first-time customer (of an inn or a restaurant); chance customer; customer without an introduction from a regular customer
core; tang (of a sword, etc.); middle of a nest of boxes
sharpener (of swords) and polisher (of mirrors)
sword for self-defense; sword for self-defence
quenching; hardening; tempering
make; workmanship; preparation
this one; this way; this method
projection; reflection; image; match; harmony
to make over (clothing); to have altered; to renovate
iron sand; magnetite sand
tender; warm; meticulous; detailed; deep (of a colour); thick (e.g. fog)
Hades; the underworld; the other world; realm of the dead
this world; this life; the free world (outside of prison, the army, red light district, etc.); this corrupt world; present world
Seto Inland Sea; Inland Sea
remote countryside; boondocks; the sticks
main performer; star performer; headliner; rakugo storyteller of the highest rank
descriptive poetry; epic poem
red eyes; bloodshot eyes; red-eye; red mullet (Chelon haematocheilus); facial gesture of pulling one's eyelid down and sticking out one's tongue
undefeated; unbeatable; invincible
bewitched sword; magical sword; demon sword
to carry to extremes; to go to the end of something; to investigate thoroughly; to master
skull (esp. weatherbeaten, used as symbol of death); death's head; cranium
divine messenger; messenger of a god (esp. an animal messenger)
two people alike; two of a kind; kissing cousins; cut from the same cloth
to revere; to respect; to worship
goblin; apparition; monster; ghost; phantom; spectre
the Dragon (fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Dragon (around 8am, 7-9am, or 8-10am); east-southeast; third month of the lunar calendar
equally; thoroughly; all over; uniformly; without exception; all around
refined; graceful; modest; cultivated; elegant; reserved
time of death; one's final hour; one's end
greeting; a fine thing to say
floating; buoyancy; fishing float; bobber; buoy; lifebuoy