to gouge; to hollow out; to greatly perturb; to cause emotional pain; to get to the bottom of things; to relentlessly bring the truth to light
(religious) precept; discipline; commandment; mitzvah
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
pride of place; most prominent; top-ranking
demolition; taking down; dissolution (of an organization, company, etc.); breaking up; dissection (of a body); dismemberment
seeing two people (i.e. romantically) at the same time; two-timing; bifurcation; fork; fence-sitting; playing it both ways
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops
eyeball; special feature; centerpiece; special program; loss leader; sunny-side up fried egg
contribution (to a temple, shrine, etc.); donation
ominous; sinister; (arch.) annoying; (arch.) appearing to be true; (arch.) plausible
to be reduced to ashes; to be cremated
uncertain; doubtful; unreliable; unsteady; unclear; vague
gait; walk; stride; trace (e.g. of route taken by hunted criminal); track; trail
to soar; to fly; to run; to dash
another kind; distinct species; variety
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
flame; blaze; flames (of intense emotion, e.g. love, jealousy, anger); passion
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
to be nearing death; to be dying
twenty-fourth day of the month; twenty-four days
previous day; day before; eve; prior day; preceding day
to make merry; to be festive
permeation (of thought, ideology, culture, etc.); infiltration (e.g. of ideas); permeation (of a liquid, etc.); soaking; osmosis
deep regret; bitter disappointment; chagrin; vexation
story; tale; talk; discussion
short short (story); flash fiction
to get along (with someone); to be like-minded; to be congenial
script; libretto; scenario
perfectly; right on the mark; spot on; enough; sufficiently; thoroughly
artistic taste; aptitude for painting; ability to appreciate art; desire to paint
kamishibai; storytelling with pictures; form of Japanese street theater and storytelling (popular from the 1930s to the 1950s)
program (e.g. theatre, theater); programme; (theatrical) piece; number; performance
to delight; to give pleasure
very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can; with all one's might; for dear life; eagerly
sympathy; empathy; response
Christmas Eve; holy night
highly virtuous monk; monk; Buddhist solitary; Buddhist missionary; saint (i.e. a virtuous person); (arch.) emperor; master
descent (to earth, esp. of a god); advent; epiphany; arrival (of an important person); appearance