tinkering; mending pots, pans, kettles; (arch.) man and woman walking together; (arch.) couple walking together
bardo; state (or period) of intermediate existence between one's death and rebirth (in Japan, 49 days)
to act as a mediator; to serve as a mediator; to act as an intermediary; to be a go-between
sad occasion (esp. a funeral)
place of scenic beauty; picturesque place; beauty spot
(plain) hot water; boiled water
maid at an inn who served clients and worked as a prostitute (Edo period)
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
deathbed adoption of a successor (to prevent extinction of the family line); person adopted by someone on his deathbed
calamity; evil; misfortune
Kanpō era (1741.2.27-1744.2.21)
to have luck turn one's way; to have one's fortune change for the better
hesitation mark; shallow wound or scar inflicted by a suicidal person
Buddhist image normally withheld from public view
small brazier; hand-warmer
Tokugawa Yoshimune (shogun 1716-1745 and 1751; 1684.11.27-1751.7.12),
merits (influence) of one's pious acts or religious practice
to entreat; to request earnestly
to play a trick on; to cheat; to deceive; to dupe
mud and tile wall topped with tiles
to see; to look; to watch
being particular (about); being fussy; being picky; being choosy; being fastidious
beheading followed by mounting of the head on a pike in front of the prison (Edo period)
dry provisions; dried food; dried goods; groceries
Japanese puppet theatre in which recited narrative and dialog is accompanied by a shamisen (forerunner of bunraku)
drinking money; tip; gratuity
above all else; more than anything