nntsuzu/KFTT huggingface dataset:
English: The description as above is based on the stories in later periods including "Gikeiki," and Benkei as his historical existence is only mentioned in the paragraph of the year 1185 of "Azuma Kagami" that has his name as one of the members of Yoshitsune and Yukiie's party as they left Kyoto.
Japanese: 以上は、『義経記』を中心とした後世の物語を基にしたもので、史実の弁慶については、『吾妻鏡』文治元年の条で都落ちした義経・行家一行の中に弁慶の名がある以外は、ほとんど明らかではない。
English: According to historical materials such as "Azuma Kagami" and the "Gyokuyo," a journal of Kanezane KUJO, armed priests of Enryaku-ji Temple of Mt. Hiei sheltered Yoshitsune and his retainers, who escaped from Kyoto and stayed hidden around Mt. Hiei; one of those priests named Shunsho took them to Oshu.
Japanese: 史料である『吾妻鏡』や『玉葉』によると、都落ちの後、周辺に潜伏する義経を比叡山の悪僧（僧兵）らが庇護しており、その中の俊章（しゅんしょう）という僧は義経を奥州まで案内したとされる。
English: On February 7, 1189, another armed priest of Enryaku-ji Temple, Senkobo-Shichiro, was arrested by Tokisada HOJO and found holding a letter written by Yoshitsune with his intention to return to Kyoto.
Japanese: また文治5年（1189年）1月13日には、義経が京都に還る意志を書いた手紙を持った比叡山の悪僧・千光房七郎が北条時定に捕まっている。
English: Senkobo was a priest wanted in August of the previous year for his wrong-doings, including his gathering of outlaw ronin (masterless samurai).
Japanese: この千光房は前年8月に悪徒浪人を集めて悪行を働くというので、お尋ね者になっていた僧侶である。
English: The actions of those armed priests of Enryaku-ji Temple who protected Yoshitsune were recorded and exaggerated to become a legendary story about Musashibo Benkei.
Japanese: これら義経を庇護した複数の比叡山悪僧の所業が集められ、誇張されていって伝説上の武蔵坊弁慶が構成されたとみられる。
English: There are many other episodes about Benkei in the legend of the immortal MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune that relates the idea that Yoshitsune and his retainers did not die at Koromogawa-no-tachi but escaped to present-day Aomori Prefecture or Hokkaido.
Japanese: なお、義経主従は衣川館では死なず、平泉を脱出して現在の青森県や北海道へ逃れたとする、いわゆる「源義経不死伝説」にも、弁慶に関するエピソードは数多く登場する。
English: Benkei is a leading role in "Ataka," a play of Sarugaku (comical mimicry and speech performance in Heian period) and Noh, and "Kanjincho," a Kabuki play based on that Ataka.
Japanese: 弁慶は猿楽・能の『安宅』やそれを歌舞伎化した『勧進帳』でも主役を張っている。
English: Yoshitsune, who antagonized Yoritomo, and his retainers attempted to pass through the Ataka Check Station in disguise as mountain priests in order to reach the Oshu-Fujiwara clan for shelter.
Japanese: 義経が頼朝と不仲になり、都落ちして奥州藤原氏のもとに身をよせることになった途上、義経一行は山伏に扮して安宅の関を越えようとした。
English: The party didn't have such a document, but Benkei used his wits, opened one of the scrolls he had and read it resonantly using his experience as an ascetic monk.
Japanese: もとより一行はそのようなものを持っていなかったが、弁慶は機転を利かせ、もともと寺で修行経験もあったことも幸いして持ち合わせの巻物を広げ、朗朗と読み上げていく。
English: When his wits almost made them successfully pass the check station, one of Togashi's men remarked, 'One of the party members always covers his face with an umbrella and behaves in a strange way, and he resembles Yoshitsune,' which further fueled their doubts.
Japanese: この機転によって無事関を越えれられそうにはなったのだが、「一行の中に常に傘で顔を覆っていて不自然な行動をする者が義経に非常に似ている」と富樫の部下が言い出したため、なおいっそう疑われてしまう。
English: Then again Benkei used his wits; he repeatedly beat his master Yoshitsune with his stick, cussing 'We all are suspected out of nothing just because you look like Yoshitsune.'
Japanese: だが、そこでも弁慶は機転を利かせ今度は手に持っていた杖で「お前が義経に似ているために、あらぬ疑いをかけられてしまったではないか!」とののしりながら主君である義経を何度も何度も殴った。
English: Benkei's performance made the check station officials believe that no retainer would possibly beat his master with a stick, and Yoshitsune's party successfully passed through the check point.
Japanese: 『いくらなんでも杖で主君をぶつ者はこの世にいるはずが無い』と関の者たちにそう思わせることに成功し、一行は無事に関を越えることが出来た。
English: After leaving the check point, Benkei apologized to Yoshitsune while crying.
Japanese: そして弁慶は、無事関を越えられた後、ぶった事について義経に泣きながら謝った。
English: This story was also made into a play of Sarugaku and Noh titled "Funa Benkei," which tells the episode of their flight to Western Japan.
Japanese: 義経の西国落ちの道程を扱った『船弁慶』という猿楽・能にもなっている。
English: Yoshitsune Senbonzakura' (Yoshitsune and One Thousand Cherry Trees), another title of a Kabuki play that has Yoshitsune in the leading role, also has Benkei as one of the characters.
