yes?; no?; isn't it?; is it?
art; technique; means; way; stratagem; artifice
Muromachi period (1336-1573)
master swordsman; skilled fencer
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
standing close together in a disorderly way (of buildings, etc.); standing side by side; standing (for election) in (excessively) large numbers; (too many candidates) competing with each other
wherein; therein; thereinto; among which
famous; noted; renowned; celebrated; well-known
the House of Tokugawa; the Tokugawas
family positioned to accede to the shogunate
the best in the land; the best of its kind in the country; par excellence in the whole country
unification of the whole country
you could say; you might say; verging on the
to read (a book); to open (a book) to read; to unravel (e.g. a mystery); to discover (the truth)
teacher; master; religious leader; specialist; five-battalion brigade comprising 2500 men (Zhou dynasty Chinese army)
rope; cord; line; grand champion's braided belt
master; teacher; stable master
region; limits; stage; level
to go upstream; to go up (a river); to go back (to the past or origin); to date back (to); to trace back (to)
three; three years of age
source (e.g. of a river); headwaters; origin of something continuous (language, culture, etc.)
to hit; to run into; to light on; to strike into; to come against; to deadlock
art of war; strategy; tactics
shadow; silhouette; reflection; image; ominous sign; light (stars, moon); trace
ancestor; forefather; foremother
since when; from when; how long
babysitting; babysitter; protecting; keeping; keeper
bamboo sword (for kendo); bamboo fencing stick; bamboo sword
plan; device; idea; design; contrivance; conception
to be helpful; to be useful
self-evident truth; obvious fact; truism; axiom
warrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the Edo period); samurai; person with a strong backbone; person that does incredible things; person of considerable talent
scene; setting; scene (in a movie, play); shot; state of the market
the reverse (side); back (side); other side; hidden side; behind the scenes
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
to hand over; to transfer; to give up (e.g. one's seat); to give way; to yield; to concede