This living glossary introduces you to common Japanese terms used throughout the NHES process — including real estate structures, aesthetic principles, cultural expressions, and business etiquette. Many words are untranslatable in spirit but essential to your journey.
Property & Architecture
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Kominka (古民家)
Traditional Japanese country home, typically over 50 years old
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Engawa (縁側)
Transitional hallway/veranda between interior and exterior
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Doma (土間)
Earthen-floored zone used for cooking, entry, or work
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Fusuma (襖)
Sliding paper-covered interior partition doors
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Shoji (障子)
Sliding doors made of wooden lattice and translucent paper
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Kura (蔵)
Traditional earthen or timber storehouse on rural properties
Aesthetic & Cultural Values
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Wabi (侘び)
Rustic beauty, quiet simplicity
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Sabi (寂び)
Beauty found in imperfection and the passage of time
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Shibui (渋い)
Subtle, unobtrusive elegance
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Ma (間)
The space between — pause, breath, rhythm
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Wa (和)
Harmony — social, aesthetic, and interpersonal
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Yūgen (幽玄)
A deep, subtle sense of mystery or grace
Business & Etiquette
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Kata (型)
Prescribed form or manner — the cultural foundation of "how things are done"
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Enryo (遠慮)
Holding back out of respect or humility
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Nemawashi (根回し)
Quiet, behind-the-scenes consensus building
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Meishi (名刺)
Business card, exchanged with care and order of rank
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Ojigi (お辞儀)
Bowing — the essential expression of courtesy and status
