to be needed; to be wanted
feudal lord; head of a household; proudly independent person
large part; greater part; people in general; general public; mostly; for the most part
nowadays; these days; at present
shamelessly; brazenly; coolly; fast flowing (of water)
haughty; arrogant; proud; stuck-up
(possession of) one feudal domain and one castle; being independent (acting without compromise or assistance); establishing only one castle in each feudal domain (edict issued by the shogunate in 1615)
to peep (through); to peek; to await (one's chance); to guess; to infer
the facts; the truth; the true state of affairs; in truth; in fact; in reality
adherence to the shogunate
formality; social rules; social status; social standing; (arch.) amendments and enforcement regulations (of the ritsuryo)
miserable; wretched; unhappy; sad; pitiable
future (usually near); prospects
great achievement; glorious deed; (gaining) fame; (earning) distinction
bright light; hope; bright future; light emanating from a buddha or bodhisattva, symbolizing their wisdom and compassion
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
shrewdly; smartly; calculatingly; astutely; cunningly
to be enthralled by; to be disguised as
strong point; merit; virtue; advantage
weak point; weakness; shortcoming; defect; flaw; sore spot
advance guard; vanguard; athlete who competes in the first match of a team competition (kendo, judo, etc.)
nucleus; backbone; medium-level; mid-level; main body (of troops); crack troops
talkative; loose-lipped; persiflage; frivolous talk
to get cloudy; to cloud over; to cloud up; to fog up; to be gloomy; to be clouded (expression)
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery
whether one likes it or not; whether willing or not; willy-nilly
arrangement; preparations; search (by police)
horse; horse racing; promoted bishop
to enrich; to make wealthy
rotting; spoiling; decaying; rotten; worthless; paltry
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; around; about; round about
occasional; infrequent; rare
frame; framework; border; box; limit; restriction; category
-like; sort of; similar to; resembling
mutual assistance; mutual sympathy
playing; play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect)
pair; two kinds; two ways
to do everything in one's power; to do all one can; to leave nothing undone; to exhaust one's resources
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
easygoing; optimistic; conceited
to act as a go-between (for); to mediate; to arrange; to entertain (guests); to treat; to receive
this or that person; anybody; many people
wife (esp. one's own wife); court lady; female court attache; (arch.) woman (esp. as a love interest)