Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
Japanese pronunciation is very simple. Pronounce each vowel syllable separately, even
when they are paired. The pair makes the blend. For instance “ai” is pronounced “ah-ee” but
when slurred becomes the long I of English. The letter “r” is more of a tongue flap, as in
Spanish. Vowels are pronounced as follows:
a - ah
i - ee
u - oo
e - eh
o - oh
Akabaka - red idiot
Amerika-jin - American person
aru - to have
Asagohan - breakfast.
ashi wo naosere - fix my feet
banzai - a war cry
basho - an official sumo tournament, one of six throughout a calendar year, where wrestlers
compete for rankings and prizes. They are held in Tokyo in January, May and September. The
March basho is in Osaka; July is in Nagoya; November is in Fukuoka.
beri beri - Japanglicized English meaning “very, very”
bonsai - the art of Japanese miniature tree trimming
butaniku - pig meat, pork
Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
butsudan - a small Buddhist shrine placed in a person’s home where offerings are made to gods
and ancestors
chikara-kami - literally, power paper; used during the ceremony at the beginning of each sumo
bout
chikara-mizu - literally, power water; used during the ceremony at the beginning of each sumo
bout
chongake - a sumo technique, the “pulling heel hook”
chonmage - the sumo hairstyle, a topknot created with great care by a tokoyama (hairstylist)
using a special chamomile oil
Dareka ga iru? - Is somebody there? Is anybody there?
dohyo - the training and competition ring for sumo, a clay platform about 3 feet high and covered
with reddish dirt, and a painted ring with two starting lines; measures
about 15 feet in
diameter
Fukuoka - a large city on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, location of the annual
November sumo tournament
futokaba - fat hippo
futtoboru - football (soccer)
genkan - a small cement foyer, lower than the rest of the house, where Japanese people
leave
their shoes before entering the house-proper
geta - Japanese shoes made of a wooden slat and a thong of fabric and having two
dowels attached to the bottom of the slat, one at the ball of the food and one at the arch
gochisosama - phrase used at the end of a meal to thank the preparer of the food
mochi - rice pounded into a paste
wooden
Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
hai - yes
hajimemashite - “I am pleased to meet you,” literally, “I am meeting you for the first
hamigaki - toothbrush
hana-michi - the aisles that lead from the dressing rooms toward the ring
honto desu - truly so
hyaku en - one hundred yen, about a dollar, depending on the exchange rate
Ike! - go! (but in a rude command form)
ima - now
inukaze - dogbreath
-jin - suffix meaning person, as in Amerika-jin = an American person
jinbeizame - whale shark
jonidan - the second lowest amateur level of sumo
jonokuchi - the lowest amateur level of sumo
jungyo - exhibition tournaments at different places around the country in the even months
of the year, outside of the official tournaments that count toward rankings
kabuki - traditional Japanese theater
kachikoshi - victory
kampai - cheers (the drinking salute)
katana - a samurai long sword
kesho mawashi - the ornately embroidered silk apron worn during opening ceremonies by
the top ranks of wrestlers
kimono - a more formal robe, often made of silk; literally “the thing you wear”
Kiyotsukete kudasai - Take care, please.
time”
Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
kohai - junior
Kokugikan - The National Sumo Arena, located in the Ryugoku neighborhood of Tokyo
komusubi - the fourth highest rank of professional sumo, two below champion
kono - this, this one
Kono America-jin wa, ne, a no, itsumademo nikko nikko shite, kono mae no ozeki-san wo pushushite… This American, always smiling, pushing the former champion
kutsushita - socks
maegashira - the fifth highest level in sumo; the lowest of the makuuchi division; the second
lowest rank of professional sumo
makushita - the fourth lowest level in sumo; the highest of the amateur ranks
makuuchi - the name for the group of the top four tiers of sumo hierarchy; the championship
level, which can compete for the Emperor’s Cup. Members of this group are also called “sekitori”
mawashi - the loin covering of the sumo wrestler, made of heavy cotton; amateurs wear white,
and professional ranked wrestlers wear black mawashi
mikoshi - a portable Shinto shrine used during parades and ceremonies
miso shiro - miso soup, a soup made of smashed soybeans and tofu and green onions in a savory
broth
Nagoya - a large city in western Japan, home of the annual July sumo tournament
Nan senchi desho ka na. - Wow. How tall are you!
Oishiringo - delicious apple
Osaka - a large city in western Japan, location of the grand sumo tournament each March
ossu - phrase meaning “hey, there,” much like “what’s up”
ozeki - champion, the second highest level in sumo
Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
pachinko - Japanese pinball, vertical machines with steel balls*
piiman - green pepper
rikishi - a sumo wrestler, either amateur or pro, part of a sumo training stable
sakananokao - fishface
-sama - highest level of honorific suffix attached to the end of a person’s name to show respect or
honor
-san - standard level of honorific suffix attached to the end of a person’s name to show respect or
honor
sandanme - the third lowest amateur rank in sumo
sekiwake - the third highest rank in professional sumo; just below champion
sen yen - one hundred yen, about a dollar
sen man yen - ten thousand yen, about a thousand dollars
senpai – senior
shikona - the special name taken when a man becomes a sumo wrestler; it’s his working name,
or his professional name, like a pro wrestler might call himself “The Eliminator” in the United
States. These are often poetic.
sobakubi - noodle neck
sugoi! - great! or wow!
suika - watermelon
taiko - special Japanese kettle drums
takoyaki - cooked octopus meat
tegata - handprint autograph of a pro-ranked sumo wrestler
telebee - television
Big In Japan
by Jennifer Griffith
Glossary and Pronunciation Guide
tsukebito - a servant, literally a person who clears things away
uwatenage - a sumo technique in which the attacker establishes an outside grip then throws his
opponent by heaving him down and away at a sharp angle
yakuza - the Japanese mafia
yobidashi - the ornately dressed referee who starts the ceremony at the beginning of a sumo
match
yokoso - a greeting of welcome
yokozuna - grand champion, the highest level in sumo
yukata - thin woven cotton robe, usually with a pattern, tied around the waist, usually worn by
Japanese people in the evening, but the standard uniform clothing for sumo wrestlers
zabuton - a seat cushion, sometimes it is thrown during a match if a low ranked wrestler
defeats the grand champion, although this action is officially prohibited
Author’s note: This story provides the barest overview of the sumo sport and lifestyle.
There is so much more to it that a book like this cannot delve into. I have to thank those
who put together websites for research. Some of mine came from these sites. If you want to
find out more, some great places to start your research are websites like the following:
http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/gloss.html
http://www.sumotalk.com/mikeblog.htm
http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/faq4.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo_techniques.html