ancient and modern times; all ages; past and present
historic spot; historic remains; ruins
inscription; epitaph; epigraph
hiragana; cursive Japanese syllabary used primarily for native Japanese words (esp. function words, inflections, etc.)
Japanese style of calligraphy based on the gyōsho style popular in the Edo period
waka; classic Japanese poem, esp. a tanka, often 31 morae
crystal; crystallization; crystallisation; fruits (of labor, union, etc.)
to fill (with); to be filled with; to express (an emotion); to project (sadness, joy, etc.); to wear (e.g. a smile)
to wake up; to awake; to awaken to (instinct, ability, perception, etc.); to become aware of; to come to one's senses
as expected; sure enough; after all (is said and done); in the end; too; also
something; some; somehow; for some reason; (is there) something (you want, etc.)
to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest)
written work (esp. a bound text, as opposed to a scroll); a text written entirely in kana; graphic novel (esp. one created between the 12th and 19th centuries); notebook (for practicing kana, drawing pictures, etc.); rough draft
imperial palace; festival dolls representing the emperor and the empress
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined; to associate with; to mingle with; to interest
son of a distinguished family; son of a noble
Heike family; Taira family; The Tale of the Heike; chanting of the Heike Monogatari
stringing a bow; person who strings bows; crescent moon; paper lantern with a bow-shaped handle
young nobleman; scion of a noble family; princely young man; man with an aristocratic air
the public; the street (e.g. "word on the street"); street; district; location (e.g. of a battle); scene (e.g. of carnage)
flow (of a fluid or gas); stream; flow (of people, things); passage (of time); course (of events); (step-by-step) procedure; group of people who remain together after the end of an event
consequence; outcome; result; blame
cluster of trees; grove; thicket
paying a tribute; contribution; presentation of something to an aristocrat
ascent; climbing; up-train; train heading toward the starting point of its route; upbound (esp. toward Tokyo); upstream
down-train; train heading toward the ending point of its route; down-slope; downward going; downbound (esp. away from Tokyo); downstream
talk; story; conversation
to receive; to get; to catch (e.g. a ball); to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to undergo (e.g. surgery)
spirit; mind; nature; disposition; motivation; intention
to press a question; to cross-examine
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
to approach; to draw near; to be imminent; to press (someone for something); to urge; to compel
monkey (esp. the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata); ape; non-human primate
than; other than; except; but
grace; refinement; elegance; daintiness
place that is often written about in waka poetry; oft-repeated descriptive epithets in poetry
how much; how many; however (much); no matter how; what matters is ...; it all comes down to ...
competition; rivalry; something worth doing
mono no aware; appreciation of the fleeting nature of beauty; pathos of things; strong aesthetic sense
to well up (of tears, anger, joy, etc.); to surge up (within oneself); to rise; to feel nauseated; to feel sick