will or decree (esp. of shogun); emperor's wishes
to support; to back up; to revive (e.g. a company); to boost (e.g. morale); to bring up; to raise
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
falling lightly (e.g. snow, petals, confetti); fluttering; flickering; twinkling; appearing and disappearing; catching glimpses
little finger; pinky; little toe
hopping; skipping; lightly and repeatedly jumping
member of shogun's council of elders
to draw in; to take in; to retract; to withdraw; to take back (e.g. words)
(jumping) nimbly; light-footed; boing; used at sentence end to affect cuteness
rabbit; hare; coney; cony; lagomorph (esp. leporids)
to spur on; to urge forward; to impel; to drive at high speed (e.g. a car)
sculpture; carved statue; graven image
slight movement; slight tremor; quiver
to be suspicious of; to be doubtful of; to be dubious of
leaving; going home; quitting one's job; free time; leisure
to sit; to squat; to be implicated
to lose face; to be disgraced
half-way up a slope or stairway; landing; center of three (horizontal) columns (of print) (centre)
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
joke; playfulness; kidding around
genius; brilliance; unusual talent; gifted person; person of unusual talent
to write a few lines (to); to drop someone a line; to write a note (to)
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
to use as an intermediary; to mediate; to assist; to worry; to mind; to care
zealous; enthusiastic; ardent; fervent; keen; eager
public morals; discipline; rules governing social behavior
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
to enter; to trespass; to interfere; to meddle; to pry into
area of the Edo castle where the shogun would work and spend his daily life
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
to cause; to induce; to bring about; to pull upright; to help up (e.g. a fallen person)
waka; classic Japanese poem, esp. a tanka, often 31 morae
Chinese poem; Chinese poetry
practice (in the field); training (esp. practical and hands-on); practical exercise; drill
backdoor; rear entrance; rear exit; unauthorized; illicit; illegal
to carry to extremes; to go to the end of something; to investigate thoroughly; to master
poetry and prose; literature; literary works