御

letter bearing the shogun's scarlet seal

seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to shrines and temples

concubine of an emperor; female court attendant who serves in the emperor's bedchamber

noble's private quarters

From resemblance to the mythical kappa's hair style

bobbed hair

oracle; revelation; divine message

tedious talk; impertinent talk; repetitious talk; saucy speech; pretentious statement

controller; regulator

crest (of a noble family)

a question from the emperor

imperial seal; privy seal

Abbreviation

very common way of tying a woman's kimono sash

Imperial treasures

cemetery guard

crematorium worker

Used after an addressee's name in a formal letter

Dear

poem or song written by the emperor

mealtime

place where the sacred palanquin is lodged during a festival

kagura (esp. when performed at the imperial palace)

three secondary Tokugawa branch families (Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi)

your success

chestnut rice; rice boiled with chestnuts

country

Japan

lowest-ranking guest at tea ceremony

tea master

Imperial throne

light used as a religious offering

paper lantern (hung up near the door of performers and geishas)