Amanojaku - Small yokai often depicted as hairy creatures with red skin that stand roughly up to a person's shin who were believed to be the bearers of plagues and pestilence; they were often considered a sign of an area's spiritual decline or an incoming plague.

Amaterasu Omikami - the leading deity of the Shinto pantheon; she is known for being the Goddess of the Sun and elder sister to Susano-o, the God of Storms. Her messenger is said to be the Yatagarasu, a three-eyed crow with three legs.

Amitabha - A term of reverence used by Buddhists to refer to Buddha.

Ashigaru - The standard foot soldiers in a daimyo's army. Traditionally, these foot soldiers were trained minimally and were often seen as cannon fodder, but Oda Nobunaga changed this when he insisted on training and appropriately arming all of his Ashigaru, making them a force to be reckoned with.

Ashura - Powerful Buddhist entities believed to be souls who were not evil enough to go to hell but not pure enough to be sent to heaven, Ashura are one of the possible reincarnations for people who lived with too much passion in life. They are seen as powerful protectors and the slayers of evil spirits, often seen as one of the final "good" reincarnations that people can obtain before the "bad" ones begin.

Ayakashi - Another name for yokai; this term is older and considered an archaic way of referring to the demons.

Bushi - One of two halves of the samurai caste; Bushi were considered the warriors of the caste who did actual frontline fighting. The term itself literally means "warrior".

Daimyo - A term referring to the main provincial lords who ruled over provinces in feudal Japan. These warlords were beneath the Shogun and Emperor in power, serving as rulers of specific regions.

Daishou - The term used for the two blades carried exclusively by samurai. While regular people were allowed to wield swords, only samurai were allowed to carry a daishou set. The set consisted normally of a katana and a wakizashi.

Deishi - The word referring to a disciple or follower of a religious figure.

Funayurei - A type of vengeful ghost born from the spirits of dead sailors. They often appear from ghost ships, seeking out former shipmates or other unsuspecting sailors to drown them as well.

Gaikoku-jin - The term for someone who is not from Japan; a foreigner. This term is also often shortened to the more slang oriented gaijin.

Gasa - a word that applies to a wide variety of straw hats worn by all classes. Gasa tend to be wide-brimmed straw hats used to keep the sun off of the wearer's face and protect them from the elements.

Geta - Wooden sandals that came in a variety of shapes and sizes for varying environments.

-gimi - a suffix attached to a noblewoman's name to denote her status leaning something similar to "lady".

Guuji - The title of the head priest of a shrine; Guuji is a term used specifically to refer to Shinto head priests.

Gyoubu - A title used for judicial officials appointed by the shogun to oversee the enforcement of shogunal and Imperial laws. They were among the only people who had the power to directly challenge and charge daimyo.

Hachiman - The Shinto god who served as a patron to Warriors and the guardian of Japan; He began his life as Emperor Ojin, the son of the apocryphal Empress Jingu, and his reign was so prosperous that he was deified upon his death.

Hakama - The long pleated pants worn by predominantly men during this era. This garment would be worn over kosode and could be bound up around the shin for use under armor or ballooned at the ankle for use in ceremonial dress.

Haori - A jacket worn over regular clothing. Haori often are longer and end below the waist and are kept closed with beaded or corded fasteners. They can be elaborately decorated or very plain depending on the style of the wearer, but always compliment the rest of the outfit.

Heiankyo - The old name for Kyoto from the Heian Period (794 - 1185) when it first began serving as the permanent capital of Japan.

Hinoenma - A type of yokai created from a woman who died a traumatic death, usually because of war or intimate trauma. They are vampiric creatures who seek out the blood of men of all ages, often taking on the for form of beautiful women to lure their victims in.

Hitatare - a garment worn by upper class nobility, usually samurai. It consists of a large square-sleeved coat that is tied in the front with cording, sleeves that are also laced with cording, and a matching set of pants.

Inari - This can refer to either the Shinto Goddess of Fertility and Harvests or to her guardian foxes that were seen at many shrines across Japan. 

Inugami - Literally "Dog God"; Inugami were often created by households to serve as protectors to defend against evil spirits. However, if an Inugami was neglected, it could often turn on its owners and cause horrible, incurable illnesses or fits of madness to fall over them. A well cared for Inugami, however, could ward off even the most powerful beings and bring great fortune to its house.

Itsumade - A large bird-like yokai, often shown as a human face with a beak, a bird body, and a long lashing tail. They were believed to show up wherever disaster was said to strike or over battlefields where there were many dead.

Jinbaori - A vest like garment worn over armor. These vests were often richly decorated with dyed or embroidered designs depicting clan emblems, landscapes, or colorful patterns. Some jinbaori could also be made from the fur of various animals.

