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)
young persons' association
to practice; to practise; to train; to drill; to become practiced; to become practised
sanshin; Okinawan traditional three-stringed instrument; precursor to the shamisen
to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
occasion; time; section (of a literary work); paragraph; season; term; principle
to sing; to sing (one's praises in a poem, etc.); to compose a poem; to recite a poem
to take the lead (of a group of people); to lead (a toast, cheer, etc.); to sing the leading notes of a song after which others join in
person in charge of music (in a Japanese dance performance); person singing ballads (in noh); coast (esp. as seen from the water); shore; (arch.) the country; (arch.) countryside
head; lead; vanguard; first
to wave a flag; to show the way
leader; boss; upper part of a flag; (Okinawa) bamboo poles with an attached vertical flag and an elaborate display at the top that are used during the annual fertility and thanks-giving festivals
rank (of troops); file; column; formation
"dancing" with hands and arms from a seated position; dancing empty-handed
to dance (orig. a hopping dance)
part; part-timer; part-time (work)
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
one's heart's desire; one's dearest wish
calamity; misfortune; disaster
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
even so; all the same; nevertheless; yes, but ...
practice; training; drill; (an) exercise; workout
men and women of all ages
to begin to dance; to break into a dance
nature of the locality; character of a place; local colour; local color
clothing; costume; outfit; garment; dress
shade; tone; tinge; hue; colour; color
participation; joining; entry; adherence
home (of something); place famous for its ...; place of origin; birthplace; morning session; last session in the morning
sitting cross-legged (i.e. Indian style)
sports park; athletic park; stadium
to stick through; to force through; to spread throughout; to thoroughly diffuse; to make a path between two points; to proceed in a logical manner; to let pass
all people; everybody; ten thousand people
audience; spectator; spectators
selected (sports) team; picked team; all-star team; selection
to compete with; to vie for
party; group; crew; company (of troops); corps; unit
taking part on the spur of the moment; participating without registering beforehand; last-minute entrant; specking on flower petals
somewhat; to some extent; to some degree; some; part; portion
to be discouraged; to be disheartened