to count on the abacus; to calculate cost-benefit; to calculate profitability; to be guided by self-interest
life-saving sword (a killing sword may be a sword of life depending on how it is used)
cowpea (Vigna unguiculata); cow pea; black-eyed pea; southern pea
lazy; idle; indolent; slothful
constable; method of catching criminals
(someone's) assistance; help; aid; grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); blessing
grocery store; dealer in dried goods
to manage (all by oneself); to control; to run; to take charge of
sinner; evildoer; wrongdoer
(oral) message; declaration; hearsay; rumour; rumor
remarkable ability; mastery; brilliant technique; go-getter; resourceful person; wizard
secret accounts; unauthorized accounting; under-the-counter accounting
dried fish (or shellfish, etc.)
nisei; second-generation Japanese (or Korean, etc.); the second (e.g. Edward II); son
making something strong even stronger; solidifying something's chances; (lit.) (giving) a metal rod to an ogre
to survive; to continue living; to escape death
Sarcandra glabra (species of flowering shrub in the family Chloranthaceae); 1000 ryō (an old Japanese coin)
double-lined fusilier (Pterocaesio digramma); Taiwan (nickname); Takasago (classic noh play by Zeami)
one cup (of sake); (going out for, treating someone to) a drink; small drinking party
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use
name of store; trade name (esp. of a sole proprietorship); stage name (e.g. of actor)
killing a passerby in order to test a new sword
Shima (former province located at the eastern tip of present-day Mie Prefecture)
(one's) father-in-law; (one's) employer; master; principal supporter of a temple; influential temple parishioner
irrefutable evidence; smoking gun; solid evidence; incontestable proof; dead giveaway
upper part; upper region; region above
son (of others); boy; young master; green young man from a well-to-do family; young man innocent of the ways of the world
refined; genteel; graceful; decent
to make use of; to lend money
member of shogun's council of elders
inn town; post town; post-station town