Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key historical terms, locations, and cultural concepts featured in the transcript of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Panama Hotel

A historic Seattle landmark located between Chinatown and Nihonmachi that served as a gateway between the two communities and housed the unclaimed belongings of 37 Japanese families in its basement.

Nihonmachi

The historical name for Japantown in Seattle, located adjacent to Chinatown along Jackson Street and Maynard Avenue.

Filial Piety

The Confucian ideal of respect, reverence, and devotion toward one's parents and ancestors.

Scholarshipping

The student work-study arrangement at Rainier Elementary where Henry served lunch and cleaned the kitchen in exchange for attending the all-white school.

Lai See

A traditional bright red envelope embossed with gold foil used to give lucky money or tokens of appreciation during Chinese celebrations and milestone events.

Executive Order 9066

A presidential order signed by President Roosevelt in 1942 authorizing the military to designate areas from which any person could be excluded, leading to the forced evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans.

Camp Harmony

The temporary relocation center established at the Puyallup Fairgrounds in Washington where Seattle's Japanese American residents were initially detained.

Camp Minidoka

The permanent War Relocation Authority internment camp constructed in Jerome, Idaho, where Keiko Okabe and her family were incarcerated during World War II.

Ume Tree

A plum tree whose blossoms bloom during harsh winter weather, serving as a symbol of perseverance, the city of Nanjing, and Chinese national pride.

Sento

A traditional Japanese communal bathhouse, such as the marble baths located in the lower level of the Panama Hotel or the Naruto-Yu in Nihonmachi.

Issei and Nisei

Japanese generational terms where Issei refers to first-generation Japanese immigrants and Nisei refers to second-generation, American-born citizens.

Jamaican Ginger

An 80-percent alcohol patent medicine obtained via prescription and used as a substitute for rationed alcohol in non-licensed jazz clubs during wartime.

Oscar Holden

A legendary Seattle jazz pianist who performed at the Black Elks Club and recorded the fictional, highly sought-after 78 vinyl record 'The Alley Cat Strut'.