Jitou - A title used to refer to an official in charge of the judicial administration of a region and managed land occupied by the shogunate. They have the power to try other samurai clans and often reported directly to the Shogun or other highly ranked court officials.

Jorogumo - A type of yokai which has the body of the spider and the torso of a woman. These yokai were often transformed from women who were killed in very heinous ways.

Kabuto - The helmet of a samurai's armor. They were often mounted with ornate crests that ranged anywhere from clan symbols to whole animals, and the kabuto were often unique to their wearer.

Kami  - The word for "God" or "Gods"; commonly used to refer to the gods of the Shinto pantheon as a collective.

Kamon - The crests belonging to samurai clans and organizations. They came in a variety of styles and shapes, each one being relatively unique to a clan.

Kappa - A water-dwelling yokai that resembled a standing turtle with messy stringy hair and a beak. They were known to range from playful tricksters to nasty murderers, often stealing from and killing people who swam in their rivers.

Katana - The sword that became the standard weapon and status symbol for samurai during the Sengoku Period. It was a one-sided curved blade that began its use similarly to a cavalry saber, hence it's unique shape and design, and later replaced the larger, heavier odachi.

Kensei - Literally meaning "Blade God", a Kensei was considered the master of a blade style or even several. It was a terminology for someone who had trained and become an unsurpassed swordsman.

Kirishitan - the Japanese transliteration of Christian, but also sued to denote a group of Christian samurai who converted after coming into contact with missionaries. They united together into a union and formed a powerful alliance that wielded considerable influence for a time before Christianity became banned and heavily persecuted.

Kitsune - A fox yokai that was known for trickery and shapeshifting. It was believed that they could either ascend to divinity by living pious lives to serve Inari, the Shinto Goddess of the Harvest, or live worldly lives and become dreaded Nine-Tailed Foxes. The more tails a fox had, the longer it had lived a mortal life on earth.

Kojin - Mermaid-like creatures that are depicted as having human-like upper bodies and fish-like tails. They are depicted as aggressive creatures who will drag unsuspecting sailors and fisherman underwater to their deaths.

Kosode - A type of long upper body garment worn under Hakama and armor. The kosode was worn similarly to a yukata or kimono in that it was worn over underwear, tied at the waist with a fabric belt, and ended at the mid-calf. It could be worn with or without hakama and was the standard garment for men.

Kusarigama - A farming tool that became a weapon, a kusarigama is a bladed sickle with a weighted chain on the opposing end. This weapon became the weapon of choice for the Sayonakidori.

Kyuubi no Kitsune - A nine-tailed fox demon, usually one of great power.

Magatama - A curved bead, usually in the shape of a comma. They were believed to have begun as decorative pieces of jewelry before becoming religious and ceremonial objects. They were worn on necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and various other pieces of jewelry and clothing.

Mononofu - Another archaic term for "warrior", mononofu were known more for the bureaucratic end of the samurai caste and served as administrators rather than direct warriors most of the time.

Mujina - Badger-like yokai that can shapeshift. They are very similar and often confused with tanuki.

Naginata - A glaive or polearm that was tipped with a curved katana-esque blade. This weapon was favored by Onna-bugeisha and other female warriors for its reach while maintaining the cutting capabilities that a sword could employ, allowing it to deal similar damage while keeping them out of harm's way.

Noderabo - A short, entirely black yokai that appears like a small demon monk. These yokai were believed to be monks who strayed from the righteous path in favor of the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Oftentimes, these yokai devote themselves back to their craft in the hopes of a good reincarnation in the next life.

Nure Onago - A type of yokai that takes the form of a beautiful young woman who is constantly soaking wet and smells like algae-infested pond water. It was believed that if you smiled at her, she would follow you forever.

Odachi - The precursor weapon to the katana. Odachi were large swords that were used by forces traditionally mounted on horseback due to their size and were used on foot to incapacitate horses with ease.

Oni - The Japanese term for "ogre". Oni are different from yokai in that they are often inherently evil and are seen as much more feral and primal. They also tend to be simply created the way they are rather than transforming from something like many yokai do.

Onmoraki - a bird-like yokai that often appears around temples where there are high amounts of impious priests. They are capable of mimicking the voices of any person.

Onmyodo - A type of magic based on the principles of yin and yang. Derived from practices originally coming from China, Onmyodo became intrinsically tied to exorcisms and yokai. One of the most famous practitioners, Abe no Seimei, was known to be able to conjure demons as well as exorcise them, divine the future, and even control the elements.

Onmyoji - A practitioner of Onmyodo. Onmyoji reached the height of their influence in the Heian Period in the 11th and 12th centuries, however they gradually fell out of favor. They functioned as diviners, exorcists, and mediums.

