| Term | Definition |
| Douglas MacArthur | American general, who commanded the occupation forces in Japan. |
| Economic miracle | Japan's rebuilding of their shattered economy. |
| Pacifism | opposition to the use of force under any circumstances. |
| Interdependence | mutual dependence of countries on goods, resources, and knowledge from other parts of the world. |
| Trade imbalance | occured because Japan exports more goods to those nations than it imports from them. |
| Reparations | Or payments for damages, to nations it conquered during World War II. |
| Zen | emphasized simplicity, self-discipline, and closeness to nature. |
| Tea ceremony | Ritual that is popular and it is a time when all social barriers are relaxed. |
| Haiku | 17 syllable poem used to show the meaning of nature. |
| Kabuki | Puppet theater that deals with themes like love and courage. |
| Zen painting | Uses a few bold lines which could suggest to the viewer the artist's impression of a mountain. |