Counters

Here is a list of various Japanese counting words, josūshi (助数詞). These words, and the method of counting which uses them, originates from Chinese.

Japanese counting words
Kanji Counter word One Two Three Used to count
Animals, birds and people

匹 hiki ippiki nihiki sanbiki Small animals, fish
人 nin hitori futari sannin People
名 mei ichimei nimei sanmei People
羽 wa ichiwa niwa sanwa Birds and rabbits (because the ears of the rabbit resemble wings)
頭 tou ittou nitou santou Large animals and farmyard animals such as cows
尾 bi ichibi nibi sanbi Fish
Shapes

本 hon ippon nihon sanbon Long thin objects such as pencils. Also station platforms. Note that satsu is the counter for books.
枚 mai ichimai nimai sanmai Flat objects such as pieces of paper.
Objects
冊 satsu issatsu nisatsu sansatsu Books. Note that volumes of an individual book are counted with kan.
巻 kan ikkan nikan sankan Volumes of a multivolume book or reference. See also jō and ge on books.

Japanese counting words
Kanji	Counter word	One	Two	Three	Used to count
Animals, birds and people
匹	hiki	ippiki	nihiki	sanbiki	Small animals, fish
人	nin	hitori	futari	sannin	People
名	mei	ichimei	nimei	sanmei	People
羽	wa	ichiwa	niwa	sanwa	Birds and rabbits (because the ears of the rabbit resemble wings)
頭	tou	ittou	nitou	santou	Large animals and farmyard animals such as cows
尾	bi	ichibi	nibi	sanbi	Fish
Shapes
本	hon	ippon	nihon	sanbon	Long thin objects such as pencils. Also station platforms. Note that satsu is the counter for books.
枚	mai	ichimai	nimai	sanmai	Flat objects such as pieces of paper.
Objects
冊	satsu	issatsu	nisatsu	sansatsu	Books. Note that volumes of an individual book are counted with kan.
巻	kan	ikkan	nikan	sankan	Volumes of a multivolume book or reference. See also jō and ge on books.

Links

A list of counters by Shinichi Suzuki