country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competition in which there are several evenly matched participants; hotly contested game (match, market, etc.)
soft rush (Juncus effusus var. decipiens); common rush
round straw mat; sitting in a circle
physical strength; power; stamina; strength (of a business, economy, etc.)
exhaustion; consumption; using up; dissipation; waste
stinginess; miserliness; shabby; cheap; petty; narrow-minded
kamidana; household shrine; home shrine
to provide; to arrange; to install
enshrinement; installation (of an image)
hole; opening; pit; hollow; burrow; den; deficit
Japan's best; number one in Japan
wooden box carried on one's back to store items for a pilgrimage
every conceivable; every single; every possible; all kinds of
crazy deed; unbelievable deed; the height of madness; act of sheer madness
to straighten up one's back (e.g. stand up straight, sit up straight); to hold one's head high
stage assistant dressed in black; stagehand; prompter; behind-the-scenes supporter; string-puller
contortion; distortion; warp; kink (in one's character); twist
pitiful; unfortunate; poor; unpardonable; regrettable
to ask elsewhere; to try another (store, service, etc.)
loss of eyesight; loss of sight; going blind; blindness
sharp parting remark; parting threat
whispering into a person's ear
cooperation; coordination; collaboration; integration; linking
how long; how far; how much
complete change; about-face
unnatural; affected; studied; forced
to distribute; to arrange; to arrange; to lay out (as in decorating); to marry off; to exile
to lay hands on; to touch; to care for; to look after; to make off with; to steal
unpreparedness; falsehood; Chinese "Emptiness" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to gush forth (e.g. water from a spring); to flow (out); to well up (of tears, emotions, etc.); to flow out (of tears); to emerge; to suddenly appear
the Ox (second sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Ox (around 2am, 1-3am, or 2-4am); north-northeast; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
peace; tranquility; tranquillity; Heian period (794-1185)
to be taken for granted; to be generally accepted; to be the established wisdom; to be the (social) convention; to be the customary thing to do
spirit of a dead person; ghost; departed soul; vengeful spirit (spawned from a dead person's hate); vindictive soul (of a deceased person)
long-handled Chinese spear; lance; weapon; arms; grip of a bow; parade float decorated with long-handled Chinese spears
to shoot (a gun, person, etc.); to fire
gold (Au); golden; prosperous; money (esp. ōban coin); cash
four-eyed; pattern of four squares
to wear a mask; to hide one's true intentions