to reach one's ears; to come to one's knowledge; to hear about; to learn of (by chance)
of great promise; with a promising future
to mow down; to cut down; to knock down; to defeat; to beat
living up to one's reputation
all-Japan; all-Japan championships; (Japanese) national championships
championship; title (of champion)
around the world; throughout the world
level; standard; level (plane); floor; spirit level; (surveyor's) level
participants; participating athletes
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to gouge; to hollow out; to greatly perturb; to cause emotional pain; to get to the bottom of things; to relentlessly bring the truth to light
extraordinary; special; exceptional; non-standard grammatical construction; ungrammatical usage; solecism
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
to dwell; to live; to stay at; to take shelter at; to be pregnant; to be part of a constellation
sense; sensation; feeling; intuition
to shine; to glitter; to be bright
Imperial Family; Imperial Household
this sort of; this kind of; like this; such
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
to clasp; to grasp; to hold (the answer); to have (e.g. the solution); to seize (power); to hold (the reins)
to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one's way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
there is no way that ...; easy; simple
instant; moment; for an instant
feeling; sensation; mood; sensation of doing
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
blade; sword; forged blade; wavy pattern on forged blades; sharpness; unhulled rice
moment; instant; kshana; duration of a single mental event (about 1/75 second); shortest possible interval of time
instantly; immediately; equals; means; oneness (of two opposing things); inseparability
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
just barely; only just; at the very limit; at the last moment
offense and defense; offence and defence
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
from the start; from the beginning; from the outset