contact; connectedness; rapport; mutual touching
to take the lead (in doing); to take the initiative; to be the leader
year in, year out; always; 24-7
the Ox (second sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Ox (around 2am, 1-3am, or 2-4am); north-northeast; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; strictness; cruelty
Iwami (former province located in the west of present-day Shimane Prefecture)
mousetrap; rattrap; rat poison; speed trap
powerful medicine; strong poison
selling on the market (in the marketplace, in stores, etc.); making something commercially available; commercial (e.g. software); over-the-counter; off-the-shelf
opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
easily; effortlessly; changing completely; plink (sound of something light falling or rolling)
to be mixed; to be blended with; to associate with; to mingle with; to join
(articles) imported to Japan by early European traders
secret medicine; secret remedy; nostrum; wonder drug; excellent remedy
Nagasaki (city, prefecture)
illicit manufacturing; illicit distilling; moonshining
consent; assent; agreement; understanding; comprehension; grasp
the one thing that is well-remembered
aconite (esp. species Aconitum japonicum); wolfsbane; monkshood; traditional bugaku hat
aconite (esp. species Aconitum japonicum); wolfsbane; monkshood; traditional bugaku hat
(giving) birth; childbirth; native of; product of; assets; property
to paint; to plaster; to lacquer; to varnish; to spread; to smear
within the borders of a country; domestic soil; inland; interior; Japan proper (as opposed to its overseas colonies); homeland
Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica); lily-of-the-valley
Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica); lily-of-the-valley
to be disappointed; to be dejected; to be downhearted; to feel exhausted; to feel drained
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to look down on (someone); to make fun of
drawing; picture; diagram; sight; scene
in fact; as a matter of fact; actually; in reality; to tell the truth
high-ranking noh actor; head of a school of noh performance; high ranking courtesan (esp. in Yoshiwara) (Edo-period); jōruri narrator; manzai narrator; female role actor in kabuki; low ranking priest in a Shinto shrine
athletic meet (esp. at school); sports day
three-legged race; cooperation with singleness of purpose (e.g. between companies); operating in tandem
remembering (and honoring) the teachings of Buddha
Vermilion Bird (god said to rule over the southern heavens); seven mansions (Chinese constellations) of the southern heavens
to brew (sake, etc.); to cause; to bring on; to bring about
government office; agency; board
people; men and women; each person; everybody
expert(ise); skill; dexterity