Scroll Vocabulary

Introduction

Nihon (日本, にほん, にっぽん) – The Japanese word for Japan is Nihon or Nippon. .
Shōgun (将軍, しょうぐん) – A General
Daimyō (大名, だいみょう) – A feudal lord
ukiyo-e (浮世絵, うきよえ) – A woodblock print of everyday life in Japan.
manga (漫画, まんが) – A comic; cartoon; comic strip.

Vocabulary with each station of the The Fifty Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Manga Scroll

1) Nihonbashi　(日本橋, にほんばし)

kimono (着物, きもの) – Japanese clothing; clothes.
geta (下駄, げた) – Japanese wooden clogs.
kasa (傘, かさ) – Umbrella; parasol.
romen-densha or densha (路面電車, ろめんでんしゃ) – A street car; tram.
shōgyō-chi (商業地, しょうぎょうち) – Business district.

2) Shinagawa (品川, しながわ)

tabi-bito (旅人, たびびと) – Traveler.
hōdai (砲台, ほうだい) – Gun Battery.

3) Kawasaki (川崎, かわさき)

kawa (川, かわ) – A river; stream.
hashi (橋, はし) – A bridge.
hata (旗, はた) – Flag; banner.

4) Kanagawa (神奈川, かながわ)

gaikokujin (外国人, がいこくじん) – Foreigner
seiyō (西洋, せいよう) – The west; western countries.
kodomo (子供, こども) – Child; children.
onna-no-ko (女の子, おんなのこ) – Girl; female child; baby girl.
yōfuku (洋服, ようふく) – Western-style clothing.

5) Hodogatani (保土ケ谷, ほどがたに)

uchi (家, うち) – House; home.
warabuki (藁葺, わらぶき) – Thatched roof.
kuruma (車, くるま) – Car; automobile; vehicle.

6) Totsuka (戸塚, とつか)

otoko (男, おとこ) – Man.
uma (馬, うま) – Horse.
basha (馬車, ばしゃ) – (horse-drawn) coach; carriage; cart; wagon.
kasa (笠, かさ) – Conical straw hat.

7) Fujisawa (藤沢, ふじさわ)

tera (寺, てら) – Temple.
mon (門, もん) – Gate.
kaidan – (階段, かいだん) – Stairs; stairway; staircase.

8) Hiratsuka (平塚, ひらつか)

yama (山, やま) – Mountain.
mura (村, むら) – Village.

*9) Ōiso (大磯, おおいそ)

shi (詩, し) – Poem.
matsu (松, まつ)–Pine tree.

10) Odawara (小田原, おだわら)

denki (電気, でんき) – Electricity
densen (電線, でんせん) – Electric line; electric cable; power line; telephone line; telephone wire.
kaki (垣, かき) – Fence.
shiro (城, しろ) – Castle.

11) Hakone (箱根, はこね)

arau (洗う, あらう) – To wash.
mino (蓑, みの) – Straw cloak.
hataraku (働く, はたらく) – To work; to labor.

12) Mishima (三島, みしま)

onna (女, おんな) – Woman.
shashin (写真, しゃしん) – Photograph; photo.
kamera/shashinki (カメラ/写真器, しゃしんき) – Camera
iyagaru (嫌がる, いやがる) – To hate; to dislike.
hazukashigaru (恥ずかしがる, はずかしがる) – To be shy; to be bashful; to be abashed.
kotowaru (断る, ことわる) – To refuse; to reject; to dismiss; to turn down; to decline.

13) Numazu (沼津, ぬまず)

Fuji-san (富士山, ふじさん) – Mt. Fuji, -san is the Sino-Japanese reading for 山 and is a suffix meaning mountain (yama).

14) Hara (原, はら)

kuromatsu (黒松, くろまつ) – Black pine.
zenshū (禅宗, ぜんしゅう) – Zen Buddhism.
zendera (禅寺, ぜんでら) – Zen temple.

15) Yoshiwara (吉原, よしわら)

teppen (天辺, てっぺん) – Top; summit; apex; peak.
Kumo (雲, くも)

16) Kanbara (蒲原, かんばら)

shōgakusei (小学生, しょうがくせい) – Elementary School Student.
sensei (先生, せんせい) – Teacher.
gakuseifuku/seifuku (学生服, がくせいふく) – School uniform.
ensoku (遠足, えんそく) – Excursion; outing; trip.
hinomaru (日の丸, ひのまる)- Outline of the sun; the Japanese flag.
renge (蓮花, れんげ)- Lotus flower.

17) Yui (由比, ゆい)

rappa (喇叭, らっぱ) – Trumpet; horn; bugle.
fuku (吹く, ふく) – To blow; to play a wind instrument.
uma (馬, うま) – Horse.
basha (馬車, ばしゃ) – (horse-drawn) coach; carriage; cart; wagon.

18) Okitsu (興津, おきつ)

kisha (汽車, きしゃ) – Steam train.
testudō (鉄道, てつどう) – Railroad.

