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Historical Periods
Heian Era (794–1185): A period of Japanese history known for courtly culture, literature, and aristocratic society centered in Kyoto.
Nanboku-chō Period (1336–1392): The era of the Northern and Southern Courts, when two rival imperial courts claimed legitimacy during a time of civil war.
Sengoku Period (c. 1467–1603): The "Warring States" era was marked by near-constant military conflict between rival warlords. The ending year of this period's controversal. I'm sticking to 1603.
Keichō Period (1596–1615): An era name covering the final years of the Sengoku period and the establishment of Tokugawa rule, including the Battle of Sekigahara (1600).
Edo Period (1615–1868): The age of Tokugawa rule was characterized by relative peace, strict social order, and isolationist foreign policy.
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Governments
Ashikaga Bakufu: The military government led by the Ashikaga shoguns (1336–1573), also known as the Muromachi shogunate.
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Places and Regions
Aizu: A historical domain in northern Japan, famous for its loyalty during the late shogunate.
Edo: Modern-day Tokyo.
Fushimi: A district south of Kyoto, historically significant as the site of Fushimi Castle and important political events during the late Sengoku period.
Iga: A mountainous region famous as a historical center of shinobi clans.
Kansai: Region of western Japan, including cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara.
Kantō: The eastern region of Japan, centered around Edo (modern Tokyo), which became the political heart of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Kiso Valley: A mountainous region in central Japan, part of the historic Nakasendō trade route.
Nagoya-go: An invented place for the village that preceded Nagoya, the city that will be built in the future by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Owari: A historical province in central Japan, home to Nagoya-go.
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Clothing and Personal Attire
Geta: Traditional wooden sandals raised on two blocks.
Hakama: Wide, pleated trousers or a skirt-like garment worn over a kimono and kosode, commonly used by samurai.
Haori: A short, hip or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono.
Kamishimo: Formal samurai attire from feudal Japan, consisting of a sleeveless jacket (kataginu) with exaggerated shoulders and matching hakama.
Kanzashi: Decorative hair ornaments worn with formal hairstyles.
Kimono: A traditional Japanese robe with long sleeves and a wrap-around design, fastened with a sash (obi).
Kosode: A short-sleeved robe worn in pre-modern Japan as everyday clothing.
Montsuki: A formal kimono bearing the family crest (mon), typically worn for ceremonial occasions.
Shinobi Shozoku: Traditional shinobi outfit.
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Architecture and Interior Elements
Chabudai: A short-legged table placed directly on the floor, traditionally used in Japanese homes.
Engawa: A wooden veranda or corridor running along the edge of a traditional Japanese house.
Fusuma: Opaque sliding panels used as interior doors or partitions in traditional Japanese houses.
Hatago: A traditional inn along major travel routes during the Edo period, used by travelers and merchants.
Kamidana: A small household Shinto altar used for daily prayers and offerings.
Shoji: Sliding doors or screens made of wooden lattice frames covered with translucent paper, used to divide rooms in traditional houses.
Tatami: Rectangular floor mats made of woven straw, the traditional flooring material in Japanese rooms.
Zabuton: A flat floor cushion used for sitting.
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Tableware & Food Culture
Kushiyaki: Grilled food served on skewers, commonly meat or vegetables.
Sakazuki: A small, shallow cup used for drinking sake.
Tokkuri: A ceramic flask used for serving sake.
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Weapons & Martial Culture
Shinobi: Covert agents or spies in feudal Japan, commonly known in the West as ninja.
Tantō: A short dagger used by samurai for close combat or ritual purposes.
Wakizashi: A short sword worn alongside the katana as part of the samurai's traditional paired swords (daishō).
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Family, Titles, and Social Terms
Chichiue: An honorific, old-fashioned way of saying "father," often used in noble or samurai families.
Daimyō: A powerful feudal lord who ruled over large domains and maintained their own samurai armies.
Futago: The Japanese word for "twins."
Mon: A Japanese family crest used to represent a clan or household.
Okugata-sama: A respectful term for a nobleman's lawful wife or lady of the household.
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Religion, Supernatural, and Court Roles
Kami: Spiritual beings or deities in Shinto belief
Kekkai: A spiritual barrier created to protect, seal, or isolate a place.
Onmyōji: A practitioner of onmyōdō, an esoteric Japanese system of divination, astrology, and spiritual practices combining Taoist, Buddhist, and Shinto elements.
Senju Kannon: The Thousand-Armed form of Kannon, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion.
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