Makiko Tada has been making kumihimo for thirty years. She has kindly allowed me to share her knowledge of kumihimo here.

The names of the braids all have meaning, here are some as well as other helpful words:

chidori - plover

dai - a stand

Edo- former name of Tokyo ; an old name (the Edo-period;1616~1867) of Tokyo

fukuro - small bag (used to hold weights)

Genji - another name for the Minamoto family ; a family name of strong SAMURAI in the Kamakura period (1185~1333). So Genji is a

name given to a strong braid.There are many Genji braids, for example, Hira-Genji, Edo-Genji, Kozakura-Genji, Genji-kou, Yamato-Genji and so on. Genji-kou is a game of incense ( to guess a name of incense).

gumi - to plait, to braid (same as kumi)

himo - string, cord, braid, band , strap

Hira - flat

ito - thread, yarn

kagami - mirror, top of the marudai or kakudai

kaku - square

kakudai - square stand for braiding

kara - Chinese or foreign

kawari - change, variation ,modified

kinu - silk, silk thread

kongoh - strength, ( ex. kongoh seki= diamond, seki= stone )

kumihimo wo simasuka? - Are you braiding?

kumi - to plait, to braid (same as gumi)

kumihimo - plaited cords, braids

kumikata - braiding method

Kozakura is a small cherry flower.

kumite - braiding , there are two meanings, one is Tedori (movement of threads, braiding method ), one is a braider. te = hand

tedori movement = of threads, braiding method

kusari - chain

maru - round

marudai - round stand for braiding

oimatso - old pine tree

se - a stream with small pebbes by the water

shige - frequently, busy, heavy

tama - lead-weighted, wooden spools

tedori - movement of threads, a braiding method. For example; in all the Genji type kumihimo, there is a common Tedori

(movement of threads) which is called Genji-tedori. You can classify by Tedori, for example kongoh yotsu, Edo-yatsu, yatsuse, kaku-yatsu, hira-genji, sasanami, karakumi, naiki, kotoji, hirakara and so on. Almost of all Kumihimo is made with the combination of tedo

uchi - braid , beat with bumboo sword

yatsu - eight

yatsu se gumi - Se is means a stream with small pebbles by the water.

yotsu - four

Yamato - is the old name for Japan.