senior proprietress (hostess) of a Japanese inn or restaurant
loquat (Eriobotrya japonica); Japanese medlar
if man will not work, he shall not eat; no work, no play
arraying a number of reference books in order to compose poetry; literary composition crammed with maxims, ancient episodes, legends, etc.; otters lining a catch of fish on a river bank; (people) making offerings (esp. of fish)
treating (someone) like an object
of the time; at the time; of the hour; in vogue; sought after
old building; older building
bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla); French hydrangea
dead of night; middle of the night; midnight; third quarter of the hour of the ox (2-2:30am, or 3-3:30am)
to assume the air of ...; to behave like ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
ex-husband; former husband
location where spirits and ghosts allegedly often appear; haunted place
peace; peace sign; V sign
to discuss; to talk together
ancient burial mound; barrow; tumulus
spirit photography; ghost photography
struggle (for); scramble; contest
reduction; diminution; abatement
night watch; night sentry
with an interesting history (story); with a shady history; with circumstances that are difficult to explain
person with whom one is having an illicit love affair
far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; crème de la crème; decisive lead; commanding lead
hot (e.g. from the oven); steaming (from the pot); fresh; fresh (e.g. out of university); new (e.g. married couple)
political and business circles; political and business establishment; politics and industry
staged event; faked situation; prearranged performance
high alert; a state of high alert; on alert
spirit (e.g. human spirit); soul; spirit; ghost; ethereal being
being once divorced; one-time divorcee; (lit.) one x mark (i.e. one name struck from the family register)
person requiring special attention; person to be wary of; person under (police) surveillance; dangerous person
tatami room; dinner party in a tatami room with a geisha or maiko
madly in love; completely charmed (by); from the heart; entirely; (arch.) bottom of one's heart
how kind of you; that's very nice of you; kindly
to draw the line (between two situations); to make a clear distinction; to make it clear where one stands; to take clear responsibility for (mistakes, etc.)
having one's hands full; not having any room to do more; at the limit
slovenly; loose; sluttish; slatternly; untidy; undisciplined
unnatural phenomenon; strange happenings; haunting
transfer (trains, buses, etc.); change; switch (to another ideology, party, system, method, etc.); change; switching (stock); chromosomal crossover