place plate
A plate used in formal Japanese cuisine to indicate the position of a dish within a multi-course meal, often placed under or beside the main serving vessel.
懐石料理では、位置皿が料理の配置を示すために使われる。
In kaiseki cuisine, a place plate is used to indicate the arrangement of dishes.
Compound of 位置 (position) and 皿 (plate), literally 'position plate'.