopted in the midst of the Potsdam Conference, which was held in Potsdam, Germany, and the Japanese government announced that they would “kill it with silence,” but after weathering the events of August 6th (the Hiroshima Bombing), August 8th (Soviet declaration of war with Japan), and August 9th (the Nagasaki Bombing), they agreed to those terms on August 14th.

R

Rikutou – 六韜 (Link)

Compiled by Jiang Ziya, the Rikutou are considered one of China’s Seven Military Classics, and consist of six scrolls: Civil Teaching, Military Teaching, Dragon Teaching, Tiger Teaching, Leopard Teaching, and Hound Teaching.

“Tou” holds the meaning of “secret teachings,” and among these six, the Tiger Teachings are typically referred to as “The Tiger Scrolls.”

Another piece of strategic literature, the Sanryaku (or “The Grand Duke’s Art of War”), was compiled by Zhang Liang, a strategist of the Hán State who said he received the teachings from “the yellow boulder hermit,” is often combined with the Rikutou and read “Rikutousanryaku.”

Orin-san – お凛さん

Actual name – Tougou Rin

A classmate of Kei’s whose seat number is two to her front.
A master of the koto instrument and a wealthy Ojou-sama. (TN: Ojou-sama – daughter of a wealthy family) As for exactly how much of an Ojou-sama she might be, her family holds a second home in Switzerland, as well as a Swiss bank account.
According to Kei, she’s one of the few people who shares her love for period drama, but in Rin’s case, she is more into the novels of that genre.
The company managed by her father is developed in the three enterprises of finance, real estate, and building construction.

“——desu wa.”

S

Sagichou – 左義長

Called “Dondo” in the present day. On the 15th of January, the New Year’s pine decorations and sacred shrine ropes are burned, and it is said that if you eat the mochi that are made over those fires, you won’t become ill.
Originally a New Year’s ritual of the imperial court where three Gicchou mallets are tied together as a prop, and items such as fans and poetry cards were burned around the perimeter. This is also chronicled in Yoshida Kenkou‘s Tsuredzuregusa, where it reads, “Sagichau, wherein game-worn gicchou are spirited from Shingonin to Shinsenen to rise in conflagration!” (TN: Video of Shinsenen below)

Written “exploding bamboo” and read “dondo,” there is a ritual in China to celebrate the peak of the New Year with firecrackers (TN: Which is what “dondo” means). In the Han Era classic, Shen Yi Jing (TN: 神異經 – Classic of Divine Wonders), authored by Shuo Dongfang, there is a story that tells of evil spirits who attacked people and brought about pestilence, and were chased off by the plosive sounds of bamboo trunks thrown into fires.

Saiyuuki – 西遊記 (Link)

Counted among the four great classics of Chinese literature, and attributed to the authorship of Wu Cheng’en during the Ming Dynasty, this novel is counted among the Four Great Classics of Chinese Literature.
The Monk of Sānzàng, Xuánzàng (TN: Known in Japanese as Genjou Sanzou Houshi), recruits three companions – Sūn Wùkōng (TN: Son Gokuu), Zhū Bājiè (TN: Cho Hakkai), and Shā Wùjìng (TN: Sa Gojou) – for a pilgrimage to India to obtain powerful sutras. A work of great renown even within Japan, it has served as a source of adapted plots in all manner of contemporary media.

Satsuchi – サツチ

According to the Kojiki, the mountain god who was given birth by Izanagi and Izanami’s creation of Japan, Ooyamatsu Mi no Kami, and the god of plains, Kaya no Hime no Kami, came together in the countryside and shared the birth of eight gods. Two among those eight were Ame no Sadzuchi no Kami and Kuni no Sadzuchi no Kami.
On the other hand, in the Nihon Shoki, following Kuni no Tokotachi no Mikoto (see entry regarding Tokotachi), Kuni no Satsuchi no Mikoto was the second god to take form.

September is Sudden – 九は急

(TN: Not in the original glossary)

The original text reads, “kyuu ha kyuu.” “Nine is sudden.” Nine and sudden are homophones. The verb “to hurry” is written with the same kanji.
One gets the feeling that Kei is hinting that nine might be “kyuu” for a reason.

Seyadatarahime – 勢夜陀多良比売

Princess of Mishima no Mizogui. Together with Oomononushi, god of Miwa Mountain, she gives birth to Himetataraisukeyorihime, who later goes on to wed Emperor Jinmu.

(TN: As far as I am able to tell, the village of Mizogui was assimilated into Ibaraki City, in the Mishima District of Oosaka Prefecture. Visit the link to learn about Jinmu. The rest will be covered in other entries.)

