八

Food, cooking

hatcho miso; dark miso variety produced in Aichi Prefecture

Proverb

a prediction may or may not come true; only god knows what will happen

Work of art, literature, music, etc. name

Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (1814-42; novel in 106 volumes by Kyokutei Bakin); Eight Dog Chronicles; Tale of Eight Dogs; Biographies of Eight Dogs

full of holes (e.g. argument); vulnerable to any kind of attack (or criticism, etc.)

Shinto

Hachiman, god of war and archery

Sumo

leap up from the initial charge in order to surprise the opponent

Orig. meaning

(Minamoto Yoshitsune's legendary) eight ship leap

traffic network extending in all directions

88 temples (of, or modeled after those of, Shikoku)

eighty-eighth day from the beginning of spring

WWII political slogan often seen as implying Japanese world domination

universal brotherhood; all eight corners of the world under one roof

Work of art, literature, music, etc. name

Around the World in Eighty Days (1873 novel by Jules Verne)

double blossom

repertoire of 18 kabuki plays

Buddhism

the 108 kleshas; the 108 afflictions

uranium-238 (U-238)

soba made with two parts wheat flour to eight parts buckwheat flour

38th parallel (that demarcates North Korea and South Korea)

88 temples of Shikoku (holy spots related to Kobo Daishi)

Colloquial

(sense of) desperation

being torn to pieces

octavo format (about 21.5 to 16.5 cm); cutting into 8 parts

the most trying spot or period; the most difficult period

Abbreviation

O Great God of Arms, I beseech your aid against my enemy

uncultured but well-intentioned person; your average nice guy; Joe Blow; Joe Bloggs