Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is very similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The chemical difference is that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is without water. Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral. Gypsum wallboard and plaster: Wallboard and construction plaster are the primary industrial uses of gypsum in the United States.
Hoshi (æ) is a Japanese word which means star. It is also a surname. Hoshi (ä¿å¿) is a Japanese surname with a similar pronunciation. HÅshi (æ³å¸«) is unrelated to the preceding words, and pronounced differently. It is a technical term in Buddhism (see below).
The national flag of Japan is a white rectangular flag with a large red disc (representing the sun) in the center. This flag is officially called NisshÅki (æ¥ç« æ, sun-mark flag) in Japanese, but is more commonly known as Hinomaru (æ¥ã®ä¸¸, circle of the sun) .