1.
bamboo grass; sasa
A type of small bamboo with broad leaves, used for wrapping food and in traditional decorations.
パンダは笹を食べる。
Pandas eat bamboo grass.
笹の葉に短冊を吊るした。
I hung paper strips on bamboo grass leaves.
For Tanabata festival
笹団子は新潟の名物だ。
Sasadango (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo grass) is a specialty of Niigata.
笹 refers to sasa bamboo grass, smaller than regular bamboo.
Common uses:
- 笹の葉 (bamboo grass leaves)
- 笹飾り (Tanabata decorations)
- 笹団子 (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo grass)
- 笹かまぼこ (bamboo leaf-shaped fish cake from Sendai)
- 笹寿司 (sushi wrapped in bamboo grass leaves)
Counter: 本
Cultural note:
笹 is central to 七夕 (Tanabata) celebrations, where wishes written on 短冊 (paper strips) are hung on bamboo grass branches. 笹の葉 has antimicrobial properties and has been used to wrap food for centuries. Unlike regular bamboo (竹), 笹 stays small and has broader leaves.