prostitute (esp. Edo period)

Chinese smoked and salted ham

court lady; noblewoman

court ladies of the middle rank serving in the inner palace (Heian period)

female servant for a samurai family

lady-in-waiting working in the inner palace of the Edo castle (Edo period)

Buddhism

year in the Buddhist order (after the completion of the first meditation retreat)

becoming more experienced with age; social status based on this experience

to be elegant (usu. of a woman); to be graceful; to be refined

to become well-experienced; to mature

long time; long years of service

to become skilled through years of experience