1.
Japanese emperor oak; oak leaf
The Kashiwa oak (Quercus dentata), a tree whose large, sturdy leaves are famously used to wrap kashiwa-mochi rice cakes eaten on Children's Day. The leaves do not fall until new buds appear, symbolizing continuity of family lineage.
2.
chicken meat (Kansai/western Japan dialect)
In the Kansai region and parts of western Japan, chicken meat is called kashiwa rather than the standard toriniku. This usage is common in everyday conversation and on restaurant menus throughout the region.
A word with two distinct meanings depending on context and region. The oak-leaf meaning is known nationwide, while the chicken-meat meaning is primarily a Kansai and western Japan dialect feature.
The oak-leaf sense is most commonly encountered in connection with 柏餅, a rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf eaten on 端午の節句 (May 5th, Children's Day). Because the kashiwa oak holds its old leaves until new ones grow, it symbolizes the hope that a family line will continue unbroken.
Common collocations
- 柏餅: rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf
- 柏の葉: oak leaf
- 柏の木: oak tree
- 柏鍋: chicken hot pot (Kansai)
- 柏の唐揚げ: fried chicken (Kansai)
Similar words
- 鶏肉: chicken meat — the standard nationwide term
- 樫: live oak — a different type of oak tree, evergreen rather than deciduous