笹(ささ)

笹(ささ) refers to sasa bamboo grass, smaller than regular bamboo.

Common uses:

• 笹(ささ)の葉(は) (bamboo grass leaves)
• 笹飾(ささかざ)り (Tanabata decorations)
• 笹団子(ささだんご) (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo grass)
• 笹(ささ)かまぼこ (bamboo leaf-shaped fish cake from Sendai)
• 笹寿司(ささずし) (sushi wrapped in bamboo grass leaves)

Counter: 本(ほん)

Cultural note:
笹(ささ) is central to 七夕(たなばた) (Tanabata) celebrations, where wishes written on 短冊(たんざく) (paper strips) are hung on bamboo grass branches. 笹(ささ)の葉(は) has antimicrobial properties and has been used to wrap food for centuries. Unlike regular bamboo (竹(たけ)), 笹(ささ) stays small and has broader leaves.