good (place to leave off); convenient
mutual assistance; mutual sympathy
to pull wires; to pull strings
shameless person; sophisticated person; brazen hussy
small amount; bit; smidgen
hard (life); tough (world)
world of suffering; life of prostitution
intimacy; familiarity; closeness
loach or eel dipped and broiled in soy-based sauce
guardhouse (Edo-period city)
yen (Japanese monetary unit); circle
standing firm; holding out
to increase in value; to gain prestige
chief financial official (Edo period); commissioner of finance; chief treasurer; chief accountant in a daimyo's service (Muromachi period)
one's last journey; the journey to the other world; death
one's native country; land of one's birth
one's home; hometown; native place; birthplace
will or decree (esp. of shogun); emperor's wishes
remarkable ability; mastery; brilliant technique; go-getter; resourceful person; wizard
becoming a lordless samurai
blackmail; extortion; racketeering; blackmailer; extortionist
nisei; second-generation Japanese (or Korean, etc.); the second (e.g. Edward II); son
ordinary; nothing special; nothing to exclaim over
to save up; to stockpile; to stash away; to hoard; to amass; to salt away
shaft of an arrow (usu. made of thin bamboo); cornetfish
extortion; blackmail; shakedown; extortionist; blackmailer; racketeer
(art of) fencing; swordsmanship
delicious; tasty; sweet; attractive; appealing; convenient
sunny spot; exposure to the sun
impossible proposition; unreasonable proposal; tall order