Spanish lifestyle customs – スペインの生活習慣

Spaniards sleep twice, not only in the evening, but noontime as well, in a custom called “la siesta.”

It might seem logical to sleep through hot afternoons in warmer climes, but there are many cultures closer to the equator than Spain that haven’t established afternoon naps as a custom.

Sneezes and Gossip

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
It’s somewhat of a superstition in Japan that if you have an unexplained sneeze – you’re not drenched or cold – that it’s because people are talking about you. The greater the number of sneezes, the more hostile the topic of the conversation.

Son Gokuu – 孫悟空 (Link)

The boulder monkey who sprouted at birth from a mythical stone on the mountain, Huāguŏ Shān, and appears in the well known story, Saiyuuki.
Unbridled since the time of his birth, when he was excommunicated by the Buddhist monks who studied the ways of wizardry, he traveled to Heaven and went into a rampage. The Four Heavenly Kings responded by pitting their celestial soldiers against him, but they were defeated effortlessly and the heavenly rulers were at a loss. Even so, Gokuu was no match for Siddhārtha Gautama, who trapped him beneath the palm of his hand, and thus he remained sealed under the Mountain of Five Elements until Genjou Sanzou Houshi departed on his pilgrimage to India.
While he was rampaging in the Heavenly World, the only one to give him an even match was nephew to the emperor, the strongest warrior, Erlang Shen (TN: Japanese – Jirou Shinkun). Jirou Shinkun fights with Xiàotiān quăn (TN: “Howling Celestial Dog,” “Koutenken” in Japanese.) by his side, and even here, it is possible to feel the depths of resentment between dogs and monkeys. (TN: You will see in points throughout Akai Ito where the writer likens Sakuya and Uzuki’s rivalry to that of these two animals.)

走馬灯 – Soumatou

(TN: Not in original glossary)
A type of Japanese lantern with a revolving partition inside, painted with different images that animate when spun, usually a horse or a rabbit. It’s name here literally means “running horse lantern,” but it is also known as “回り灯籠,” “Mawari Tourou” or “Spinning Cage Lantern.”
In recent times, it has been adapted in a new usage, “Soumatou Experience,” which is the type of Near-Death Experience where your life flashes before your eyes.

Sutta Piṭaka – Kyouzou – 経蔵 (Link)

The collected writings attributed to the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni, and his disciples. Namely, a collection of numerous Sutras. Even in the famous “Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra,” one can see structures that call upon individuals, such as “Oh Sariputra…” (Sariputra was one of Buddha’s disciples.)

T

Tadaima – 只今 (Link)

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
A greeting used to announce the speaker’s return home. It literally means “at this moment,” and doesn’t really have a formal counterpart, unless you feel like adding “-desu,” which is more likely to sound silly than to impress anyone.
This phrase is used as a counterpart to “okaeri.” Please view that entry for more detailed information.

Takamuko no Kuromaro – 高向玄理 (Link)

After crossing to China as an Imperial Envoy for the third time, by way of the Taika Reformation that occurred afterwards, he took on the title of Kuni no Hakushi alongside Min. After that, he once again crossed over to China as an envoy, where he died before he would have returned again. (TN: Kuni no Hakushi – 国博士 – literally means “Professor [with regard to matters of] the State.” See the link for “Taika Reformation” for a few more details.)

Tairyoku no Genkai – 体力の限界 – The Limits of Stamina

The retirement proclamation of the 58th yokodzuna, with a record of 31 straight wins and 145 wins in total. His alias as a sumou was to take on the name of Mt. Fuji, and with the sharp gleam in his eyes, he was often known by the name “Wolf.” Dosukoi. (TN: “Dosukoi” is like a kiai – a yell or grunt of physical exertion – of sorts that is stereotypically used by sumou wrestlers.)

Tale of the Bamboo Cutter – 竹取物語 – Taketori Monogatari (Link)

Determined to be the oldest legend in Japan, the story of Taketori no Okina (TN: Bamboo harvesting old man) and Kaguya-hime (TN: Princess Kaguya) who was born from a bamboo stalk. The old man discovered the immortal woman and raised her as his child. But in the end, she had to return to the heavens, and there was also the story of the five prince suitors. This legend is also mentioned in The Tale of Genji in the phrase (TN: …which is typically, but with some dispute, interpreted as) “the ancestor of all romances.”

Third Niche of the Ox – 丑三つ刻 – Ushi-mitsu-doki

A day used to be comprised of twelve “niches,” and each one was imparted with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. In short, one “niche” is two hours. A half-niche is one hour, and a quarter-niche is thirty minutes. This quarter-niche was the lowest countable unit of time, and time was told by adding “first,” “second,” “third” or “fourth,” onto each passing niche.

