Author's Games: Samurai

Japanese Terms

As I previously mentioned, Japanese last names (called family names, or in older days, clan names), go first. With us, if we do that, it's usually rude, but with them, it's a sign of respect. If you know someone close, then you both mutually agree to call each other by your first names (which is written or said last). For instance, because my name is Joanna Albin, most of you would probably just call me Albin. 

As for terms, any of these can be included in your entries to add realism, but you don't have to if you don't want to. You can also include certain ones. For instance, I'll probably include the basic terms, but the proper name-terms (which I'm about to explain), I probably won't (in the little snippets I'll write for Nobunaga). 

So the name-terms. I don't know what they're technically called, so I'm just going with name-terms (if anyone knows, feel free to tell me). Its sort of like Miss, Mr and Mrs, but different (that is literally the closest thing we have to it in English). They go at the end of the names with a dash. Here's a list. 

- chan. This is used for either a young child, mostly used for a young girl, or a girl you're fond of. Like if a guy likes/loves a girl). So for instance, Nobunaga would call his wife (he actually had one, but I'm making up a character for her strictly for story line purposes) Ayumi-chan. (Or my fiance would call me Joanna-chan). 

- kun. This is used usually between guys. If they're the same age, they would use this, or if you're a higher ranking soldier, you would use kun for anyone beneath you in rank. Nobunaga would call his brother (if he had one) Shinji-kun (just a random name), or he would call a superior, like Mitsuhide, Mitsuhide-kun. 

-san. This is the equivalent of chan but used BY females toward guys. It's never used for younger people, just men or guys you like that are higher in rank than you. I would probably call my fiance Michael-san. Or if I met one of my samurai characters from my Valiant series, I would call him Shinji-san. :D 

- dono. This is extremely formal. Either you're being overly-polite or your talking to someone above you in rank. Nobunaga would call a general higher than him (if there was one) Shinji-dono (random name again). 

- sama. This is the equivalent of dono but this is said BY females to males. Usually. This is when they're being overly-formal, or talking to a male higher in rank than them or their husbands (if the woman is married). 

-sensei. This is used for teachers only (or samurai who have trained you). 

So that's all I know. Granted, this is my personal knowledge from what I've understood from the tons of anime I've watched, so if you have anything to add or anything, feel free to comment and inform us. I love learning :) 

Okay, now onto regular terms. 

- katana. I discussed this last chapter. This is the sword of a samurai. One side of the blade is sharp, and the inside is flexible. It's often known as the soul of a samurai. 

-wakizashi. This is just like a katana, but its shorter. It's used only if a samurai loses his katana, or if he's committing seppuku. It's always seen with a katana. Both are kept on a samurai's left hip (because samurai used their right hands. Using your left is considered odd or a disgrace). 

-bushido. This literally translates to Way of the Warrior. It's a samurai's code of ethics, although the term didn't appear until later, it's often shown in samurai books, movies, etc (so I encourage you to use this with your characters). It calls a samurai to be honorable, loyal, honest, fearless and selfless. To use his sword, to take lives, to protect, to live in the present moment. I discussed this last chapter if you want to know more.