this and that; this or that; one thing or another; around; about; round about
expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
to ascertain; to check; to make sure
given that ... it is only natural that ...; ... being the case, it is unavoidable that ...; (precisely) because ...; contrary to expectations ...
current; urgent; to confront (an issue); to face (up to something); for the meantime; at present
concerning; regarding; per (e.g. 100 yen per person); for every
to weigh on one's mind; to bother one; to be interested (in); to be curious (about); to feel like (doing); to feel inclined to
effect; result; worth; Kai (former province located in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture)
(any) particular; special; particularly noteworthy; worth mentioning
movement; move; motion; trend; development; change
watchful waiting; careful supervision
now (while the time is ripe); while one still can
Iga (former province located in the west of present-day Mie Prefecture)
to go against; to fight against; to oppose; to resist; to deny
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
loveable; very likeable; like very much
human being; human; person; character (of a person)
what's what; heads or tails
Mie prefecture (Kinki area)
highway (esp. one existing from the Edo period); main road; highway (e.g. to success); path (to becoming ...); subdistrict (in China)
honesty; sincerity; trust; reliance; (religious) faith; devotion
to entrust (e.g. a task) to another; to leave to; to passively leave to someone else's facilities; to leave to take its natural course; to continue (something) in a natural fashion (without particular aim); to rely fully on one's (full strength, great ability, long time taken) to get something done
castle site; ruins of a castle
to look at; to gaze at; to look out over; to get a view of; to look on (from the sidelines); to stand by and watch
scenery; scene; landscape; scene (e.g. of a crime)
position; location; base; point; site
to change; to swap; to change the object of one's interest or focus; to spend or take time; to infect; to permeate something with the smell or colour of something; to move on to the next or different stage of (a plan, etc.)
port city; harbor city; harbour city
castle town; city in Japan that developed around the castle of a feudal lord
foundation; basis; bedrock; substrate (circuit board)
misfortune; adverse fortune; hapless fate; checkered (life, career, etc.); varied; eventful
to follow (road); to pursue (course); to follow up; to follow (hyperlink)
to climb over; to get over; to surmount; to overcome; to surpass; to overtake
to raise; to bring up; to rear; to cultivate; to foster; to nurture
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
unification of the whole country
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
to harden; to freeze; to put together; to collect; to make secure; to stabilize; to fortify
bonds (between people); (emotional) ties; relationship; tether; fetters
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise