This article explores the history, common forms, and impact of insults in Japanese culture. It explains that insults are a universal form of communication but in Japan they take on a different cultural meaning than in many Western countries. Common Japanese insults include words like baka (stupid), kuso (shit) and kisama (bastard). Insults have been around since ancient times when samurai warriors would use them against their enemies on the battlefields. In Japan, insults can have significant consequences both socially and professionally depending on the context they are used in and who they are directed at. To avoid giving offense while interacting with people from this culture it is important to understand what constitutes an insult in Japan.