日 本 海(にほんかい)

にほんかい

noun (proper)

the Sea of Japan

1. the Sea of Japan

The sea between the Japanese archipelago and the Asian mainland. In Japanese usage it also evokes a whole climate and mood: grey winter skies, rough water, and heavy snow on the coast facing it.

日本海(にほんかい)は冬(ふゆ)は荒(あ)れる。

The Sea of Japan gets rough in winter.

日本海(にほんかい)側(がわ)は雪(ゆき)が多(おお)い。

The Sea of Japan side of the country gets a lot of snow.

日本海(にほんかい)で取(と)れたカニは、冬(ふゆ)の味覚(みかく)として全国(ぜんこく)に送(おく)られる。

Crab caught in the Sea of Japan is shipped nationwide as a taste of winter.

Common expressions

日本海(にほんかい)側(がわ): the Sea of Japan side (of Honshu)
日本海(にほんかい)沿岸(えんがん): the Sea of Japan coast
日本海(にほんかい)が荒(あ)れる: the Sea of Japan turns rough

Cultural note

日本海(にほんかい)側(がわ) and 太平洋(たいへいよう)側(がわ) are the standard way of dividing Japan's weather. Winter winds pick up moisture over the Sea of Japan and drop it as some of the world's heaviest snowfall on the western coast, while the Pacific side stays dry and sunny — so the two phrases carry a whole picture of climate, food, and daily life.

Similar words

太平洋(たいへいよう): the Pacific Ocean — the paired term in almost every weather report
瀬戸内海(せとないかい): the Seto Inland Sea — calm and sheltered, the opposite image

Related Words

Compare: 太平洋(たいへいよう) (the Pacific Ocean)

Compare: 瀬戸内海(せとないかい) (the Seto Inland Sea)

Related: 地中海(ちちゅうかい) (the Mediterranean Sea)

general

Added 2026.8.28 21:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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