common, low-grade katsuobushi
A type of dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) that is less refined and more affordable than the higher-grade 本節 (honbushi). Used in everyday cooking.
Arabushi is convenient for making stock and is often used at home.
bamboo rod used in imperial exorcism ceremonies
Only with reading あらよ
A specialized ritual implement used in traditional imperial exorcism rites (大祓, ōharae). Rarely encountered outside historical or ceremonial contexts.
In the ōharae ceremony, a bamboo rod called arabushi was used.
Standard kanji spelling for both senses.
荒 (rough, coarse) + 節 (node, joint, or segment of dried fish). The second sense is a homograph with a different reading (あらよ) and likely a separate origin, referring to a bamboo rod.