neck; head; dismissal (from a job); firing
bright (esp. of the moon); broad and empty
incomplete; unfinished; imperfect
gorgeous; brilliant; dazzling; ornate; gaudy; flowery
Japan's best; number one in Japan
carving; engraving; sculpture
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis); qilin (Chinese unicorn)
lion; left-hand (stone) guardian lion-dog at a Shinto shrine
birds and wild animals; wildlife
to carve into; to cut into; to engrave into; to inscribe
to become inverted; to become reversed
to keep one's mouth shut; to refuse to talk
after a short time; in a short while; a short time later
click-clack; clickety-click; clicking sound; clattering sound
grounds (esp. of shrines and temples); compound; churchyard; precincts
visitor (to a shrine or temple)
road approaching a shrine
front shrine; hall of worship
wish; desire; request; prayer
washbasin; bathroom sink; washroom; toilet; lavatory
to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to play the fool; to be in one's dotage
to let your hair down; to have fun after a period of work or stress
calico (pattern); tortoiseshell-and-white; calico cat; tortoiseshell-and-white cat
three wise monkeys (who "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil")
shrine; palace; imperial residence; Imperial prince; Imperial princess; headboard with built-in shelves, drawers, etc.
to lead; to take the initiative; to take precedence (e.g. sadness taking precedence over anger); to be most essential
connection (to a person, place, etc.); relation; affinity
one's family temple; temple with one's family grave
to put oneself in (situation, environment, etc.); to surround oneself with
murder of one's lord or father
to take advantage of an opportunity
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
inner sanctuary; inner shrine; sanctum sanctorum; holy of holies; place behind main hall of a temple enshrining temple founder, miraculous Buddhas, hidden statues, etc.