cloth used to tie one’s possessions for ease of transport
gaki: hungry ghosts
gashadokuro: giant skeletons summoned by evil magic
geta: wooden clogs
gissha: two-wheeled ox cart
gomen: an apology; sorry
hai: an expression of acknowledgment; yes
hakama: pleated trousers
hannya: a type of demon, usually female
haori: kimono jacket
Heichimon: Kami; the god of strength
hitodama: the human soul
inu: dog
ite: ouch
Jigoku: the Realm of Evil; hell
Jinkei: Kami; the god of mercy
jorogumo: a type of spider yokai
jubokko: a carnivorous, bloodsucking tree
kaeru: copper frog; currency of Iwagoto
kago: palanquin
kama: sickle
kamaitachi: yokai; sickle weasel
kami: minor gods
Kami: greater gods; the nine named deities of Iwagoto
kami-touched: those born with magic powers
kappa: yokai; a river creature with a bowl-like indention atop its head filled with water that if ever spilled makes it lose its strength
karasu: crow
katana: sword
kawauso: river otter
kijo: female oni
Kirin: sacred beast of Iwagoto; the Kirin has the body of a deer, the scales of a dragon, and a single antlered horn that emits holy fire
kitsune: fox
kitsune-bi: foxfire
kitsune-tsuki: fox possession
kodama: kami; a tree spirit
komainu: lion dog
konbanwa: good evening
koromodako: yokai; an octopuslike creature that can grow to an enormous size
kunai: throwing knife
kusarigama: weighted chain with a sickle attached to one end; shinobi weapon
kuso: a common swear word
mabushii: an expression meaning “so bright,” like the glare of the sun
majutsushi: mage, magic user
Meido: the Realm of Waiting, where the soul travels before it is reborn
miko: a shrine maiden
minna: an expression meaning “everyone”
mino: raincoat made of woven straw
mon: family emblem or crest
nande: an expression meaning “why”
nani: an expression meaning “what”
neko: cat
netsuke: a carved piece of jewelry used to fasten the cord of a travel pouch to the obi
nezumi: rat yokai
Ningen-kai: the Mortal Realm
nogitsune: an evil wild fox
nue: yokai; a chimerical merging of several animals including a tiger, a snake and a monkey that is said to be able to control lightning
nurikabe: yokai; a type of living wall that blocks roads and doorways, making it impossible to go through or around them
obi: sash
ofuda: paper talisman possessing magical abilities
ohiyou gozaimasu: good morning
okuri inu: yokai; large black dog that follows travelers on roads and will tear them apart if they stumble and fall
omachi kudasai: please wait
omukade: a giant centipede
onikuma: a demon bear
oni: ogre-like demons of Jigoku
onmyoji: practitioners of onmyodo
onmyodo: occult magic focusing primarily on divination and fortune-telling
onryo: yurei; a type of vengeful ghost that causes terrible curses and misfortune to those who wronged it
Orochi: yokai; dragon serpent with eight heads and eight tails
oyasuminasai: good night
ryokan: an inn
ryu: gold dragon; currency of Iwagoto
sagari: yokai; the disembodied head of a horse that drops from tree branches to frighten passersby
sake: alcoholic drink made of fermented rice
sama: an honorific used when addressing one of the highest station
san: a formal honorific often used between equals
sansai: edible wild plant
sensei: teacher
seppuku: ritual suicide
shinobi: ninja
shogi: a tactical game akin to chess
shuriken: throwing star
sugoi: an expression meaning “amazing”
sumimasen: I’m sorry; excuse me
tabi: split-toed socks or boots
Tamafuku: Kami; the god of luck
tanto: short knife
tanuki: yokai; small animal resembling a raccoon, indigenous to Iwagoto
tatami: woven bamboo mats
Tengoku: