Ink (38 page)

Daijoubu:

“Are you all right?” or “I’m/it’s all right”

Dango:

Dumplings made of rice flour, often sweet and eaten dur-ing flower viewing

Domo:

As used in
Ink,
“Hi” or “Hey”
Dou:

The breastplate of kendo armor

Faito:

An encouraging phrase meaning to fight with one’s might or do one’s best

Furikake:

A seasoning to sprinkle over white rice

Furin:

A traditional Japanese wind chime

Gaijin:

A person from a foreign country

Ganbare:

“Do your best,” said to encourage one in academics, sports or life

Genkan:

The foyer or entrance of a Japanese building.
Usually the floor of the genkan is lower than the rest of the building, to keep shoes and outside things separate from the clean raised floor inside

Gomen:

“I’m sorry”

Guzen da:

“What a coincidence!”

Gyoza:

Dumplings

Gyudon:

Sauced beef on rice

Hai?:

“Yes?” but used as it is in
Ink,
it expresses surprise, such as “I’m sorry?”

Hakama:

The skirtlike clothing worn by
kendouka

Hana yori dango:

“Dumplings over flowers,” meaning substance over appearance

Hanami:

Flower viewing, in particular cherry blossoms

Hanshi:

Special paper used for calligraphy

Hazui:

“Embarrassing,” slang form of
hazukashii

Hebi:

Snakes

Hidoi
na:

“You’re cruel!” or “That’s mean/harsh!”

Ii ka:

“Okay?”

Ii kara:

“It’s okay (so just do it)”

Ikemen:

A good-looking guy

Ikuzo:

“Let’s go,” said in a tough slang

Itadakimasu:

“I’m going to receive,” said before a meal like “bon appétit”

I-te/Itai:

“Ouch” or “It hurts”

Ittekimasu:

“I’m leaving (and coming back),” said when leaving the home

Itterasshai:

“Go (and come back) safely,” said to the one leaving home

Jaa ne:

“See you later”

Kado:

The tradion of flower arranging, also known as ikebana

Kakigori:

Shaved ice with syrup, much like a snow cone

Kankenai darou:

“It’s none of your business” or “It doesn’t concern you”

Karaage:

Bite-size fried chicken

Kata:

A series of memorized movements in kendo or other mar-tial arts

Keigoki:

The soft top worn under the kendo armor

Keiji-san:

Detective

Keitai:

Cell phone

Kendouka:

A kendo participant

Ki
wo
tsukete na:

“Take care”

Kiai:

A shout made by
kendouka
to intimidate opponents and tighten stomach muscles for self-defense

Kiri-kaeshi:

A kendo exercise drill

Koibito:

“Lovers,” dating couple

Kote:

Gloves worn during kendo

Kun:

Suffix generally used for guy friends

Maa:

“Well,” but it can be used as a subtle way of affirming something (“Well, yes”)

Maji de:

“No way”

Manju:

Small Japanese cakes, usually with some sort of filling inside

Matte:

“Wait”

Men:

The helmet warn during kendo

Migi-kote:

The right glove

Mieta:

“I saw it”

Momiji:

Maple tree

Moshi
mosh(i):

Said when answering the phone

Mou ii:

“That’s enough”

Naaa:

“Hey” or “You know,” a filler word that indicates the speaker is going to say something

Nasubi:

Eggplant

Ne:

“Isn’t it?” It can also be used as “Hey!” to get someone’s attention (like “
Ne
, Tanaka”)

Nerikiri:

A sweet white-bean-paste cake eaten during a tea ceremony

Nikujaga:

A Japanese dish of meat and potatoes

Noren:

An awning hung over the doorway of a shop

Ohayo:

“Good morning”

Oi:

“Hey”

Okaeri:

“Welcome home,” said when one arrives home

Okonomiyaki:

A Japanese pancake or pizza-type dish where diners choose the ingredients
that go
into the dish, such as cabbage or other veggies, noodles, meat or fish

Okyaku-sama:

Guests/customers

Omiyage:

Souvenirs

Onigiri:

Rice balls

Ore
sa, kimi no koto ga...(suki):

“I like you” or more literally “About you, I, you know… (like
you).” This is a common way for a boy to confess he likes someone

O-Torii:

The giant orange Shinto gate at Itsukushima Shrine

Peko peko:

“I’m starving,” usually said by younger children or girls to be cute

Purikura:

Print Club, little sticker pictures taken and printed by machines at arcades or department stores

Purin:

A popular Japanese pudding

Sado:

The tradition of tea ceremony

Saitei:

“You’re the worst,” something despicable

Sakura:

The cherry blossoms

Sankyu:

“Thank you”

Sasa:

A bamboo tree used for Tanabata festivities

Seifuku:

Japanese school uniform based on the look of old sailor uniforms

Senpai:

A kneeling stance used in kendo

Senpai:

A student older than the speaker

Shinai:

A sword made of bamboo slats tied together, used for kendo

Shinkansen:

The bullet train

Shoudo:

The tradition of calligraphy

Shouji:

A traditional rice-paper door

Sonna wake nai
jan:

“It’s not like that!”

Sou da
na:

“I guess that’s right.”

Sou ka:

“Is that right?”

Sou mitai:

“Looks that way”

Sou ne:

“You’re right, aren’t you?” or “That’s right, isn’t it?”

Su-ge:

“Wow,” slang form of
sugoi
Suki:

“I like you”

Sumi:

An ink stick, ground against the
suzuri
to make ink
Sunpu-jou:

Sunpu Castle

Suzuri:

An inkstone, used in making liquid ink

Tadaima:

“I’m home,” said by one arriving home

Taihen da ne:

“That’s tough” or “That’s a difficult situation.”

Tanabata:

A holiday celebrating the stars Altair and Vega reuniting in the sky

Tatami:

Traditional mat flooring made of woven straw

Te m
e :

A really foul way to call someone “you.” Usage is not ad-vised!

Tenugui:

A headband tied under the
men
helmet
Tomodachi:

“Friends”

(Ton)katsu:

A breaded, deep-fried (pork) cutlet

Tsuki:

A kendo hit to the throat

Ume:

Plum tree

Unagi:

Eel

Warui:

“Bad,” sometimes used as an apology

Yamero:

“Stop”

Yatta:

“I did it!” or as a general “Yay!”

Yosh(i):

“Good” or “Okay”

Youkai:

A demon

Yuu Tomohiro desu ga...:

“My name is Yuu Tomohiro…”

Zabuton:

A cushion used for sitting on the floor

Zenzen:

“Not at all”

I am so grateful to everyone who put their heart, soul and energy into making
Ink
a reality. Without all of you, this book would never have become everything I had hoped it to be.

Mary Sheldon, this book would not exist without you. The passion and conviction with which you live your life and ad-vocate for reading are an inspiration to me. You are a spark of color in this life, a vibrant example of what the world should and can be. I continue to aspire to the faith you place in me, for the world is changed because of you.

Thank you to my family at Harlequin TEEN, to Natashya Wilson for believing in Katie and Tomo from the start, to Adam Wilson for my first fan mail, to Giselle Regus for your hard work behind the scenes, to the digital and sales teams and copy editors, and to those who inspire me—Debbie Soares, Amy Jones, Erin Craig and Lisa Wray. Thank you to Gigi Lau for the gorgeous cover, and for taking so much care in breathing life into the book of my heart.