third party; third person; outsider; disinterested person
command; direction; supervision; conducting (an orchestra, choir, etc.)
to take (trouble); to attend (to business); to command (army)
to act up (machine); to go out of tune (instrument); to not work right; to be knocked off stride; to lose one's bearings; to lose one's presence of mind
friendship; friendly relations; fellowship
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
unreasonable idea; illogical plan; illogical move (in shogi or go)
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
rational; reasonable; logical
sincere; earnest; serious
(world of) politics; political world; political circles
to control; to take the lead in; to have under one's thumb
shade; shadow; behind (something); other side; the background; behind the scenes
(Edo-period) chief minister
Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area; metropolitan area (of a capital)
the lone woman (e.g. bright flower) in a group
base; basis; bedrock; platform
old; aged; long; since long ago; of the distant past; long-ago
religion; religious affiliation; belief; religious activity
well-known; famous; noted; popular; recognized
Dynastic period (the Nara period and esp. the Heian period, characterized by the rule of the emperor as opposed to shogunate)
charge; cost; generation; age; era; a representative of; on behalf of
body; group; party; gang; troupe; troop
to prostrate oneself (before)
to overlook; to command a view of; to look down on; to despise; to look down on
soft; tender; soft (colour, light, etc.); subdued; informal; light
to ask a question; to begin to ask a question
ogre; demon; spirit of a deceased person; ogre-like person (i.e. fierce, relentless, merciless, etc.); it (in a game of tag, hide-and-seek, etc.); seeker; Chinese "ghost" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
fear; horror; risk; danger; awe; reverence
to form; to make; to build up (e.g. a fortune); to create; to accomplish; to achieve; to change (into)
old person; senior citizen; the aged; the elderly
early days; early years; early stages; initial stages; beginning
settlement; village; community; (bacterial) colony
fragment; scrap; piece; shred