Interesting English Words Borrowed from Japanese

In 1854 Japan officially ended its isolation with the West and especially America, when commodore Matthew Perry first started diplomatic relations with the unique and mysterious nation. Since then, Japan has undergone a huge transformation both culturally and economically. Today Japan is one of the most industrialized and rich nations, and we depend on many technologies that they export.

Japan has also had a significant influence on Western culture, specifically on the English language. Here are some interesting Japanese words turned into English.

Kanban
This means just-in-time, and originates from the signs used in Japanese factories to signal that parts are needed.

Tokonoma
In a Japanese home, this is an alcove where art or antiques may be put.

Teriyaki
The popular restaurant Subway borrowed this word to make its popular chicken teriyaki sandwich. Teriiyaki is a meal of broiled or grilled slices of marinated shellfish or meat.

Ikebana
This is a Japanese floral art system, whereby you arrange plants so that they are balanced with their environment.

Bonsai
This is a plant that is dwarfed and shaped into different objects or creatures, and comes in a pot. Usually it comes as a mini tree.

Nisei
A child of Japanese immigrants who was born and raised in the USA.

Sansei
A child of nisei parents, i.e, a third generation American.

Tanka
Everyone knows about haikus( the 5, 7, 5 syllable poem), but did you know about a tanka? A tanka is a poem of five lines, each unrhymed, with 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 syllables each.

Mikado
The emperor.

Skosh
This means 'a little bit'. It is derived from the longer Japanese word sukoshi.

nunchaku
This was the weapon carried by my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Michelangelo. A nunchaku is made of two sticks or bars connected together by a chain, rope, or cord.

Shiatsu
A type of massage that targets the same areas used in acupuncture.

Ramen
College students owe respect and homage to Japan if only for this amazing contribution. This is the easily cooked noodles meal, usually with some meat or broth mixed in.

Geta
This is a simple sandal with a thick wooden sole.

Aikido
Aikido is an interesting form of non-resistant self-defense, whereby the practitioner uses holds and lock and uses the attackers own momentum against him.

Now that you have read this list of English words derived from Japanese, you can see the many interesting words that we have adopted and adapted to. I leave you with the traditional Japanese greeting: sayonara.

source:

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. CD-ROM Version 2.5. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2000.