Vocabulary

winter greeting card; inquiring after someone's health in the cold season

wiles and cunning; craftiness and treachery

spine-chilling (like the wailing and weeping of a restless ghost); hair-raising

(a person with) strong moral fiber (backbone, determination)

with colors flying and band playing; triumphantly; in splendid array

high and low; (people of) all ranks and classes

astonished; stunned; startled out of one's wits; thunderstruck; open-eyed astonishment

mishmash of truth and untruth; mixture of fiction and fact

flawless; perfect

(public) opinion leader

muscular; strong-muscled

deserted and lonesome; quiet and alone; innocent and nonattached; All is void

every single word and phrase; each and every word

firmly bear in mind; have something engraved on one's mind (heart)

benefits gained in this world through observance of the Buddhist teachings; happiness gained in this world through observance of the Buddhist teachings

recouping one's strength for a renewed attack; making another attempt with redoubled efforts

enjoying great popularity; receiving widespread high praise; being a great success with the public

Buddhist monk

annually; every year; year in and year out; from year to year

two years before last (year); three years back (ago)

big clouds of dust; haze of dust

from season to season; season by season; of each season; in each season

poets and artists; persons who take delight in such refined pursuits as poetry, literature, painting, and calligraphy

the Sun, the Moon and the stars; the heavenly bodies

giving off a foul odor; the air being heavy with an offensive smell

body and mind as one; mind-body unity

panic-stricken (people); frightened (masses); alarmed

to the end of time; to the crack of doom; for ever and ever

since the era of the Emperor Jimmu; (first ever) since the dawn of Japan's history; unprecedented

decline (decay, corruption) of ethical standards

many mountains and rivers; a great distance to travel

trembling with fear; filled with trepidation

mere slip by someone who is usually very careful; simple mistake by a wise person; point overlooked by a cautious person

even a fool may sometimes come up with a good idea

of low (vulgar) taste; lacking class

exerting oneself to the utmost, prepared to die if necessary

peace and quiet; safe and peaceful; tranquil and uneventful

vertically segmented administrative system; overcompartmentalized bureaucracy; system in which interministerial rivalry diminishes overall efficiency; (bureaucratic) sectionalism; interministerial rivalry; bureaucratic fiefdoms

corrupt government official

having wisdom and resources; being clever and talented