koto (13-stringed Japanese zither); (arch.) stringed instrument
black; black go stone; guilt; guilty person
poetry party or competition; gathering of tanka poets
cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae spp., esp. edible); gourds
named after; associated with; connected with
spinning (textiles); spun yarn
embodiment; manifestation; materialization; materialisation; expression; indication
wind and string instruments; music
Muromachi shogunate (1336-1573)
bottle; jar; decanter; flagon; phial; vial
to arrange (flowers); to plant; living; live
to compete with; to vie for
kemari; type of football played by courtiers in ancient Japan
to be added to; to be appended; to join in (e.g. a group of friends); to participate; to increase (e.g. heat); to gain in (e.g. influence)
rikka; formal style of ikebana
long, narrow strip of paper on which Japanese poems are written (vertically); tanzaku; thin rectangle
Eurya japonica (species of evergreen related to sakaki)
Japanese and Chinese poetry; poetry; poems
one's nature; one's feelings; plain; unadorned; mere; poor
temple elementary school (during the Edo period)
practice writing with a brush; study; learning
master; teacher; stable master
square fancy cardboard, used for autographs, poetry, etc.
rod; pole; neck (of a shamisen, etc.); shamisen; beam (i.e. the crossbar of a balance); single line (esp. as a flying formation for geese); penis
oriental melon (Cucumis melo var. Makuwa)
Star Festival (held in July or August); Tanabata
to come out; to appear; to turn up; to emerge
colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); flavour; nuance; feel
the cosmic dual forces (yin and yang) and the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) in Chinese cosmology
to take in; to bring in; to capture (e.g. image); to import; to win over; to please
harmful insect; noxious insect; vermin; pest
exorcism rite; purification
to pray; to say a prayer; to offer up a prayer
to look up at; to raise one's eyes; to look up to; to admire; to respect
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
even if; no matter (what); if; though; although; supposing
(a) grain; (a) drop; (a) bead
never mind that; don't worry about that; listen up
to be popular; to come into fashion; to be prevalent; to spread widely (e.g. disease); to flourish; to thrive
bathing (swimming) in cold water
dirt; filth; stain; blot; spot