Taishō era (1912.7.30-1926.12.25); Taisho era
Shōwa era (1926.12.25-1989.1.7); reminiscent of the Shōwa era; Shōwa- nostalgic; old-fashioned
early (days); initial stage; initial
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
most; highest; maximum; best; wonderful; finest
having to be; must be; should be; ought to be
(metropolitan) prefecture (of Osaka and Kyoto); the centre or seat (of) (center); (government) office; fu; historical administrative unit in China, Korea and Vietnam
as if; as it were; as though; right then; just then; at that moment
incompetence; inefficiency; inability; incompetent person
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
petty bourgeois; lower middle class
cake or snack served with tea
light (i.e. not heavy); feeling light (i.e. offering little resistance, moving easily); light (i.e. of foot); effortless; non-serious; minor; slight
to be delighted; to be glad; to congratulate; to gratefully accept
always; without exception; necessarily; certainly; without fail; positively
unhappiness; sorrow; misfortune; death (usu. of a relative); bereavement
sure to ...; certain to ...; bound to ...; it's natural that ...
power; authority; might; influence; dignity; majesty
jūbako; multi-tiered food box; heavy; serious; extreme; -fold
warming up sake; warmed sake
wanted; wished for; in need of; I want (you) to
reliable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
peace; security; tranquility; tranquillity
like; similar to; same as
ability; gift; talent; sai; traditional unit of volume, approx. 1.8 ml
nasal breathing; breathing through one's nose; person's pleasure; excitement
mausoleum; imperial court
equality; impartiality; evenness
Saturday; earth; dirt; land; lands; earth (third of the five elements)
kneeling down on the ground; prostrate oneself
worship (esp. Christian); adoration; divine service; worship (esp. Buddhist and Shinto)
top and bottom; high and low; going up and down; rising and falling; going and coming back; upper and lower classes
distinction; differentiation; classification
commonness; the common touch