round of ghost stories (trad. at night with a lamp or candle being extinguished after each story)
perversity; perverse person; antagonistic demon in Japanese folklore; demon under the feet of temple guardian statues
one-eyed goblin; one-eyed monster
yuki-onna (spirit in Japanese folklore); snow woman
estate; homestead; house and land (it stands on); messuage
protective household deity in Tōhoku, appearing as a red-faced child spirit with bobbed hair
sea monster; green turtle
decapitation; beheading; firings; dismissals; small samurai sword used for decapitation
to be doing; to be in the process of doing
race; tribe; species; genus; stellar population (i.e. population I, II and III)
tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides); raccoon dog; sly dog; sly old fox; sly fox
the five elements (in Japanese philosophy: earth, water, fire, wind and void); five great wisdom kings
amabie; legendary monster said to appear from the sea prophesizing either an abundant harvest or an epidemic
grace (of God); divine favour; benefit; efficacy
kawaraban (type of Edo-period single-page newspaper)
illustration; picture; sketch; drawing; figure
chic; smart; understanding; considerate; familiar with worldly pleasures (esp. sexual relations, geisha districts and red-light districts)
dated; date; fixed; external
self-respect; self-confidence; guts; backbone; pride; drive
resignation; acceptance; consolation
assistant vice-minister (ritsuryo system, early Meiji period)
permanent vice-president; undersecretary; vice-minister
minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary
(college) president; secretary-general
House of Peers (Japan, Meiji constitution); House of Lords (UK)
red-light district; pleasure quarters; world of the geisha; demimonde
pregnancy; conception; gestation
being in the service of; serving at; holding office
contingency; fortuity; randomness; unpredictability; haphazardry
stubbornness; obstinacy; disposition; nature; appetite; desire
back; rear; background; behind the scenes
a (short) time; a while; one time (in the past); a period; (arch.) two-hour period
verbalizing; putting into words