In other words, the “third niche of the ox” is the thirty minutes that comprise the time between three o’clock and three-thirty. It is the time in which even night owls are generally asleep.
(TN: “Ushi” is the “ox,” “mitsu” is “three,” and “doki,” is time. At least, it is read as “time” – toki – except it’s at the end of a compound, so the “t” is voiced – but the character actually means “engrave,” which is why I translated it as “niche.”
In case you feel like having a neat insight into Japanese expressions, the verb “engrave” is read “kizamu,” and a clock that is counting the time can be described in such a way as “toki wo kizamu.” The same expression is also applied to heartbeats – “kodou wo kizamu.” If any of you thought that “doki doki” sounds nothing like a heartbeat, then maybe this will help it make sense. Also, in case you’re wondering, yes. I just thought of this because I was translating this entry. Isn’t this game great!? ^_^)

Three Sacred Treasures, the – 三種の神器 – さんしゅのじんき

Yata no Kagami of Ise Shrine, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi of Atsuta Shrine, and Yasakani no Magatama in the imperial palace – these are the three divine treasures of Japan, and serve as the emblems of the imperial throne.

Takemikadzuchi no Kami – 武御雷神

When Izanagi no Mikoto slew Hinokagutsuchi no Kami, the blood upon his sword, Totsuka no Tsurugi, dripped upon the rocks and gave birth to three gods, of which Takemikadzuchi is one.
In light of his birth by sword and flame, his capacity as the god of war is no surprise. He was worshipped at Kashima Shrine, and later became the patron deity of the Fujiwara Clan.

He turned his own arm into a sword blade, and can create giant pillars of frigid ice—— though in writing that, he sounds like some anime or comic character, but it is his exact portrayal. Sitting cross-legged, upside-down, balanced on his sword arm atop a wave crest, all the while supporting other characters (some really heavy ones) and yet still having the composure to think to himself… he must’ve gone through some Yoga training or something.

Tokotachi – トコタチ (Link)

According to the Kojiki, the first gods to take shape were five gods born isolated, who hid their forms. Of these five Koto Amatsu Kami, the last one to take shape was Ame no Tokotachi no Kami.

In the Seven Divine Generations to come next, the first two gods, like the Koto Amatsu Kami, were born isolated and hid their forms, from them, the next ten gods who showed themselves were born next. From them came the final generation, the two gods who gave birth to the country, Izanagi no Kami and Izanami no Kami. In the first of these seven generations, one of the two gods was Kuni no Tokotachi no Kami.
On the other hand, according to the Nihon Shoki, the first god to take form was Kuni no Tokotachi no Mikoto.

According to the Kojiki, it was given subtenancy of the Koto Amatsu Kami and the Seven Divine Generations, and if you consider its role as progenitor in the Nihon Shoki, you can understand exactly how important Tokotachi is.

Tsuchinoko – ツチノコ (Link)

A UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) native to Japan.
Sporting a large ratio of width to its length, at a glance, this snake has a silhouette like that of a beer bottle, and is said to be capable of jumping several meters by rolling to its side.
Numerous municipalities have placed rewards for the creature, and in a certain S Prefecture, S City, there is a reward proposed as high as two hundred million yen for the capture of a living specimen.

Tsukahara Bokuden – 塚原卜伝 (Link)

A swordsperson of the Sengoku Period.

Born to a Shintou clergy family that worshipped the war god, Takemikadzuchi no Kami, at the Kashima Shrine, he also founded the Kashima Shintou style.

After thirty-nine battles and nineteen duels to the death, he remained undefeated. Said to have gone his whole life without defeat, as a warrior, he is worthy to be called a “sword saint.” He is famous for an episode with the dual-wielding Miyamoto Musashi, in which he parried one sword with a set of tongs and blocked the other with a soup pot lid, but this was apparently a posthumous achievement.

U

Uchide no Kodzuchi (Link)

A treasure (TN: in the shape of a miniature hammer) that will grant any manner of wish when waved. With one wave, anything from a small meal, to a feast, to anything at all, will come out. When he defeated the two oni and acquired the hammer, Issun Boushi used it to grow to a normal person’s size.
However, in this world, there can hardly be any such thing that doesn’t have a fatal flaw, and in another story, if you hear the ring of a bell as you use this mallet, everything it had produced up to that point disappears like a dream, and the mallet’s power, likewise, is lost. Supposing after those events that he used the mallet again, and an inopportune bell happened to be ringing, perhaps Issun Boushi would have returned to his original size.

