Ageku	Closing, or "bottom" verse (Shimo-no-ku) of tanka, consisting of two seven-syllable lines. May stand for the shorter half of the renga verse (hokku is the opposite).
Aika	Elegy.
Aware	Derives from exclamation "Appare"- "Oh!". Can be translated as "sad fascination, sorrow".
Banka	Elegy (usually on somebody's death), funeral song, mourning song.
Cho:wabi	Experience of harmony. One of the aware categories.
Djiamari	Additional sylable in the end of poem.
Eika	1)Composition of poems 2) (Bud.) Chant.
Engo	"Threaded words" -- one of the traditional Japanese poetic techniques. Associative words- images.
Enka	Song genre.
Funauta	Seamen's song, usually a rowing cheer.
Genji-monogatari	Masterpiece of Japanese literature by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, written toward the beginning of the 11th century. One of the most important books of the middle ages, it recounts the story of four generations of the imperial family spanning more than 70 years
Haibun	Prosaic style similar to haikai in its use of humor, jocular sayings, and confessional narrative.
Haidan	The circle of haikai poets (syn.: - kadan).
Haiga	A painting (drawing) in the spirit of haikai . These works usually complemented actual haikai poems, or borrowed their plots.
Haijin	Haikai genre poet.
Haikai	Poetry genre manifesting most clearly in haiku form. In contrast with classical renga, a popular genre. Another variation was haikai renga, an aphoristic and playful genre common in Edo period.
Haiku	One of Japanese short poetry forms. "Originally, the form was restricted in subject matter to an objective description of nature suggestive of one of the seasons, evoking a definite, though unstated, emotional response. Later its subject range was broaden
Haimei	Alias of a haikai poet . (syn.: - haigo:).
Haimi	1) The spirit of haikai. 2) Haikai mood.
Haisei	Great poet of haikai, first of them all Matsuo Basho (1644-1694).
Haiyu:	Haiku poetry pals.
Hanka	1)One or more tanka amending nagauta. 2) Tanka sent in epistolary reply. (syn.: kaeshi-uta).
Hokku	First, or "upper" verse of tanka or renga. Often used as syn. of haiku.
Imayo:uta	Poetic style, popular between the middle Heian (794-1185) and the late Kamakura (1185-1333) periods; during this time it was considered the modern style (lit. modern style, the latest fashion), as opposed to the court poetry saibara.
Iroke	Romantic fascination, desire, sensuality.
Jo	Poetic technique of introducing a contextually important word in an apparently inadvertent manner.
Jojishi	Epos, epic poetry.
Kado:	The art of composing waka; poetry.
Kaeuta	A parody, e.g. singing parody words using famous melody.
Kahi	Gravestone inscribed with waka.
Kakekotoba	Usage of homonims.
Kandobi	One of the aware categories.
Kanshi	Chinese poetry of the Chan era, Chinese poem in general; (kanshijin - Japanese poet, writing in Chinese).
Kasei	A poet of genius (appellation reserved for the compeers of Hitomaro and Basho) (syn.: kasen - outstanding poet, shisei - great poet: Du Fu, Chinese poet of 8 century).
Kashi	Song lyrics.
Kayo:	Song, ballad, in general, a form of sung folk tale.
Kigo	In haiku poetry, the word hinting at the season of the year.
Koika	Love song, love lyrics.
Koka	Old song, ancient poem.
Kokoro	Heart, feeling, soul. The opposite of kotoba - substance.
Kotoba	Word, language, speech. With kokoro, it is one of the central categories of classic poetry.
Kusaku	The act of composing haiku poems.
Manyo:shu:	The oldest anthology of Japanese poetry, it is made up of 20 volumes containing more than 4500 nagauta, tanka, and sedo:ka verse; their authors are unknown. The poems are organized into three sections (so:mon, banka, jo:ka). Manyoshu: is believed to be pu
Miyabi	Courtly elegance.
Monogatari	A genre of Japanese prose: tale, story, legend.
Mono-no-aware	(lit.: fascination of things) Philosophic and aesthetic category expressing the literary ideal of the Nara period (710-784). The enveloping sensation of refinement and grace, in which the feeling and the mind come together.
Mujo:	The view of the world peculiar to Heian nobility that developed under the growing influence of Buddhism.
Mushin	(lit.: heart free from illusions) Short for mushin renga - "serious" renga devoid of jokes and humor (ant. - ushin).
Nagauta	Long song of an almost unlimited number of verse (up to 50). Alteration of five and seven syllable lines with two seven-syllable lines at the end.
Nikki	(lit..: diary) One of the genres of medieval literature. Most known is the diary of Murasaki Shikibu, lady in waitng of the imperial court.
Omoi	(lit. Thought, meditation) In poetics - the idea and the emotional content of verse.
Renga	A genre of medieval poetry originating from tanka which gained popularity in Heian era (794 - 1192).
Renka	Love poetry.
Saibara	Ancient chants based on folk songs of Nara period. (710-784).
Saiso:	Poetic talent.
Sambun	Prose.
Sanka	Laudatory song, hymn.
Senryu:	Satiric or jocular hokku (5-7-5). This popular verse flourished during Edo (1603-1867) period and was characterized by the use of slang expressions, no seasonal words and down-to-earth interpretation.
Sedo:ka	Early medieval poetic genre (5-7-7, 5-7-7). Originates from the folk song practice of two voices repeating twice each 5-7-7 verse.
Shiijn	Poet (syn. shijin, haijin).
Shika	Chinese and Japanese poetry.
Sugata	Aspect, form. Usually refers to a literary form.
Takusen	Famous poet.
Tanrenga	Tanka, composed by two persons.
Tatoe	Juxtaposition, metaphors of all kinds.
Tatoeuta	(lit.: comparing song) One of the six main waka genres typical for Heian period, in which the feelings and ideas found metaphorical expression.
Tenja	Judge in haiku composition contests.
To:ka	Funeral song (syn.: - banka).
Tsuiku	Parallel (usually coupled) lines in verse that clarify meaning increasing the expressive power.
Uta	Poem (in tanka or nagauta form ).
Utaawase	Tanka composition contest.
Utagokoro (shishin)	A wish to compose poems.
Waka	Japanese song. Stands for all forms of court songs, in contrast to folk song kayo and Chinese verse kanshi; very often used as a synonym for tanka.
Yu:bi	Refinement, elegance. One of the aware categories.
Yu:gen	Mysteriousness, depth. Ancient aesthetic category closely related to mono-no-aware.