'Japanese-style' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of the adjective 'Japanese' and the noun 'style'. 'Japanese' itself ultimately derives from the name of the country 'Japan', which entered European languages via Portuguese 'Japão' (and Malay 'Jepang'), from earlier Chinese-based forms.

'Japanese' changed from early borrowings such as Portuguese 'Japão' and Malay 'Jepang' into English forms like 'Japan' and the adjective 'Japanese'; the compound 'Japanese-style' developed in Modern English by combining that adjective with 'style'.

Initially the elements simply indicated origin or relation to the country 'Japan'; over time the compound came to be used to describe particular aesthetics or ways of doing things—i.e., 'in the style of Japan.'