rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
development; growth; development (of a situation, story, etc.); advancement; playing around; having an active sex life
provincial city; provincial town; suburban city; regional towns and cities
to hold (an event); to give (a dinner, party, etc.); to feel (sensation, emotion, call of nature, etc.); to show signs of
alias; pseudonym; pen name; nom de plume; different name; other name
honor; honour; credit; prestige
large stage; grand stage; the big stage; grand setting
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)
I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable
care of; at the household of (when addressing letter, etc.); c-o
encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)
to take the name of; to call oneself; to pretend; to feign; to purport
opposite; reverse; contrary
to be handed down; to be introduced; to be transmitted; to be circulated; to go along; to walk along
high; noble; refined; advanced
eccentric; queer; unconventional; peculiar; original
drama; theatre; theater; play
program (musical, concert, theatrical, etc.); programme
without; unacceptable; not alright; unsatisfactory
expression; presentation; representation; notation
flute; fife; pipe; whistle
to play an instrument (esp. string instruments); to dance
to act (a part); to play (a role); to perform (a play, etc.); to put on (a production); to commit (a blunder); to disgrace oneself
highlight (scene); high point; climax; show-off scene (of an actor in a play)
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
by the way; in this connection; incidentally; in passing
aid; help; assistance; assistant; counselor; counsellor
combination; union; incorporation; congruence
average (normal, ordinary) year; every year; annually
start; commencement; beginning; initiation
to give (someone) a treat; to be extravagant; to live luxuriously; to be proud; to be haughty
even the prosperous inevitably decay; sic transit gloria mundi; all that's fair must fade
reason; principle; general principle (as opposed to individual concrete phenomenon); (in neo-Confucianism) the underlying principles of the cosmos
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
to be negligent in doing something; to shirk; to be off one's guard
must not; should not; do not
voluntary training; voluntary practice; free practice