Vocabulary

rōkyoku; naniwabushi; recitation of stories accompanied by samisen

load; freight; cargo

congeries of many households; scratch (combined) team; hodge podge of parties

ebb tide; waning fortunes

person with whom to speak; someone to talk to; companion; advisor; adviser

(present) head of a family

merger; (presenting a) united front

leading figure; influential figure; mogul

price collapse

(geographic) South Pole

pay cut

medicinal use

being knowledgeable about Japan; being well versed in Japanese affairs

defection from or leaving a (political) party

preparing for action or battle

landscape gardening; landscape architecture

early-summer breeze

confused fight; free-for-all; melee; dogfight; scuffle; rough-and-tumble

inner citadel

(a pair of) bookends

cranial nerves; cerebral nerves

hot wind

Public Employment Security Office

protein

standing tree; standing timber

wind pressure

being carried away by a current

self-immolation; burning oneself to death; suicide by fire

Orders of the Sacred Treasure

destruction; collapse; crumbling

in one's hurry

abatement; weakening

offshoot; branch; fork

annual leave; annual paid vacation; annual paid holiday

refrigerant; coolant

to redeem debts (e.g. of a geisha)

large front gate

to put to use; to make use of; to turn to account

rise and fall (e.g. prices); fluctuation

platform; stage; upper seat; pulpit