past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly; age 40
ill-bred; impolite; rude; impudent; insolent; blunt
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
you (when referring to one's equals or inferiors)
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
eternal; unlimited; endless
knowledge; awareness; consent; acceptance; forgiving; pardoning
forever; for good; eternally; as long as one likes; indefinitely; no matter what
signalling with the eyes; exchanging looks; winking
there is no need to; it is fine if you don't; unnecessary; does not match; out of reach of
mochi; (sticky) rice cake
to present; to submit; to tender; to hold out
to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation
source of information; intelligence source; message source
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
royal capital; imperial capital
to omit; to leave out; to overtake; to pass; to say; to speak
to hold on to something (secret, lead in a race, etc.)
to invade; to attack; to breach; to penetrate
inexperienced; immature; green; grassy-smelling; smelling of raw vegetation
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
dreadful; terrible; horrible; fearsome; formidable; awesome
head; brains; intellect; understanding
to consider as; to regard (as equivalent); to deem (as); to equate
nice; likeable; desirable
relief; reassurance; recognition of right to land ownership (by the shogunate, a feudal lord, etc.); (arch.) living safely surrounded by walls
views; opinion; discernment; pride; self-respect
to let down one's guard; to relax one's guard
Western-inspired art (Edo period); oil painting
now (when it is already much too late); at this stage; afresh; anew; again
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery
to accomplish; to fulfill; to carry out
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; thank you
established; fixed; prearranged; predetermined
all-out attack; general offensive
riskiness; (level of) danger