Urashima Tarou – 浦島太郎 (Link)

The person who traveled to the Palace of the Dragon King on the back of a turtle he’d saved, and came back.
The story of Urashima Tarou is presently well known by most Japanese, and is roughly the same as a story in the book Otogizoushi, but its actual origins lay with the story of Emperor Yuuryaku in the Tango no Kuni Fudoki. In this version he does not save the turtle, but is proposed to by a turtle he catches while fishing, and is then ferried to “Tokoyo no Kuni,” or “Hou Mountain.” This “Hou Mountain” originates from “Mount Penglai, the mountain where the ageless and undying “sennin” are said to dwell, as well as the elixir of perpetual longevity and immortality, and is sometimes recounted as Japan’s Mt. Fuji.

V

Valentine – バレンタイン

The confectioner’s defining business period.
(TN: Don’t ask me why they had to make an entry for this.)

Vinaya Piṭaka – Ritsuzou – 律蔵 (Link)

Matters that should first be taken to heart, that the teachings of Buddhism be correctly realized – a treatise of Buddhist precepts.

W

Wakemitama – 分霊

Just as its name implies (TN: Wake – divided. Tama – soul), it is coupled with a god’s spirit as a divided and separate version of its true form.
Protective charms with a god’s power sealed inside can also be called “wakemitama.”

Washing Area

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
Why would a hot spring have a separate washing area, you ask?
Bathing in Japan is not just about getting clean, but a relaxing pastime. And as a matter of cultural courtesy, people would rather not have others bathing in the dirt and grime they’ve accumulated over the day. To keep the bath water clean, the wash area is kept separate.
This even holds true in the home. Rather than filling the bathtub for each new person bathing, a family will share the water, and wash themselves while sitting on a stool to the side.

Watashi wa watashi dewa naku – わたしは私ではなく – This isn’t who I am…

(TN: Not in the original glossary)
One rather unique feature of the Japanese language is the incredible number of subject pronouns to choose from. Whereas English has only I, she/he, you, they, and us (albeit subject to change by grammar structure), Japanese has atashi, watashi, watakushi, atai, uchi, ware, yo, boku, ore, jibun, and likely others, all corresponding to the first-person pronoun “I.” O_O
The second and third person pronouns, also, have many different pronouns to choose from, and much the same way as a person’s use of these second/third-person pronouns with regard to a particular person can tell the listener what kind of relationship they have, the first-person pronouns one uses for theirself can say something of the persona they use to portray themselves.
Cutting to the chase, Sakuya uses “atashi,” Kei uses “watashi,” and Nozomi uses “watashi” as well. However, the “watashi” Kei and Nozomi use are slightly different. Kei’s is in hiragana, and Nozomi’s in kanji. This gives either a subtle difference in feeling, with Nozomi seeming a little more well-read or knowledgeable (or at least giving an air of her flaunting her knowledge). You could also think of hiragana as voice, and kanji as meaning. Sound is nothing more than vibrating air until given meaning by the brain, thus Kei’s identity can be thought of as indeterminate, or malleable, while Nozomi’s identity is set in stone. (This is probably closer to the intended feel.)

That’s all you need to understand the story, but why stop there? Why don’t I just define them all for you, below? Here goes!

Watashi – (私 / わたし) Kei, Nozomi/Mikage, Tsudzura, Uzuki, and most minor characters use this. Anyone can use this one in almost any situation, though it gravitates slightly toward use by women and older men. If by perchance, though, you were meeting the emperor, or found yourself in an extremely strict atmosphere of politeness, you might want to use…

Watakushi – (私 / わたくし) using this with friends will make you seem a little distant, but it’s not unthinkable, as long as you’ve been using it the whole time you’ve known them. It’s mostly used in keigo (polite speak) situations. If you suddenly use it on a friend, you’ll come off sounding like (“You’ve made me mad, so we’re strangers now! Hmph!”). By the way, if you actually do meet the emperor, don’t assume that this pronoun is okay and blame me later. For all I know, meeting the emperor might require a language all to its own.

Atashi – (あたし – hiragana only) Sakuya uses this one. It’s the most casual pronoun that women are likely to use among friends, mostly used by women only.

Atai – (価? / あたい) I’ve never seen a kanji for this one, so that’s a guess. This is used by “yankees,” which is what they call female gangsters, girls in a biker gang, etc., mostly an all-female group of hoodlums. I only guessed the kanji because it means “worth,” which gives an air of “I see worth in myself as a woman” …though this is only my impression. If you want to see this pronoun in action, watch Shimotsuma Monogatari (Kamikaze Girls is the English title).

