the prime of one's career
an adult-age eldest son who has yet to come into his inheritance; (a young adult still) living at home; a dependent
to stay behind; to remain; to work overtime
learning good manners through apprenticeship (to an upper-class family)
naginata; polearm with a curved single-edged blade (similar to a glaive); naginata; martial art of wielding the naginata
Island; insula; island; islet
Shinano (former province located in present-day Nagano Prefecture and parts of Gifu Prefecture)
(another's) daughter; young lady (of pampered upbringing); woman who has never known hardship; naive woman
to protect; to guard; to defend; to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe
daimyo's alternating Edo residence; official attendance service (by a daimyo in the Edo period)
wood chip; splinter; worthless thing; worthless person
abundant; plentiful; rich; wealthy; open (mind); relaxed
family tradition; (arch.) wind blowing from the direction of one's home
to keep company; to look after; to entertain; to play (a game) with
to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to make an effort; to be zealous
chamber maid; female servant; area around the hips; waist area
bamboo sword (for kendo); bamboo fencing stick
mirror; looking-glass; barrel head; page added at the beginning of a document mentioning its purpose, date, author, etc.; mirror-shaped mochi
to see; to look; to examine; to look over; to look after; to attend to; to experience
match; game; bout; contest
common foot soldier (feudal Japan); samurai of the lowest rank
up through; up until; down to; from ... to ... (e.g. from head to toe); everything from ... to ...
to be soldierly; to be martial
when; at what moment; what time
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?
lineage; line; unification; all (of you)
everyday; always; at all times; frequently
tacking (in needlework); basting; planting (esp. rice seedlings); discipline; training
time; years; days; the Moon and the Sun
not limited to; not just ...
to require much effort; to be hard to do; to be bone-breakingly hard
to be a live-in employee; to live in; to live with
trouble; hardship; difficulty; anxiety; worry; concern
(short-term) leave allowed a servant
spreading around (news, rumor, etc.); making widely known; making public; publicizing; proclaiming
peace and tranquillity; halcyon times of peace; peaceful world
strife; riot; (media) uproar; brouhaha; feud; tussle
these days; nowadays; present day; at this time (of the day)
to like; to be pleased with; to be delighted with; to take a liking to; to suit one's fancy
betrothal; wedding; marriage into a family; adoption
weakness; effeminacy; enervation