blue (sky, ocean, etc.); fresh and green (of vegetation); verdant; greying (hair); aged
fine weather (i.e. little or no clouds); fair weather; clear weather; clear sky; fair skies
sorrow; grief; anguish; trouble; affliction; anxiety
great (i.e. great-grandson, great-grandmother)
Echigo (former province located in present-day Niigata Prefecture)
nearby (one's seat); (by) one's side; Dear (Mr./Mrs.)
valley (with a river running through it); gorge; ravine; canyon
depiction; description; portrayal
mood; sentiment; artistic effect
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
imperial palace; shrine; Grand Empress Dowager; Empress Dowager; woman of imperial lineage who has borne a child; elderly woman of imperial lineage
redundancy; superfluity; useless addition
denouement; ending; conclusion; (grand) finale
disastrous; tragic; miserable; wretched; pitiful; woeful
state; condition; circumstances; sight; spectacle
to lie; to cheat; to pretend; to trick; to deceive
internal conditions; true state of affairs
one's confidant; trusted friend; trusted retainer
person who has committed suicide
trace; vestige; mark; sign; evidence
initiative; prior consideration
unfortunately; sorry, but ...
home town; birthplace; native place; (arch.) ruins; (arch.) historic remains
surface; face; outside; exterior; appearances; superficiality
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada (1621-1638)
explanation; interpretation
absurd; nonsensical; preposterous
to shut in; to confine; to contain
Saint; St.; S.; sacred; holy; pure