home area; home town; local
Osaka (city); (arch.) large hill
takoyaki; octopus dumplings
samadhi (state of intense concentration achieved through meditation); being immersed in; being absorbed in; prone to; apt to
type of occupation; occupational category
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
to beat fast (of one's heart); to flutter (with joy, anticipation, etc.); to throb; to pound; to palpitate