笹

ささ

bamboo grass, generally smaller species of running bamboo that do not shed their sheaths (e.g. Sasa spp.)

熊

くま

bear (animal)

根笹

ねざさ

dwarf bamboo (varieties that thrive in western Japan)

笹原

ささはら ささわら

field of bamboo grass

笹舟

ささぶね

toy bamboo-leaf boat

笹竹

ささたけ

small bamboo

笹藪

thicket of bamboo grass

雪笹

ゆきざさ ユキザサ

Maianthemum japonicum (species of monocot)

福笹

ふくざさ

lucky bamboo branch (sold during the Toka Ebisu festival in early January)

篠笹

しのざさ

bamboo grass, bamboo

熊鷹

くまたか クマタカ

Hodgson's hawk eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis), mountain hawk-eagle

熊襲

くまそ

Kumaso (ancient Japanese people resident to southern Kyushu)

熊樫

くまがし くまかし

large evergreen oak

熊柳

くまやなぎ クマヤナギ

Berchemia racemosa (species of flowering plant related to buckthorn)

熊掌

ゆうしょう

bear's palm (meat treasured in Ancient China)

熊葛

くまつづら クマツヅラ

common vervain (Verbena officinalis), common verbena

熊蟻

くまあり クマアリ

Japanese carpenter ant (Camponotus japonicus)

熊蝉

くまぜみ クマゼミ

Cryptotympana facialis (species of cicada)

黒熊

こぐま くろくま くろぐま

black bear