Departments
daibutsu
大仏
large statue of the Buddha
Buddhism is one of the major religions of Japan. Japan is therefore home to a number of large statues of the Buddha. These usually take the form of large seated figures cast in bronze.
One of the most famous of these statues is the Daibutsu of Nara. This statue, which occupies the Tōdaiji Temple, was originally constructed in 749. It was damaged in wars during the twelfth century, and repaired in 1692. The statue towers some 50 feet into the air.
A slightly smaller statue is the Amidabutsu (阿弥陀仏) at Kōtokuin Temple in Kamakura. This daibutsu was built in 1252, and is 38 feet tall.
DAIKOKU BASHIRA
大黒柱
central pillar
The Japanese generally prefer to work through collective rather than individual efforts. However, there are some circumstances in which a group is reliant on the effort or talents of a single person. For example, if a person is the breadwinner of a family, he or she supports the other family members (at least financially). At work as well, situations may arise in which a single person becomes the mainstay of a group or team.
Literally, the daikoku-bashira is the central pillar of a wooden Japanese-style dwelling. The daikoku-bashira supports the entire structure. Therefore the central pillar is likened to an individual who supports a family or company.
DAIKON OROSHI
大根おろし
grated white radish
Daikon oroshi might be described as the Japanese answer to parsley. It is a popular garnish served in Japanese restaurants. It consists of grated bits of the daikon radish. Daikon oroshi is often mixed with sauces. The device used to grate the radish is called an oroshigane (おろし金).
Closely related to daikon oroshi is the word tsuma, which is a more general term for garnish. This word is the source of a common Japanese metaphor: sashimi no tsuma (garnish for sashimi) Sashimi (thinly cut strips of raw fish) is often served with a garnish such as daikon oroshi. However, the garnish itself is of little consequence.
Therefore, if someone says that his presence at a meeting was “garnish for sashimi” he means that his presence was of little meaning for the meeting. This metaphor is often used as a tongue-in-cheek method of self-deprecation.