[4]. Kimono (kĭ-mō-nō). The outer, or principal garment worn by the Japanese, both male and female.
[5]. Harakiri (há-rá-kâ-râ). An honourable method of committing suicide under the shogunate. It was generally done under an official decree of death, and performed by cutting or ripping open the belly with a sharp knife or dirk.
[6]. Koto (kō-tō). A kind of harp, or stringed instrument used in Japan, more for the production of classic music.
[7]. Geisha (gī-shȧ). A professional singer or musician of the female sex, who sings or plays for hire, at both private and public functions.
[8]. Etas (ēt-ǎs). The unclean; such as grave-diggers, etc.
[9]. Mikado (mŭ-kȧ-dō). The official head of the Japanese, both spiritual and temporal, from the beginning until the twelfth century, when the shogun rose to power and seized the material functions of government.
Thence a dual form ensued, the mikado remaining the spiritual and the shogun the temporal ruler until 1868, when both were merged into the empire, with the mikados line reigning as emperor. The office of shogun was then abolished. (See No. 3, Shogun.)
[10]. Joro (jō-rō). A woman who for hire submits herself to the practice of sexual intercourse, in accordance with custom and law. When done under stress of circumstances, such as the financial aid of a distressed parent, it was deemed a virtue, and the participant, except for the time being, did not lose caste, but when the contract time had elapsed (usually three years) was received by her friends and the community as a sort of martyr.
[11]. Kakemono (kǎ-kē-mō-nō). The predominant Japanese picture used for decorating the walls of a house. It is usually painted, or scrolled upon a long, narrow piece of silk or sheet of paper, and mounted upon a roller. Its use is similar to that of the ordinary European framed picture, and it was the means of expressing their highest art in painting and writing.
[12]. Kuge (koo-gǎ). A class, consisting of nobles and members of the former mikados court.