China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
halfway; midway; partway; mid-course
newcomer; neophyte; novice; newbie
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
to take the initiative; to forestall; to beat to the punch
merit; success; meritorious deed; achievement; accumulated experience
before one's eyes; in front of one; under one's nose; immediate; imminent; around the corner
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
it's no big deal; it's no problem; it's nothing to worry about; safe (and sound); all right
stealthily; secretly; in secret
to go to; to proceed to; to leave for
like; similar to; as with; in the same way
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
spring water; clear (pure) water
to wash; to cleanse; to inquire into; to investigate; to purify (one's heart); to lave (e.g. shore)
occasional; infrequent; rare
noted family; noble family; prestigious school, organization, business, etc.
matchmaking; acting as a go-between
to be undeserved; to be more than one deserves; to be more than one can handle
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to make an effort; to be zealous
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
being very busy; busyness
riding ground; racecourse; racetrack
dignitaries; very important persons; VIPs
seat; location (of a gathering, etc.); place; position; post
hastily made; improvised preparation
courtier; noble; people serving the Imperial Court
samurai for the shogunate
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
carelessness; careless mistake; wetting oneself; soiling oneself; (arch.) crude; (arch.) coarse
to take great pains; to make every effort; to rack one's brains; to be concerned; to worry
that is to say; so that means
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
to crowd (a house); to throng to (a door)
that way; that direction; that (one); that person; there; over there
head; lead; vanguard; first
rank (of troops); file; column; formation
end (e.g. of a line); tail end; rear; backmost part
to congratulate; to wish (someone) well; to celebrate
to be befuddled (with drink); to be intoxicated; to be infatuated; to be entranced; to be carried away