Onna-bugeisha - A female warrior of the samurai caste. These women were primarily the wives, daughters, and sisters of samurai and were only seen on the field when their homes were threatened. They rarely went into battle with their husbands, often tasked with defending their homes while they were away. They were not considered samurai themselves, but were treated with respect because of their special role.

Ronin - A term used to refer to a samurai who has no master. This can be for a number of reasons, including being cast out of one's clan, losing their lord, or simply because the samurai has yet to be employed by a lord in question.

Samurai - A highly trained Japanese warrior who held special status within the Japanese hierarchy. They first came into being thanks to the efforts of Taira no Kiyomori, who raised them from the status of thugs and made them a respectable warrior caste that eventually became the ruling caste in Japan.

Sayonakidori - The word itself means "Nightingale". The organization was founded back in the early years of Japan as a means of defending against powerful yokai, but over time became more bureaucratic and somewhat obsessed with finding a way to purge the world of all yokai in order to protect humanity.

Saya - The term for the scabbards that katanas are stored in.

Shakujo - A type of staff used by Buddhist priests. Shakujo could be in both handheld or staff form with the belief that their metal rings would be able to ward off evil spirits, announce the monk's presence, and frighten off animals.

Shikigami - A small paper doll used in onmyodo. It was believed that these slips could be manipulated to change shape and cast spells, but also that yokai could in turn be bound to them and used as familiars.

Shinchu - A type of yokai that takes the form of a large moth-like creature. It was believed to be a holy being in Japanese Buddhist mythology who could devour evil spirits and demons bearing plagues, and having one in the vicinity was considered good luck.

Shogun - The supreme military authority in Japan during the feudal era. The Shogun had more power than the emperor during this era, and the family who held Shogunal power was considered the supreme authority in all of the land. This position was highly coveted, and the entirety of the Sengoku period was comprised of warlords vying for the position.

Sohei - Part of the Buddhist sect; warrior monks who were charged with defending the monasteries during times of strife as well as the areas that surrounded them. Sohei were considered some of the best trained warriors in all of Japan.

Somen - A mask, usually made of metal, lacquered wood, leather, and cording, used to cover the lower half or the entirety of a samurai's face in order to protect it from debris and projectiles as well as strike fear into opponents.

Tanto - A dagger made in the distinctive shape and style of most Japanese blades.

Tanuki - Raccoon dogs; in folklore, they are often mischievous shapeshifters who can take the form of people and objects at will.

Tatarimokke  - Owl-like yokai that were often believed to be the souls of deceased children. They were often associated with death, and it was believed that they would arrive when a death was to occur in the family or would visit their own family shortly after they had died.

Tengu - A type of yokai known for its association with the wind and mountains. Tengu come in two distinctive forms: Karasu/Crow and Dai-Tengu. Karasu Tengu, as their name suggests, are often depicted with bird heads and more birdlike features. Dai-Tengu are known for being incredibly tall and having long noses. Tengu are said to be able to control the wind, and they often are shown as being the guardians of mountains where they dwell. They are said to be master swordsmen and will sometimes take on disciples.

Tsuba - The handguard of a katana. They were often highly decorated and depicted animals, nature scenes, and geometric patterns that were both functional and aesthetic.

Uchikake - A long kimono-like garment that is worn over a regular kimono. They are usually highly decorated and were commonly only worn by women of status. Today, they are normally only worn in very formal settings such as wedding ceremonies.

Umibozu - A large shadow demon that attacks boats and ships in the open sea. It is often depicted as a large humanoid devoid of any color save for its eyes, which are its only visible features, and it is often shown attacking ships during bad weather.

Ushi Oni - A large cow-like yokai that had a spider-like body with sharp points on the end of each leg. Their legends range from them being peaceful, lucky yokai to malevolent beings who consume everything around them.

Wakizashi - A short sword similar in shape to a katana. These sword were often wielded as part of a daishou.

Yokai - A terminology used to describe a wide range of mythological creatures commonly referred to as "demons" in English. Yokai often tend to be humans, objects, or animals that have been transformed for one reason or another into powerful beings that often wield supernatural powers that can be both malignant or benevolent depending on their nature.

Yoroi - The term used for a full set of armor worn by Samurai.

Yukata - A type of light kimono often worn in the summer.

Yumi - The term for a Japanese bow. These bows came in a wide array of sizes, ranging from short bows to longer, asymmetrical warbows.

Zipangu - An Archaic term used for Japan by Europeans, which is where it's modern name comes from. The name was originally believed to have come from the Chinese reading of the name of the island which was then appropriated and altered by the Portuguese, who were among the first Europeans to go travel there.

Zukin - A type of head covering often used by Buddhist monks and nuns. There were many styles of Zukin tailored to suit the wearers' needs with some covering all of the wearer's neck, head, and face with the exception of their eyes.