19) Ejiri (江尻, えじり)

matsubayashi (松林, まつばやし) – Pine forest.
kaigan (海岸, かいがん) – Coast; beach.

20) Shizuoka (静岡, しずおか)

cha (茶, ちゃ) – Tea; tea plant.
chabatake (茶畑, ちゃばたけ) – Tea plantation; tea garden.

21) Mariko (丸子, まりこ)

chaya (茶屋, ちゃや) – Tea house; tea dealer.
tororo-jiru (とろろ芋, とろろじる) – Yam Soup. –jiru, -shiru (suffix for soup or broth, e.g. misoshiru (miso soup).
baika (梅花, ばいか) – Plum blossom.

22) Okabe (岡部, おかべ)

tonneru (トンネル) – Tunnel.
nukeru (抜ける, ぬける) – To come out; to fall out; to be omitted; to be missing; to escape; to come loose.

23) Fujieda (藤枝, ふじえだ)

dōzō (胴像, どうぞう) – Statue.
musha (武者, むしゃ) – Warrior.
obōsan (お坊さん, おぼうさん) – Buddhist priest; monk.

24) Shimada (島田, しまだ)

sumō (相撲, すもう) – Sumo wrestling.
sumōtori (相撲取り, すもうとり) – Sumo wrestler.
fundoshi (ふんどし) – Loincloth; breechcloth; traditional male underwear; sumo wrestler’s ornamental apron.
keiko (稽古, けいこ) – practice; training; study.

25) Kanaya (金谷, かなや)

fune (船, ふね) – A boat; ship; watercraft; vessel; steamship.
saosasu (棹差す, さおさす) – To pole (a boat); to punt (a boat); to swim with the tide.
hiku (引く, ひく) – To pull.

26) Nissaka (日坂, にっさか)

tōge (峠, とうげ) – Ridge; mountain pass.
gasō (画僧, がそう) – Artist monk.
bukkyō-bijutsu (仏教美術, ぶっきょうびじゅつ) – Buddhist Art

27) Kakegawa (掛川, かけがわ)

ogamu (拝む, おがむ) – To worship; pray to; bow to; do reverence to.
jinja (神社, じんじゃ) – Shinto shrine.
torii (鳥居, とりい) – Structural signifier of entrance to a sacred place.

28) Fukuroi (袋井, ふくろい)

testudō-basha (鉄道馬車, てつどうばしゃ) – Horse-drawn tramcar.

29) Mitsuke (見付, みつけ)

hadaka-matsuri (裸祭り, はだかまつり) – Naked festival.
chōchin (提灯, ちょうちん) – Paper lantern; festival lantern.
suzu (鈴, すず) – A bell.
odoru (踊る, おどる) – To dance.

30) Hamamatsu (浜松, はままつ)

tako (凧, たこ) – Kite.
tako-age (凧上げ, たこあげ) – Kite flying.
ishigaki (石垣, いしがき) – Stone wall.

31) Maisaka (舞坂, まいさか)

kisui (汽水, きすい) – Brackish water.
kisuiko (汽水湖, きすいこ) – Brackish lake, -ko 湖, suffix for lake, みずうみ, mizuumi.
wataru (渡る, わたる) – To go across; cross over; ferry.
watashi-bune (渡し船, わたしぶね) – A ferry; ferry boat.

32) Arai (新居, あらい)

tosenjō/tosenba (渡船場, とせんじょう/とせんば) – Ferry landing.
yakusho (役所, やくしょ) – A public [government] office.
sekisho (関所, せきしょ) – Tokugawa era barrier/checkpoint to regulate travel.
annai-sha (案内者, あんないしゃ) – A guide; an attendant; a cicerone.

33) Shirasuka (白須賀, しらすか)

keshiki, fūkei (景色、けしき, 風景, ふうけい) – Natural scenery.

34) Futagawa (二川, ふたがわ)

butsuzō (仏像, ぶつぞう) – Statue of Buddha; image of Buddha; Buddhist statue; Buddhist image.
kannon (観音, かんのん) – Buddhist deity of mercy.

35) Toyohashi (豊橋, とよはし)

todokeru (届ける, とどける) – To deliver; to forward; to send.
todokemono (届け物, とどけもの) – Article to be delivered.
jitensha (自転車, じてんしゃ) – Bicycle.
obasan (小母さん, おばさん) – An aunt; an auntie; a (middle-aged) lady.

36) Goyu (御油, ごゆ)

kokaku (孤客, こかく) – A solitary [lonely, lone] traveler.
mori (森, もり) – Forest.

37) Akasaka (赤坂, あかさか)

matsunamiki (松並木, まつなみき) – Row of pine trees.
dōro (道路, どうろ) – Road; highway.
michizoi (道沿い, みちぞい) – Along the road; at the side of the road.

