Meanings
higashi1
- governmentThe (more prestigious) right-hand side of the banzuke.
higashi2
- A type of wagashi that contains very little moisture and thus keeps relatively longer than other kinds.
kigata. Wooden forms used for making higashi
[1963], “List of Illustrations: Wood”, in Katachi: Japanese Pattern and Design in Wood, Paper, and Clay, New York, N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., →LCCN, →OCLC, page xviii, column 12 more examples
There are hundreds of distinct variations within the main types of wagashi: namagashi, monaka, yokan, manju, and higashi. […] higashi are dried sweets made from rice flour, sugar, and starch pressed into molds that give them a textured and decorative surface.
2007 winter, Elisa Herr, “A Sweet Tradition”, in Japan Info, volume 9, New York, N.Y.: Japan Information Center, Consolate General of Japan, →OCLC, page 8, columns 1–2Most of the Japanese sweets that we had regularly eaten back on Earth, like dango and manju, were classified as namagashi. Rakugan and senbei rice crackers were classified as higashi, but I’d hardly ever had opportunities to eat rakugan, and senbei were kind of different from what I had in mind when I thought of namagashi.
2024 September 9, Itsuki Mizuho, translated by Yen-Po Tseng, “Garden Paradise?”, in To Another World… with Land Mines!, volume 9, [San Antonio, Tex.]: J-Novel Club, →ISBN
Higashi3
Origin
higashi · noun
- Japanese東“east”
- Englishhigashi
From Japanese 東 (higashi, “east”), from the way the eastern or right side of the sumo ranking list is considered more prestigious, by analogy with the rising sun as opposed to the setting sun.
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →higashi · noun
- Japanese干菓子 /乾菓子
- Englishhigashi
From Japanese 干菓子 /乾菓子 (higashi, literally “dry confectionery”).
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Higashi · proper noun
- Japanese東
- EnglishHigashi
Borrowed from Japanese 東 (Higashi).
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
higashi. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/higashi
“higashi.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/higashi. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “higashi,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/higashi.
Source: higashi on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.