HACHIMAN  八幡神
Japanese
"God Of Eight Banners" 
Hachiman is the Shinto god of war, Guardian of Children and protector of the Japanese people. Hachiman is generally accepted as being the Deified form of the Emperor Ojin (201AD - 312AD). Throughout the Japanese Feudal era the worship of Hachiman spread rapidly across Japan bridging the social divide between peasant and nobility. Such was his popularity that there are presently over 30.000 shrines dedicated to Hachiman throughout Japan. The Kamon of Hachiman is the Mitsudomoe, a circular triple Tomoe (Yin Yang Shape) swirling either to the right or left.

Following the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, Hachiman became a Shinto-Buddhist Deity as the Great Bodhisattva Hachiman 八幡大菩薩.
 

HADA  肌   or 膚
Japanese
"Patternation Within A Surface"
The term Hada is used to describe the fine grain patternation within the blade of a traditionally folded and forged Nihonto.  

HADA  肌   or 膚
Japanese
"Skin / Body (in the context of intimate bodily contact)" 

HAIR
(English)
(Chinese) Toufa  头发
(Japanese) Kaminoke, Kami
(Korean) Meorikarak

HAMON  刃文
Japanese
"Temperline"
The term Hamon is used to describe the pattern found along the tempered edge of a Nihonto and signifying the border between the hard Ha and softer Mune. Each sword-smith had a number of differing Hamon that they would use upon their blades. Hamon vary from a simple straight line, to stylised mountains to chrysanthemum flowers floating on water. 

HAMON  波紋
Japanese
"Ripple On The Water / Ripple / Ripples"  

HAMONOZANMAI  刃物三昧
Japanese
"To Engage In A Knife Fight / To Fight With Knives"  

HANBO
Japanese
"Half Staff / Half Sized Staff"
A three foot hardwood staff.

HAND
(English)
(Chinese) Shou 手
(Japanese) Te  手
(Korean) Son
 

HARA
Japanese
"Abdomen / Seat Of the Soul"
The Hara is desribed as one of the most important focal points for internal meditation techniques as it is thought to be the seat of the soul. The Hara is also important at it is the physical centre of gravity within the human form. It is located deep within the abdomen, approximately half way between the navel and pubic line.

Also See: Tanden, Ki
 

HARAKIRI
Japanese
"Abdomen Cutting / Belly Cutting"
Harakiri is the informal term for the ritualised suicide known more correctly as Seppuku and is characterised by one or more deep cuts into the Abdomen.
 

HARAMAKI
Japanese
"Belly Wrapping"
The Haramaki formed part of the day to day attire of 16th Century samurai, and took the form of a wide material sash, wrapped repeatedly around the stomach of the wearer and tied at the back. The sash itself was lined with chain-mail or even articulated plates of leather or steel and served as a day to day armour that could be worn beneath everyday clothing.

HARAMAKI
Japanese
"Belly Wrapping"
The Haramaki is a wide sash of stiff material wrapped repeatedly around the stomach of the wearer and tied at the back. It serves primarily as a support for the lower back although has the added advantage of keeping the wearers internal organs warm in colder weather. Modern Haramaki are worn throughout Japan for this very purpose. 

HARAMAKI
Japanese
"Belly Wrapping"
The Haramaki is a style of Yoroi characterised by its wrap around protection of the stomach and both sides equally. The Haramaki is tied shut at the back of the wearer. 

HARAMAKI SENNINBARI
Japanese
"Belly Wrapping Belt Of 1000 Stitches"
During both the first Sino-Japanse war and the second world war a style of Haramaki arose known as the Senninbari Haramaki. A soldier going to war would often be given a belt by his family upon which were 1000 stitches. A female relative would stand in the street and ask passing women to donate a stitch until 1000 had been collected. As well as keeping the wearer warm the belt was also believed to ask as a talisman of protection.

HASHI  橋
Japanese
"Bridge"  
  
HASHI  箸
Japanese
"Chopsticks"  

HEAD
(English)
(Chinese) Tou  头
(Japanese) Atama  頭
(Korean) Meori 

HEIHO
Japanese
"Military Strategy" 

HIP
(English)
(Chinese) Yao  腰
(Japanese) Koshi

HOJOJUTSU  捕縄術
Japanese
"Art Of the Rope / Rope Restraint Art / Bondage Art"
The term Hojojutsu is used to describe the multitude of rope restraint methods employed by the Feudal Japanese in order to restrain one or more individuals. Not to be confused with Shibari (Japanese Erotic Bondage) many modern Budoka consider Hojojutsu to be a dead or dying art, with little or no place in the arsenal of modern Budoka. Traditionalists however disagree wholeheartedly, claiming that Hojojutsu is an effective method of control with a deep and meaningful history. Increasingly les and less Ryu teach the art of Hojojutsu outside of Japan and those that do are normally limited to a handful of techniques preserved amongst a minority of Jujutsu and Ninjutsu Dojo.

The Art of Hojojutsu is regularly confused with the art of Hojutsu to which it is utterly different.

HOJOJUTSU NAWA  捕縄術縄
Japanese
"Rope Used In The Art Of The Rope / Rope Used In Rope Restraint Art / Rope Used In Bondage Art"
The term Hojojutsu Nawa is used to generally describe any of the various lengths and thicknesses or Rope used within the art of Hojojutsu.
 

HOKO
Japanese
"Spear / Socket Head Spear" 
The term Hoko is used to describe a fundamental design of early Japanese Spear with a head made from metal. The spearhead of a Hoko was created with a socket into which the haft of the spear was inserted; much like the majority of European Spear designs. Early Hoko were made from bronze from around 200 BC whilst later designs were made from Iron or Steel, although the Hoko design of spear was replaced by the Yari at some stage before 700 AD. 

HOKO-YARI
Japanese
"Spear / Socket Head Spear"
The term Hoko-Yari is used to describe the style of spear known as a Hoko. The term Yari is frequently added in modern description as the word Hoko is largely unknown to modern Japanese speakers, having been largely replaced by the terms Yari and So. 

HORAGAI  法螺貝
Japanese
"Conch Shell" 
The term Horagai is used to describe a Conch Shell blown as a trumpet. Although there are a number of names for the Conch Shell instrument the term Horagai is most commonly used in reference to those used by Yamabushi during ritual and prayer. Unlike most Conch Shell instruments, the Horogai can produce three or five diffent notes, thanks to the addition of a mouthpiece and some small alterations to the shells structure. 

HOSHIN  保身
Japanese
"Self Protection / Fighting Ability"  

HOSHIN JUTSU  保身術
Japanese
"Art Of Self Protection / Art Of Combat / Fighting Ability Art"