demotion; relegation; reduction in rank; degradation; downward move
the Dragon (fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Dragon (around 8am, 7-9am, or 8-10am); east-southeast; third month of the lunar calendar
first Sanskrit alphabet letter; Africa; Awa (old province of Japan); (arch.) prefixed to names to show intimacy
hostel; dormitory; (arch.) bureau (government department beneath a ministry under the ritsuryo system); (arch.) tea-ceremony room; (arch.) villa
bonze; monk; monk's dwelling; boy; son; I; me
layman (esp. as opposed to a Buddhist monk); laity; local manners; modern customs; common; popular
place of scenic beauty; picturesque place; beauty spot
excursion; outing; picnic
to succeed; to relieve; to take the place of; to substitute for; to be exchanged; to change (places with)
whereabouts; country; one's home village; one's residence
besides; furthermore; moreover
Etchū (former province located in present-day Toyama Prefecture)
Aki (former province located in the west of present-day Hiroshima Prefecture)
Kasumigaseki; district of Tokyo where most of Japan's government ministry offices are located; government ministries (of Japan); Japanese government bureaucracy
follower; attendant; valet; servant
early autumn (fall); seventh month of the lunar calendar
leaving (fleeing) the capital
strange; mysterious; queer
cheap; rash; thoughtless; careless
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
cluster of trees; grove; thicket
rustling (of wind); murmuring; whistling; soughing
undergrowth; weeds beneath a tree
(written) appeal; circular; manifesto; encouragement; encouraging words; letter of encouragement
troublesome; bothersome; tiresome; annoying
air conditioning; air cooling
to cross; to intersect; to associate with; to mingle with; to have a sexual relationship; to copulate
to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one's way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
(the path of spiritual) enlightenment
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
relaxation (e.g. of muscles); becoming flaccid
to get torn; to tear; to rip; to be broken off (of negotiations, etc.); to break down; to collapse
indiscrete; imprudent; unscrupulous
to give rein to (imagination)