Crossword Genius

As a souvenir, retain something Japanese (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

keepsake

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'japanese' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.

'as a souvenir retain something' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'retain' could be 'keep' (keeping is a kind of retaining) and 'keep' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for keepsake that I've seen before include "Thing retained in memory of giver" , "Souvenir, memento" , "to remember one by" , "Remembrance" , "Gift, reminder" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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