koban; small oval gold coin used in the Edo period; oval; elliptical; small size (of paper)
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
coin of the smallest value; poorly-minted coin
encompassing; covering (exhaustively); including (all of); comprising; comprehending
to pile up; to stack; to load (car, ship, etc.); to pack; to acquire; to accumulate
from right to left; in one ear and out the other; nice and quick; with speed and address; without further ado
division; splitting; sharing; distribution; draw; tie
hosho paper; emperor's message; shogun's message
protection; safeguard; guardianship; preservation; conservation
to drool; to dribble; to slobber
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; eccentricity; person with unusual tastes; eccentric; oddball
having to be; must be; should be; ought to be
casting pearls before swine; (lit.) (giving) a gold coin to a cat
temptation one can't resist; setting a wolf to mind the sheep; trusting a cat with milk
cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus); feline; shamisen; geisha; wheelbarrow; clay bed-warmer; bottom (submissive partner of a homosexual relationship)
to spring at; to leap upon; to swoop down on; to throw oneself upon (e.g. an enemy)
soft, coaxing voice; wheedling voice; ingratiating voice
one leaf (of a book bound in Japanese style); one block of tofu; one serving (in a restaurant); one long and narrow thing (e.g. a gun, scissors, spade, hoe, inkstick, palanquin, candle, jinrikisha, shamisen, oar); one chō (unit of distance, approx. 109.09 m); one game; one task
taking no notice (of); showing no interest (in); paying no attention (to); ignoring completely
bundle; package; parcel; counter for wrapped objects
roughly; approximately; (cutting) in one stroke; (breaking apart) with vigour; (cutting) deeply; (splitting) wide open
imitation; fake; phony; pseudo-
genuine; authentic; true; real
Keichō era (1596.10.27-1615.7.13)
the proof of the pudding is in the eating; (lit.) evidence is better than debate
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to underestimate; to make light of
to see; to look; to watch
across; over; beyond; throughout (a period of time); for
tatami room; tatami mat room; formal Japanese room; dinner party in a tatami room (esp. when a geisha or maiko attends)
near one's knee; (by) one's side; (at) one's hand; place under the protection (of one's parents, etc.); (under) the care (of); territory of a powerful person
earthenware; unglazed (bisque-fired) earthenware
to throw; to hurl; to give up; to abandon; to cast (a glance, shadow, doubt, etc.)
manner of using one's hands
colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); flavour; nuance; feel
dignity; quality; grace; panache; level
(please) try to; (please) look; seeing; looking
dubbing (of a film, etc. into a different language); stand-in (actor); double; recasting; reminting
Genroku era (1688.9.30-1704.3.13)
hanafuda; flower cards; playing cards consisting of 12 suits of 4 cards, each suit representing a month indicated by a flower
to open (e.g. doors); to open (e.g. business, etc.); to be empty; to be vacant; to be available; to be open (e.g. neckline, etc.); to have been opened (of one's eyes, mouth, etc.)