bright light; hope; bright future; light emanating from a buddha or bodhisattva, symbolizing their wisdom and compassion
kan (obs. unit of weight, approx. 3.75 kg, 8.3 lb); kan (obs. unit of currency, equiv. to 1000 mon in the Edo period; col. 10 mon in the Meiji period); counter for pieces of sushi; 10 points; 12 points
ancestor; forefather; originator; pioneer; grandfather
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
to be skillful (skilful); to be clever
road; path; way; set of practices; Buddhist teachings; Taoism; modern administrative region of Japan (Hokkaido)
dhyana (profound meditation); Zen (Buddhism)
pupil; disciple; adherent; follower; apprentice; young person
strange; weird; wonder; mystery; cleverness; adroitness
wholly; solely; entirely; principally; mostly; chiefly
ronin; masterless samurai; high school graduate waiting for another chance to enter university after having failed the yearly entrance examination; person out of work; jobless person; (arch.) wanderer
eastern country; eastern provinces; Kanto provinces
one's confidant; trusted friend; trusted retainer
in the mountains; among the mountains
Hyogo (prefecture); armory; armoury; arsenal
counter for large animals (e.g. head of cattle); counter for insects in a collection; counter for helmets, masks, etc.
Five Dynasties (of China; 907-979)
urheimat; original homeland of a people or of a language
horse tack; horse gear; harness
sudden; unexpected; unpredictable; unforeseen
to compromise; to meet halfway; to step up to; to walk up to; to approach
surface; face; outside; exterior; appearances; superficiality
Sannō Festival (Hie Shrine in Tokyo; June 15); Sannō Festival (Hie Shrine in Shiga; April 14)
connection (to a person, place, etc.); relation; affinity
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
indirection; indirectness
to prepare; to provide; to set up; to establish; to organize
grass; weed; (arch.) ninja; not genuine; substandard; LOL
palace; tonic (of the Japanese and Chinese pentatonic scale); ancient Chinese punishment (castration for men, or confinement for women); zodiacal sign
appearance; arrival; make one's appearance
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
to understand; to appreciate; to interpret
excellent poem; famous poem
shout of victory; cry of triumph
strange; odd; unexpected; change; incident; disturbance
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
assistance; help; helper; babe; chick; broad
neighbourhood; neighborhood; vicinity