38) Fujikawa (藤川, ふじかわ)

matsu (待つ, まつ) – To wait.
noru (乗る, のる) – To get on; to get in; to board; to take; to embark.

39) Okazaki (岡崎, おかざき)

geisha (芸者, げいしゃ) – A singing girl; a professional beauty and entertainer.
suugi (雛妓, すうぎ) – Geisha apprentice.
fuji (藤, ふじ) – Wisteria.
fujizuru (藤蔓, ふじづる) – Wisteria vine.

40) Chiryū (知立, ちりゅう)

umaichi (馬市, うまいち) – Horse market.
umagoya (馬小屋, うまごや) – Stable.
shibaru (縛る, しばる) – To tie; to bind.

41) Narumi (鳴海, なるみ)

senjō (戦場, せんじょう) – Battlefield; battleground.
ame (雨, あめ) – Rain
ōame (大雨, おおあめ) – Heavy rain.
kumori-zora (曇り空, くもりぞら) – Cloudy sky. Sora (空, そら) – Sky.

* 42) Nagoya (名古屋, なごや)

bōen-kyō (望遠鏡, ぼうえんきょう) – A telescope.
miru (見る, みる) – To see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe.

43) Kuwana (桑名, くわな)

kai (貝, かい) – Clam.
yaku (焼く, やく) – To bake; to grill.
yaki-gai (焼き貝, やきがい) – Baked clam. Kai, clam.
minato (港, みなと) – Harbor; port.
minato-machi (港町, みなとまち) – Port city.

44) Yokkaichi (四日市, よっかいち)

ishidōrō (石灯篭, いしどうろう) – Stone lantern.
rohyō (路標, ろひょう) – Road sign.
migi (右, みぎ) – Right; right hand side.
hidari (左, ひだり) – Left; left hand side.
massugu (真すぐ, まっすぐ) – Straight; straight (ahead); straight.

45) Ishiyakushi (石薬師, いしやくし)

junrei (巡礼, じゅんれい) – Pilgrimage.
junrei-sha (巡礼者, じゅんれいしゃ) – Pilgrim.
kongō -zue (金剛杖, こんごうづえ) – Pilgrim’s staff; pilgrim’s walking stick.
Yakushi (薬師, やくし) – The Healing Buddha.

46) Shōno (庄野, しょうの)

niuma (荷馬, にうま) – Pack horse.
tsureru (連れる, つれる) – To take [lead]; to bring (with); to be accompanied by; to be attended by.
otoko-no-ko (男の子, おとこのこ) – Boy; male child; baby boy.

47) Kameyama (亀山, かめやま)

jidōsha (自動車, じどうしゃ) – Automobile.
jōkyaku (乗客, じょうきゃく) – Passenger.

48) Seki (関, せき)

mōsha (盲者, もうしゃ) – Blind person.
goze (瞽女, ごぜ) – A blind female street singer.

49) Sakanoshita (坂下, さかのした)

tani (谷, たに) – Valley.
kiken (危険, きけん) – Danger; peril; hazard.

50) Tsuchiyama (土山, つちやま)

take (竹, たけ) – Bamboo.
taketori (竹取, たけとり) – Bamboo cutter (person)
amayadori (雨宿り, あまやどり) – Taking shelter from the rain.

51) Minakuchi (水口, みなくち)

hanayome (花嫁, はなよめ) – Bride.
jinrikisha (人力車, じんりきしゃ) – Rickshaw.
kekkon (結婚, けっこん) – Marriage.

52) Ishibe (石部, いしべ)

yuki (雪, ゆき) – Snow.
ginrei (銀嶺, ぎんれい) – Silvery, snow-covered mountain.

53) Kusatsu (草津, くさつ)

hashi (箸, はし) – Chopsticks.
mochi (餅, もち) – Rice cake.
kama (釜, かま) – An iron pot; a kettle; a cauldron.

54) Ōtsu (大津, おおつ)

sakana (魚, さかな) – Fish.
skana-tsuri (魚釣り, さかなつり) – Fishing.
tsuri-zao (釣り竿, つりざお) – A fishing rod [pole].
mizuumi (湖, みずうみ) – Lake.

55) Kyōto (京都, きょうと)

ushi (牛, うし) – Cattle; cow; ox; oxen.
matsuri (祭り, まつり) – A festival; a celebration; a feast.

Notes: English definitions are taken from the 1974 edition of the Kenkyūsha New Japanese-English Dictionary, Goh Masuda, ed. (Tokyo: Kenkyusha, Limited, 1974). Though the title is The Fifty Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Manga Scroll, the paintings are numbered 1 through 55. This is because the starting location, Nihonbashi, and the final destination, Kyōto, were not numbered in Utagawa (Andō) Hiroshige’s original The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833–1834 in the Hōeidō edition), and the manga scroll follows this precedent. Japanese names are given throughout in Japanese order, family name first and given name last. The scroll used here, along with another exemplar, was acquired as part of the manga collections in Ohio State’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.