Uchi – (don’t know / うち) sometimes used by people with a Kansai accent. (I can’t guarantee it’s Kansai, but it sounds similar). The sound “uchi” can either mean “house” or “inside.” This might lend some meaning to the pronoun, but I can’t say for sure. It’s informal. I think Shizuru, from Mai-Hime, used this one, and hers was a Kyoutou accent. Also, Sakuya, from the anime Arjuna, uses it. Hers was a Kansai accent (I think? I probably get them mixed up.). It might gravitate towards female use, but I think I’ve heard men use it, too.

Ware – (我 / われ) gods use this one. Nushi, for example. The emperor might use it, as well. The kanji means “self,” and can also mean “we.” Since gods are often described as existences of collective thought, it makes sense. Using it to refer to yourself is a definite no-no. Using it as an “us” pronoun is acceptable, in business affairs, especially.

Yo – (余 / よ) typically used by impetuous, hot-tempered princesses. “Yo” can mean many things, including “world” and “excess.” If you play Valkyrie Profile in Japanese, you will hear Jolanda using this pronoun.

Boku – (僕 / ぼく) one of the casual pronouns used mostly by boys, particularly young boys. Though it definitely has a male aura to it, it’s more androgynous than “ore.” You’ll find that most of the intelligent teenage male characters in anime use this. It is slightly acceptable for women to use this pronoun. Utena uses it, along with many similarly boyish female characters. Most typically used only by idols or VIPs, in the case of real-world women, to help flesh out their public persona. You’ll also hear women use it often in songs, but probably because it’s easier to match to a rhythm (with its two syllables) than “atashi” or “watashi.”

Ore – (俺 / おれ) This pronoun is typically described as being so masculine,
that it’s on the verge of being vulgar. That doesn’t mean that it’s unacceptable, but it’s definitely casual, and it’s the pronoun most commonly used by teenaged males or older. Priss, from Bubblegum Crisis 2032, used this pronoun, so it’s not entirely unheard of for women to use it. And yes, there is at least one tendency toward lesbian love in that series. Don’t expect it to end well, though.

Watson – ワトソン

Appearing together with the genius detective, Sherlock Holmes, who was born in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book, “A Study in Scarlet.” His friend and flatmate, a veteran medic of the continental army, is John H. Watson, M.D.

Based upon the precept of an inexperienced observer of Holmes’ exploits, as a character, he is closest to the reader.

Y

Yamataikoku – 邪馬台国 (Link)

A country whose existence is acknowledged in the oldest work of literature written with regard to Japan, Sanguo Zhi, particularly the “Wei Zhi” records located within it.

A man was king for seventy years, and it is said that because of a string of war disturbances that continued over an eighty year period, a woman took the throne. This person was the famous queen, Himiko. Apparently, the government rule was much more highly favored from this point on.
Further, in the original writings, the country name is written “邪馬壱” so the theory holds that it is not “Yamatai,” but actually “Yamaichi.”

Yashiori no Sake – やしおりの酒

A strong sake brewed eight times. The “eight” in this instance was not the actual number 8, but is rather an adjective meaning “numerous.”
(TN: The “ancestor” referred to in the story passage refers to Yamata no Orochi, and its slaying by Susanoo no Mikoto. Also, the application of “eight” as “numerous” occurs throughout archaic Japanese. For example, Shintou is said to pay homage to 88 million gods, but that really just means “very many.” If you look for it, you will probably see this number used the same way in other passages.)

Yen –> Dollars
(TN: Not in the original glossary)
The most commonly used rule of thumb for calculating dollars from yen is to divide the yen amount by one hundred. Haphazard though it may be, it will serve the purposes of this story well enough.
Ex. ¥60000 / 100 = $600

Yuki Onna – 雪女 (Link)

A ghost story folktale. Also recorded in Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn)’s Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.
In the northern provinces, a young hunter and an old hunter come upon a snowstorm, and take refuge in a small shed. When the young hunter awakes, he sees a beautiful woman in a white kimono blowing her breath at the aged hunter. Her breath is white, and cold, freezing the old hunter until their heart stops. The woman says, “Don’t speak of this to anyone. Tell, and you will die just like the old hunter did,” and with this proclamation, she leaves, and some time passes. The young hunter marries, and is blessed with a child. Then, one night, the hunter suddenly speaks of that night with her—— but his wife turned out to be the Yuki Onna, herself. Out of love for her children, she neglects to take his life, and leaves, alone.
Mouths are the gates to weal and woe.