to lay the foundation (for)
god of war; (fig.) war hero
millennium; one thousand years; (fig.) long time
black beard; type of noh mask with a black beard and protruding chin
to give an impression; to make an impression
to have a good eye (from having seen fine art, etc.); to be a connoisseur
uncertain; unreliable; inauthentic; insecure
hard struggle; strenuous effort
cut end; section; opening; point of view; (different) perspective; new approach
giant bird; great person; magnanimous person; hero
historical event; ancient event; tradition; folklore; legend
lecture; sermon; preaching; moralizing; moralising
important point (e.g. on a route); important role (responsibility, etc.); opposition
enemy movements; enemy's position
promising stock; stock with potential; hopeful stock; promising person; person with good prospects
one in a million (chance, etc.); one in ten thousand; in the unlikely event that
to be curious; to wonder; to marvel
mayfly; ephemeropteran; ephemerality (of human life)
by the way; meanwhile; on the other hand
detailed; scrupulous; careful; (arch.) diligent; (arch.) honest; (arch.) upright
to step aside; to move (i.e. out of the way); to make way; to resign; to retire; to quit
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
to lose interest (in); to grow less enthusiastic
to detain; to take into custody
mediocre; ordinary; commonplace; banal
resident; indigenous; always existing
vague; fuzzy; elusive; slippery
unpleasant; awkward; embarrassing; uneasy
windy; windswept; receive harsh treatment
lawless; outrageous; insolent; rude; inexcusable; unpardonable
to examine someone's expression
being startled; getting a shock
dizzyingly; to feel dizzy
to place both hands on the ground (to express respect, apology or to present a request)
fortress; stronghold; citadel
exposed skin between top of knee-high socks and hemline of skirt