Here is some helpful Japanese vocabulary that you may hear used in our classes.
Numbers
ichi
one
ni
two
san
three
shi (or yon)
four
go
five
roku
six
shichi (or nana)
seven
hachi
eight
kyu (or ku)
nine
jyu
ten
jyu ichi
eleven
ni jyu
twenty
ni jyu ichi
twenty-one
Greetings/Phrases
yoroshiku onegai shimasu
please guide me; please look favorably upon me; please bear with me
mokuso
quiet meditation; quiet reflection
domo arigato gozaimashita
thank you very much (for what came previous)
otsukaresama deshita
you’ve worked hard; you must be tired; (to acknowledge someone’s labors)
Directions
migi
right
hidari
left
hantai
opposite; reverse
kamaete (or kamae)
prepare; get ready
hajime
start
yamete (or yame)
stop
gambare
do your best; keep it up
Equipment
taiko
drum
chudaiko
medium sized drum
odaiko
large sized drum
nagadodaiko (or nagado)
“long-bodied” drum
hiradodaiko (or hira)
“flat” drum
shimedaiko (or shime)
small tied drum
okedodaiko (or okedo)
barrel-bodied tied drum
katsugi okedo
slung okedo (carried by a strap)
uchiwadaiko
fan-shaped drum
bachi
drum sticks
kane (or atarigane)
small, round metal instrument
shumoku
small mallet made of antler used to strike the kane
chappa
small metal cymbals
fue (or shinobue, or takebue)
a flute made of bamboo
hyoshigi
hard wooden clappers
–dai
stand for a drum (eg. nagado-dai, or hirado-dai)
Other Terms
sensei
teacher
sempai
someone senior
kohai
someone junior
seiza
traditional style of kneeling
agura
cross-legged sitting position
koshi
hips
hara
one’s center
ki
energy
ji
basebeat; “ground”
kiai
vocal energy; shout
kuchishowa (or kuchishoga)
vocalization of rhythms
Costume Items
happi
a short, casual overcoat
obi
a sash, often very elaborate
hachimaki
a headband
tabi
white socks with a division for the big toe
