improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
grace (of God); divine favour; benefit; efficacy
left side; left-hand side
vivid; bright; brilliant; skillful; skilful; adept
rakugo; traditional Japanese comic storytelling; comic story (told by a professional storyteller)
origin; appearance of auspicious omen
visit to a shrine or temple; paying homage at a shrine or temple
to go under; to pass under; to dive (into or under the water); to evade; to get around; to survive
grounds (esp. of shrines and temples); compound; churchyard; precincts
to spread out; to lay out; to take a position; to impose widely (e.g. over a city)
main temple building; nave
Amitabha Tathagata; Amithaba
to suspend from; to be suspended (from)
garden lantern; hanging lantern
canopy; dome; priestly minstrel's reed hood; reed hood worn by Komuso priests
wish; dream; prayer; one's desire
to brighten; to grow light
retreating figure; appearance from behind
remembrance; recollection; recognition
stature; height; size; physique
letter bearing the shogun's scarlet seal; seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to shrines and temples
notebook for collecting seal stamps sold at shrines and temples
to take out (e.g. garbage); to put out (e.g. dishes on table); to serve (e.g. meal); to get out (e.g. food from cupboard); to submit (e.g. ideas, opinions); to provide for
principal object of worship at a temple (usu. a buddha or bodhisattva); principal image; idol; the man himself; the person at the heart of the matter
unexpected meeting; coincidence
to give up; to abandon (hope, plans); to resign oneself (to)
book; booklet; story book; pamphlet; notebook
to beg; to pester; to plead; to coax; to hound; to importune
to place one's arm around each other's shoulders; to join shoulders
pressing one's hands together in prayer; triangular frame of a thatched roof; yours sincerely; yours truly
to step aside; to move (i.e. out of the way); to make way; to resign; to retire; to quit
seiza; kneeling with the tops of the feet flat on the floor, and sitting on the soles
unconnected; weakly related; alien; having little prospect of marriage
to chase; to run after; to pursue
direction; orientation; bearing; course (e.g. of action)
photography (still or motion); photographing; filming; shooting; (video) recording
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
just right (time, size, length, etc.)
to turn on one's heel; to turn back; to return
shopping; purchased goods
to follow; to come along with one; to accompany