[8] These men accompanied a Minister of State on pilgrimages to the great Shintō shrines, danced in front of the shrine and afterwards took part in horse-races round it.
[9] The higher officers wore cloaks of deeper hue, i.e. dipped more often in the dye and therefore more costly.
[11] For the extravagances of this statesman, see Nō Plays of Japan, p. 293.
[12] ‘As to the tide-gauge at Naniwa that now lies bare, so to our love the flood tide shall at last return.’
[13] Pun on Naniwa, name of town and nani wa ‘How comes it?’ Here and in the preceding poem there is also a play on miozukushi = tide-gauge, and mi wo tsukushi = with all one’s heart and soul.’
[14] A Shintō shrine, offensive to Buddha.
[15] Aoi’s son Yūgiri was his only acknowledged child.
[16] Akikonomu was now nineteen; the boy-Emperor Ryōzen, seven.