Konjaku Monogatarishū (31-volume collection of stories written during the late Heian period); The Tale of Kanjaku
round of ghost stories (trad. at night with a lamp or candle being extinguished after each story)
rope used to cordon off consecrated areas or as a talisman against evil
competitive entrance examinations for prestigious kindergartens and elementary schools
pommel horse; side horse; saddled horse
working one's employees hard; being a slave-driver
Gifu prefecture (Chūbu area)
Naniwa (former name for Osaka region)
itinerant Buddhist monk; practitioner of Shugendō
origin; source; virtuous ancestor
to be related; to be connected; to be joined together; to result in; to lead to; to bring about
10th month of the lunisolar calendar (traditional first month of winter, approx. November); late autumn; late fall
to gouge out; to excavate; to hollow; to bore; to drill; to carve (e.g. pumpkin)
various opinions; various theories; various rumors (rumours)
to go astray; to become corrupt; to go bad
male genitalia; male genital organs; penis
newspaper story (article, account)
(criminal) investigation headquarters
to incur divine punishment; to pay for one's sins; you'll pay for that!; what goes around, comes around
Hachiman (God of War); Hachiman shrine; (arch.) certainly
Chiba prefecture (Kanto area)
mysterious disappearance; being spirited away
Mino (former province located in the south of present-day Gifu Prefecture)
this and that; one thing or another
first day of the month; (arch.) first ten days of the lunar month
to deify; to enshrine; to pray; to worship
1000 ri; (a) long distance
sleeve (esp. of a kimono); pocket of sleeve; vicinity (esp. of a bridge); foot of a mountain; base of a mountain
clerk; office worker; office staff
shooting star; falling star; meteor; blaze (wide white stripe down the face of a horse)
mandarin (esp. the satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)); mandarin orange; tangerine; citrus (Citrus spp.)
solely; entirely; only; or
harsh (taste, feeling, etc.); acrid; sharp (language, question, etc.); biting; nasty; gross
pleased to meet you; how do you do; my regards (to someone); my greetings; best wishes