Vocabulary

surrounding at a distance

distance; perspective; far and near; here and there

nephew

ace up one's sleeve; trump card; last resort

traffic; coming and going; highway

fighting back; returning fire; counter-attack; responding to an attack; accepting a challenge

egg yolk

songs with samisen accompaniment; musical performance

to make a decision; to draw a conclusion

coming down from one's seat and prostrating oneself (to pay obeisance)

synthetic fiber; synthetic fibre; chemical fiber; chemical fibre

as ... as possible

visibility

retainer; vassal; follower

construction; building

splendor; splendour; gorgeousness; pomp; magnificence

subject (of a painting); motif; theme

through (the medium of)

external; outside

introduction; outline; general remarks

to negotiate (with someone about); to talk over (something with); to tackle someone (about); to haggle; to bargain

being stark-naked

plan; project; scheme

dangerous; risky; hazardous; perilous; precarious

to get thin; to taper off

financial power; financial means; wealth

soup containing rice cakes and vegetables (New Year's dish)

instrumental trio

assembling (of people)

yamabushi; practitioner of Shugendō

birth control

supplier

to come to know; to perceive; to realize; to realise; to become aware (of)

to worry about; to be worried about; to fret about; to not know what to do; to be at a loss (as to what to do)

charity; almsgiving

verse

(feeling) impatient; irritated; irritating; frustrated; frustrating; vexed

industrialization; industrialisation

lady attendant; female servant; lady's maid; waiting maid

(trend of) the times; current of the times; spirit of the age