Vocabulary

to begin grandly; to start with a bang; to make a spectacular beginning; to throw open the curtains

water of life; life-giving water

red string of fate; in Chinese-Japanese folklore, fated lovers were said to be joined by an unseen red string, tied around one little finger of each

to use as an example; to take as an illustration; to draw a parallel

as if it were about oneself

to be partly responsible for; to have a part in; to play a role in

to say something is all right; to give the all-clear (e.g. to do something)

there are no tricks or gimmicks (phrase used at magic shows); perfectly ordinary (e.g. mirror, pack of cards)

to make someone's acquaintance; to become acquainted (with)

poor swing; hanging back during the swing; Meiji-era cannon

wrong direction; different direction (from what one expected)

to drop to one's knees; to sink to one's knees

best regards; pleased to meet you; please remember me; please treat me favorably (favourably); please take care of

not only that, but also; besides that; in addition to that; on top of that; furthermore

wholeheartedly; with all one's heart; cordially; sincerely

too much thinking gets you nowhere; excessive enthusiasm clouds one's judgment

incessant; uninterrupted; continuous

extremely robust; strong enough for an elephant to step on

not feeling like doing ...; having no mind to ...; being in no mood for ...; having no intention of ...

to pass away; to depart this life

to not turn out as one wishes; to not go as one expected

trust the judgement of the experienced; an old horse won't forget the way

to be inverted (of the order of something); to be reversed; to get mixed up; to become back to front

to behave well (of a child)

to talk nonsense

to flourish briefly (esp. before retiring or stopping); to have a day in the limelight; to have a stint of success

Holy See; See of Rome

immutable law (esp. the Meiji constitution); indestructible canon

to die; to pass away

being preoccupied with; being obsessed; only thinking of; having only ... on one's mind

to see; to look; to watch

et cetera; etc.; and the like; and so forth

supporting each other after suffering similar hardships; licking each other's wounds

to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)

leave it (to me)

to put on (clothing, esp. new)

(staring) piercingly; (looking) hard

an accomplished person does not find fault with others; it is petty to criticize; speak ill of no man

a parent will do anything for their child; a tiger will walk a thousand leagues and a thousand leagues back (for its cub)

one's heart melts