(necessary) personnel; required person
trickling (of water); flickering (of fire); darting about (e.g. a small animal); scampering about
offering to a deity or someone's spirit; tribute to a person who is about to depart
study (for a role); preparation for a part (in a play, etc.)
master swordsman; skilled fencer
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
to read a large number (of); to read widely; to read everything that one can lay one's hands on (usu. of specific type, genre)
secret swordsmanship (of a specific school); secret traditions of fencing
opponent; adversary; the competition; the other side; one's enemy
climax; peak; zenith; apex
to sense; to suspect; to get an inkling (of something); to get wind of; to smell (e.g. danger); to become aware of (e.g. a plot)
arguments for and against; pros and cons; mixed reception; mixed reviews
one's impressions after reading a book
being a mystery (due to conflicting testimony); being unknown; (lit.) in a grove
(art of) fencing; swordsmanship
literature; books (reference); document
reasoning; inference; deduction; mystery genre; detective genre
to cut off and throw away; to abandon; to disregard; to cut (someone) down; to slay
of established reputation; fully established; (universally) recognized; acknowledged; leading
peerless; unparalleled; unparallelled; mowing down the enemy
smooth (of a surface); glassy; smooth (of an action, proceedings, etc.); fluent (speech); continuously differentiable
sorrow; grief; anguish; anxiety; worry; trouble
primer; introductory book; (beginner's) guide
kendo; Japanese martial art using bamboo swords
practice; practising; training; study
the one before last; two generations, etc. previous
training; drill; practice; discipline
bamboo sword (for kendo); bamboo fencing stick; bamboo sword
arms; armament; taking up arms; arming oneself
dojo; hall used for martial arts training; manda (place of Buddhist practice or meditation, esp. the place under the bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment)
lung capacity; breathing capacity; vital capacity
to open the lid; to lift a lid; to open the lid (on); to make public; to start (something); to look at the results (consequences, outcome, effect)
quarrelsome; easy to anger; quick to lose temper
sword fight (in a film, play, etc.); stage combat; fight scene
predation; eating prey; preying upon
to let pass; to allow through; to transmit (e.g. light, sound, etc.); to conduct (electricity); to stick through (e.g. a hole); to force through (e.g. an opening); to connect (e.g. two places)
first place; head position; leading position
hope; promise; expectation; anticipation; side of a structural member
unique; peculiar; singular