beam running between columns in traditional Japanese architecture, esp. within Japanese-style rooms
one's daily life; condition; well-being; standing and sitting; movements
ancestor; forefather; foremother
bride; (one's) daughter-in-law; wife
commoner; plebeian; commoner (in Japan between 1869 and 1947; the lowest of the three classes)
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
Warring States period (of Japanese history, approx. 1467-1568); Sengoku period; Warring States period (of Chinese history, 403-221 BCE); era of vicious competition
infancy; childhood; tender age
to grow; to grow up; to be good at; to excel in
one's own house; own; personal; autologous
discord; trouble; dissension; disagreement; friction; conflict
mixed with; mingled with; interspersed with; dashed with; sprinkled with
Kyūshū (southernmost of the four main islands of Japan)
maintenance; conservatism; conservativeness; conservation
to value; to prize; to esteem; to respect; to honour; to honor
studying abroad; travelling to study; traveling to study
to be enthusiastic (about); to be eager (to do); to be keen; to be intent (on); to be determined
invisibly; secretly; privately
family of samurai lineage; person with samurai ancestors; shizoku; the second of three official classes in Japan in 1869-1947, consisting of former samurai
dissatisfaction; discontent; disapproval; objection; complaint; protest
weather (conditions); disposition; temperament
Bushido; samurai code of chivalry
hereditary custom; surviving tradition; teachings passed down from previous generations
to value; to prize; to esteem; to respect; to honour; to honor
secret; private; surreptitious
hereditary daimyo whose ancestors supported Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to the battle of Sekigahara
before; prior to; ago; the past; before; previously
Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578)
castle (in place names); castle; fortress
to retire from public service
Tokugawa period (i.e. the Edo period, 1603-1867)
to employ (as a retainer); to enlist; to engage
successive generations; hereditary daimyo whose ancestors supported Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to the battle of Sekigahara
regarding; in; to; towards; with regards to
rich (flavor, color, etc.); strong (e.g. odor); probable; (very) likely; passionate; sensuous
(arch.) retainer; (arch.) attendant; (arch.) Omi (hereditary title; orig. one of the two highest such titles, later demoted to sixth highest of eight); I; me
to rally; to make a comeback
evolution; evolution; becoming more advanced; progress
van (of a movement); vanguard; forefront
to extol; to sing the praises of; to celebrate; to declare; to stipulate; to express
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)