close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
to use as a pretext; to use as an excuse
manjū; steamed yeast bun with filling
one's turn; one's shift; one's turn on stage; screen time; screentime
to go out to meet; to receive; to welcome; to accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to call for; to summon
expenditure; disbursement; expenses
to force; to compel; to coerce; to press; to impose
just cause; good reason; pretext; duty (to one's country, sovereign, etc.)
craftsman; artisan; tradesman; worker; workman
to be in high spirits; to be full of vigor (vigour); to be enthusiastic; to be eager; to stretch to breaking point
tea party; get-together; tea ceremony
persons who have fallen in battle
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
consoling the spirits of the dead
stronghold; inner citadel; base; headquarters
person concerned; interested party; related party
astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
facial expression; countenance; look; appearance; expression (vocal, etc.)
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
innermost feelings; heart; motive; nature; disposition; spirit
lineage; stock; descent; strain; blood relationship
person who gets easily elated (when praised, etc.); person who readily chimes in with others; person who gets carried away easily
Emperor Go-Daigo; Go-Daigo Tenno (1288-1339 CE, reigning: 1318-1339 CE)
factional dispute; factional strife; rivalry between factions
this is why; this means; it is the case that
rank; ranking order; hierarchy
the House of Tokugawa; the Tokugawas
quarrel; fight; trouble; dispute; friction; discord
strongly hoping or requesting (of something that is difficult to be brought to fruition)
genuine article; real thing; real deal
merit system (as opposed to seniority); meritocracy; ability-ism
instability; insecurity; crankiness
hereditary daimyo (whose ancestors supported Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to the battle of Sekigahara)
next (to); adjoining; adjacent; house next door; neighbouring house; next-door neighbour
feudal domain owned by a Tokugawa family branch