[Leica] to all japanese speakers

[shino@ubspainewebber.com]

i was wondering if a japanese speaker can, authoratatively and first-hand,
tell me from whence "bokeh" (or probably "BO KE") derives?  is it a shortened
form of some longer word or phrase?

doing google searches reveals a good many bokeh listings, but the
derivation of the word itself is shakily described, and never by anyone who
appears to be a japanese speaker.  i even read somewhere that it was
the way the japanese pronounce "bouquet!"

the OED lists two obsolete entries for "boke", one to poke, the other
to belch.

thanks,

- -rei

p.s.
my mom and dad were from osaka and toyko respectively, but never
taught us kids the language beyond the vocabulary of a 2-year old, plus
a few assorted curses.