Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2014

With the enactment of the state secrets law (see feature, pp 6-7), secrets, ironically, are everywhere. Here’s how to crack the code.

• 秘密 himitsu = secret, conceal + carefulness, minuteness = secret

• 内緒 naisho = inside/between + beginning/end/strap = secrecy, confidentiality, privacy

• 秘訣 hiketsu = mysteries, key

• 企業秘密 kigyo himitsu = trade secret

• 秘密兵器 himitsu heiki = secret weapon

• 秘密漏洩 himitsu rousetsu = leaking of a secret

• 秘密情報 himitsu jouhou = confidential information

• 特定秘密保護法 = tokuteihimitsuhogohou = State Secrecy Law