to follow; to pursue; to die right after a loved one; to kill oneself after the death of a loved one; to follow an example set by earlier generations (or one's master, etc.)
to choose the best; to select carefully; to handpick
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
hot-blooded; hot-headed; temperamental; impulsive
itching to do something; impatient; sorely tempted; eager
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops
covering (a loss, deficit, etc.); making up (for); compensating (for); supplementation
dyer's knotweed (Persicaria tinctoria, used to produce indigo dye); indigo (dye); indigo (colour)
to abuse; to exploit to the full; to give free rein to
serious illness; dangerous disease
to be ill; to suffer from
return; reversion; comeback; carriage return
(the condition of) one's health
many; numerous; various; large number of
graceful; willowy; lissome; soft and tender
to wither (of a plant); to be blasted; to die; to mature (of one's personality, abilities, etc.)
handsome; shapely; clean-cut (features)
your native country; your hometown; my home country (i.e. Japan); countryside; country; (arch.) daimyo's territory (Edo period)
important matter; matter of great importance; serious affair; major incident; emergency
to become fraught with emotion
long sword (as opposed to the shorter katana); tachi; sabre-like sword worn on the hip with the blade facing down
series; sequence; keiretsu (group); conglomeration of businesses linked by cross-shareholdings; affiliated; subsidiary
bloodshed; (lit.) rain of blood
dainty; delicate; slender; fragile (e.g. furniture); delicate; frail
weak (constitution); sickly; feeble; in poor health
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
ghastliness; dreadfulness; grimness; intimidation; menace; threat
iai; art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword afterwards
(having) life-and-death power (over)
price; cost; value; worth; value
unable to do (as one wishes); able to do only with great effort; almost impossible to do; beyond one's control; not always turning out as one wishes; not going the way one wants it to
but; however; (and) yet; nevertheless; still; for all that
elderly handyman; elderly manservant
soon; shortly; before long
junior (at work, school, etc.); younger people; younger student
old person; elderly person; trustee of the Japan Sumo Association; retired high-ranking wrestler who is licensed to coach and receives retirement pay; senior statesman (of the Tokugawa shogunate); important local official (under the Tokugawa Shogunate)
mature; experienced; precocious; mature for one's age
five; five years of age; eight o'clock (old time system)
strangely; oddly; miraculously; mysteriously
introduction (from abroad); transmission (through successive generations); being handed down (from generation to generation); being passed down
to join; to be put together; to combine; to unite; to fit; to close (e.g. of a wound)
as usual; as is one's habit
to look after; to take care (of); to favor; to gaze at; to stare at; to set one's eyes on
flying column; detached force