young woman strongly interested in pre-Edo history; young woman making use of speech and mannerisms of pre-industrial Japan; female history buff
to act arrogantly; to be puffed up with success; to behave like one is better than others
the two leading actors (in a play); the two star players; the two distinctive features; the two main items (attractions)
Ii Naosuke (1815-1860.3.24)
the whole nation; all the people in the land
drift (of snow, leaves, etc.); hangout for social dropouts
assistant director (in taking professional movies)
opening a port (seaport, airport, etc.); starting operations at a port; opening a port to foreign vessels or trade
saltpan; field for drying salt
most successful (of one's relatives, classmates, etc.)
Tokugawa shogunate (i.e. the Edo shogunate, 1603-1867)
scum of society; good-for-nothing; vermin
daily allowance; daily wages
(compulsory) retirement (e.g. on reaching the age of 65); mandatory retirement; reaching retirement age
what is called; what they call; so-called
to destroy; to overthrow; to wreck; to ruin
Tenpō era (1830.12.10-1844.12.2)
Shinsengumi; Edo period police and military force dedicated to suppressing anti-shogunate activities
(Edo-period) chief minister
morality; moral principles
dramatic role for child; child actor
not worrying about one's reputation or appearance; not caring what others think
ban on entering (a building, venue, etc.)
to strain (one's stomach); to bear down (during childbirth); to push down
essential part; indispensable part; unavoidable part; front and back matter (of a book, magazine, etc.)
near; nearby; not far off
courtesy call; going around to say hello (or goodbye) to everybody; making the rounds
weak ending; tapering; anticlimax; tame ending
Bakumatsu period; closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate; end of the Edo period
major dealer; wealthy merchant