locking sword to sword (in a duel) and pushing; fierce, close-fought competition
neophilia; love of new or novel things; one who loves new or novel things
cut paper; paper cut in half; paper scrap; the art of cutting paper (in contrast to origami)
to suffer from tuberculosis
conscription ordinance; conscription law; draft; Conscription Ordinance (1873-1927)
Hamaguri Rebellion (1864); Kinmon incident
military affairs; military work
one's innermost thoughts (feelings)
to be started; to get underway
clumsy person; bungler; person with no particular talents (in performing arts); nondrinker; nonsmoker
forced relocation of a daimyo to a different domain (Edo period); change of constituency (politician); change of district
fading; faded colour; faded color
hereditary daimyo (whose ancestors supported Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to the battle of Sekigahara)
hearsay; rumor; grapevine
severe cold; intense cold; bitter cold
revere the Emperor; expel the western barbarians (19th century slogan)
sake brewer; sake brewery
pretending not to see something; turning a blind eye to; burying one's head in the sand
feudal domain owned by a Tokugawa family branch
the Emperor; His Majesty; the government; the authorities; proprietress; hostess
to have grown tense (of a situation); to have become critical (and to be on the verge of a major upheaval)
face to face; between two persons
to rub; to chafe; to strike (match); to lose (e.g. a match); to forfeit; to squander one's money (e.g. through gambling, Pachinko, etc.)
undergoing training; learning