iai; art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword afterwards; iai sword-drawing performance (used during the Edo period to sell medicine and other wares)
from ancient times; from old times; from time immemorial
handing down (information); legend; tradition; folklore; transmission
practicality; utility; usefulness
doubting; questioning; being skeptical (of)
to place (in relation to the whole); to rank; to position; to locate
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
drawing a sword; drawn sword
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
to not take seriously; to take lightly
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
adoration; admiration; devotion
reckless; thoughtless; rash; ill-advised; impulsive; mad (e.g. scheme)
to charm; to bewitch; to enchant; to captivate; to fascinate
(common) use (of a language, currency, etc.); current use; to be accepted (e.g. of a way of thinking); to work (of an excuse, trick, etc.); going in and out; entrance and exit
to raise (a sword, fist, etc.); to lift; to throw up; to fling up; to swing up
one; 1; best; first; foremost; beginning; start
space; air; midair; (from) memory; (by) heart
to dance (orig. a whirling dance); to whirl (in the wind); to flutter (about); to swirl
barely; narrowly; only just; with difficulty
being lost for words; becoming speechless; jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
to tear; to rip up; to cut up; to cleave; to forcibly separate (e.g. two lovers); (arch.) to have a tattoo in the corner of one's eye
to pass (the night); to spend; to reveal; to divulge; to prove; to verify
thin (of an object); pale; light; watery; thin; weak (taste, etc.); little (affection, etc.)
making; producing; appearance (attire, make-up, etc.); build; physique; sashimi
law; act; method; mood; dharma; law
first attack; first strike; first blow
to raise; to lift; to boost; to enhance
to take (someone) by surprise; to do something unexpected
seeing for the first time; first sight; first meeting; sight-reading
decorum; propriety; politeness
to respect; to honor; to honour; to esteem; to prize
martial arts; military arts; Bushido
coward; chicken; yellow-belly; sneaky person; underhanded person; dastardly person
to abuse (verbally); to curse at; to shout abuse at; to speak ill of
cannot be helped; unavoidable; pointless; useless; hopeless (person); annoying
simple honesty; tactless frankness
combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
shame; embarrassment; disgrace
not asking (about); letting go unquestioned; disregarding; ignoring; overlooking
reason; grounds; circumstances
to take out; to produce; to pick out; to fetch; to retrieve
from the beginning; from scratch