preparations for a journey
near; nearby; not far off
one's property; personal effects; one's belongings
to colour; to color; to apply make-up; to decorate; to garnish
charge; duty; person in charge; connection; linking
recuperation; medical treatment
balcony; veranda; verandah; porch
noted doctor; excellent physician
strange disease; rare disease
reorganization; reorganisation; reshuffle
to interrupt (with frivolous remarks, silly jokes, etc.); to butt in; to make teasing remarks
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
token (effort); something done for form's sake
as before; as ever; as it was originally
coming and going; traffic; road; street; association; socializing
independence; self-reliance
to part left and right; to open out
official letter (from the Emperor, Prime Minister, etc.); personal message; handwritten letter; autograph letter
conspirators; faction; cabal; clique
arms buildup; military expansion
to explain away (a mistake, failure, etc.); to make excuses for; to gloss over; to talk one's way out of
change; alteration; substitute; rate of exchange
ingenuity; resourcefulness
main spindle; main shaft; linchpin; pivot; principal axis; main axis
series of battles; successive battles
basic policy; fundamental policy; fundamental plan of action
handmade; homegrown; hand-crafted; homemade
pupil; disciple; follower
putting that aside; that said; apart from that; anyway; be that as it may
row of houses; every house; each house; all; totally
to accomplish something; to leave a mark; to make an impression; to build a track record
three noble families (Kan'in, Kazan'in, and Nakanoin or Koga); three branch Tokugawa families (Owari, Kii, and Mito)
feeling chilly; nervous; anxious; frightened
courtesy call; going around to say hello (or goodbye) to everybody; making the rounds
to have a meal; to take a meal