free, unfettered and flexible; versatile; adaptable
life-saving sword (a killing sword may be a sword of life depending on how it is used)
life-taking sword; sword used to kill
plan; project; attempt; plot; scheme; undertaking
to be appointed to a post; to assume office
bamboo stem (of a Japanese pipe)
soon; before long; shortly; close (by); near; nearby
the eight Edo-period provinces of Kanto (Sagami, Musashi, Awa, Kazusa, Shimousa, Hitachi, Kouzuke and Shimotsuke)
to impersonate someone; to go under a false name; to make fraudulent use of someone's name
professional jester; professional entertainer; comedian; flatterer; sycophant; brown-noser
sentry box; guardhouse; guard lodge; (Edo period) police box
misuji (cut of beef, usu. from the chuck); shamisen; samisen
to become decrepit; to be in one's dotage; to become dull; to lose one's astuteness; to lose one's touch; to become senile
peerless; unequalled; unequaled
professional gambler; gangster; gang member; good-for-nothing; ne'er-do-well; hoodlum
dilapidated house; tumbledown house; my house; my home; small resting place comprising four pillars and a roof (with no walls)
wonder drug; miracle cure; elixir
to boil; to decoct; to infuse
expert(ise); skill; dexterity
close call; narrow escape
my spouse (esp. used to refer to one's wife); my wife; my husband
manager; steward; factotum; useful person
accompaniment for traditional performances (noh, kabuki, etc.); orchestra; band
killing a passerby in order to test a new sword
one's wife; one's wife and daughter or daughters
one place; (all in) the same place; one spot; one location; one part; one passage
keeping house; being confined to one's house