voluntary; optional; free; elective
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
pursuit of knowledge; studying; learning; training; completing a course
to be knotty (of a tree, etc.); to be gnarled; to be rough and bony (hands, fingers, etc.); to be gnarled; to be knobby
strongly; violently; with all one's strength
... is the reason; ... is my excuse
to that extent; accordingly; that being the case; that state; that condition
reformation; revolution; renewal; Meiji Restoration
to run about trying to escape
unladylike; unbecoming; immodest; unthinkable; impossible; ridiculous
bush clover; Japanese clover (any flowering plant of genus Lespedeza); dark red exterior with blue interior (color combination worn in autumn); Hagi (city in Yamaguchi)
had better ...; had better not ...
evil spirits of rivers and mountains
the world; society; sphere; circle; world-renowned; world-famous
indifferent; half-hearted; dispirited; listless
manner of speaking; mode of expression; way of saying something
to gouge; to hollow out; to greatly perturb; to cause emotional pain; to get to the bottom of things; to relentlessly bring the truth to light
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
rubbish; trash; garbage; refuse
unearthly; otherworldly; out of this world; ethereal
continuously; unbroken; at great length; in minute detail
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
palisade; stakes planted at irregular angles and intervals as a defensive barrier
memorial service for the dead; holding a service
older sister; elder sister
speech; words; one's lines; remarks
something heard for the first time; hearing something for the first time
surname; family name; hereditary title (used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing)
god of death; death deity; Death
function; facility; faculty; feature
to screw; to twist; to distort; to parody; to torture; to wrest
to be overwhelmed; to be overawed
to step forward; to volunteer
to turn round; to face about; to turn about
sneak thief; petty thief; cat burglar
confusion; bustle; turmoil; to rush around; to act frantically