(arch.) seal; (arch.) stamp; depressing the string of a zither with one's left hand; (in archery) left hand; obstinacy; stubbornness
koto (13-stringed Japanese zither); (arch.) stringed instrument; zheng (Chinese zither); guzheng
participation award; prize for participation
backward somersault; back handspring; backflip
quick-witted; quick to understand
bowstring; string (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.); bail (arched pot handle); diagonal levelling wire across the top of a masu
to strum (an instrument); to thrum; to pluck
head of a school (of music, dance); head family of a school
power of expression; expressiveness; expressive power
large stage; grand stage; the big stage; grand setting
degree of attention; profile
to allow (someone or something) to come near; to let get close
root; origin; source; Ōmoto (religion)
best; most (valuable player); top (quality); grade A; ace; finest
anyway; anyhow; as one likes; by all means; at any cost; no matter what it takes
expulsion (of a pupil); excommunication; anathema
poor thing!; pour soul!; what a pity!
last ray of hope; only hope
absent-mindedly; idly; vacantly; doing nothing
falling far short (of); being far behind; being far inferior (to); being no match (for)
proud; having a prominent nose
being put to shame; being outshone; being eclipsed; feeling embarrassed
feng (male Chinese firebird)
highest peak; highest mountain; greatest authority; most prominent person; pinnacle (e.g. of art)
casual; doing something without taking it too seriously
cast-off skin (snake, insect, etc.); husk; empty shell; exuvia; exuviae
mess; sorry state; -ways; -wards; in the act of ...; just as one is ...
to become misty; to become hazy; to get blurry; to grow dim; to be overshadowed; to be upstaged
tune (melody, piece of music)
to be unreasonable; to whine; to throw a tantrum
common camellia (Camellia japonica)