Japanese: また、義経を主人公とした「義経千本桜」などの歌舞伎にも、主要人物の一人として登場する。
English: All those stones are located along a route taken by Benkei to Hiraizumi, and those stones have their own version of legend, such as "the stone Benkei carried," "the stone Benkei sat on," or "the stone cut by Benkei."
Japanese: すべて弁慶が平泉に渡る旅路にあり、弁慶が運んだ、弁慶が座った、弁慶が刀で切ったなどの伝承がそれぞれに残っている。
English: Benkei has been used as a byword for a heroic figure, and there have been born various words and phrases attributable to such an impression.
Japanese: 弁慶は古くから豪傑の代名詞として用いられており、それに因んだ様々なことばがある。
English: When Yoshitsune, wanted by his brother MINAMOTO no Yoritomo, was attacked by FUJIWARA no Yasuhira at Koromogawa-no-tachi, Benkei beat the enemy soldiers one after another, but was finally shot to death by an endless number of arrows; he is believed to have died on his feet.
Japanese: 義経が兄源頼朝に追われて、藤原泰衡に衣川館を攻められた際、弁慶は並み居る敵兵を次々倒すが、ついには無数の矢を受けて仁王立ちのまま息絶えたと伝えられている。
English: Various discussions have been made from medical viewpoints about his standing death.
Japanese: なお、この立ち往生については医学的見地から様々な議論がなされている。
English: According to forensic medicine, it may be interpreted as an instantaneous cadaveric spasm caused by excessive physical fatigue or the shock of instantaneous death, but there are also comments that say it is impossible; the truth remains uncertain.
Japanese: 法医学の立場からは、著しい肉体疲労や即死時のショックからくる即時性死後硬直ではないかと考察されているが、あり得ないとする意見もあり、真偽は定かではない。
English: Benkei's death is very much similar to the death of Dian Wei in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in that the hero fought a great fight for his master and died on his feet as he was shot by so many arrows.
Japanese: 主君を守るために奮戦し大量に矢を射られ直立不動で死ぬという点で、三国志演義における典韋の死に様と酷似している。
English: Benkei's Weak Point is his shin, which feels acute pain as the nerves run immediately on the shin bone just under the skin, and however strong a man is like Benkei, he sheds tears when he is hit on the shin; hence the Japanese name of 'the place that makes Benkei cry'.
Japanese: 向こう脛は、皮膚のすぐ下、骨（脛骨）のすぐ上を神経が通っているため、非常に痛みの強い急所であり、弁慶ほどの豪傑でもここを打てば涙を流すほど痛いとされる。
English: When we bend the second joint of a finger with the first joint kept stretched, we cannot put the power to the first joint.
Japanese: 指の第一関節を伸ばしたまま第二関節だけを曲げると第一関節に力が入らなくなる。
English: Hence, that part is referred to as Benkei's Weak Point as 'even that unprecedentedly powerful Benkei cannot tighten the muscle of that part.'
Japanese: 従って、「あの強力無双の弁慶ですら力を入れる事ができない泣き所」くらいの意味でこう呼ばれる。
English: This phrase is then taken to express indispensable tools that one needs for a specific action or profession, such as the 'seven tools of election' (scutcheon, arm band, etc. necessary for election campaigners) or the 'seven tools of a detective.'
Japanese: 転じて、「選挙の七つ道具」（選挙時に必要とされる、標札や腕章など）、「探偵の七つ道具」のような使われ方をされる。
English: The phrase describes a person who is bullish and bossy inside the house but weak-kneed and subdued when outside the house.
Japanese: 家の中では強気になって威張り散らすが、外では意気地が無くおとなしい人間のこと。
English: One of the derivatives is 'Internet Benkei' used to refer to a person who is energetic and high-spirited only on the Internet.
Japanese: ここから派生して、インターネット上でのみ威勢がいい人間を「ネット弁慶」と呼ぶ事もある。
English: On the contrary, a person who is generally low-key at home or at work but suddenly begins to act like a tyrant once he is in a position of a customer while sightseeing or shopping may be called 'Soto-Benkei' (Benkei when outside).
Japanese: また、普段、自分の家や勤務先では大人しいが、旅行先、買物先などで自分が客の立場になると急に威張りだすような場合を「外弁慶」と呼ぶ。
English: It is an expression to indicate that a Japanese sentence is read with wrong delimiters, such as 'Benkei ga naginata wo motte sashi koroshita' (Benkei stabbed... to death with a naginata) mistakenly read as 'Benkei ga na, ginata wo motte sa, shikoroshita.'
Japanese: 「弁慶が薙刀を持って刺し殺した」という文を「弁慶がな、ぎなたを持ってさ、し殺した」と区切りを間違えて読むこと。
English: In other words, when a sentence is understood by placing commas and periods (or breath breaks) in a different way, the sentence can have a different meaning.
Japanese: 句読点の付け方（または息継ぎ）を変えると文章の意味も変わるということを示す例。
English: It is a design of fabric woven in a grid pattern with yarns of two colors like purple and brown or light yellow.
Japanese: 紺色と茶色や浅黄色など、二色の色糸を格子状に碁盤の目のように織った文様。
English: The reason it is so named is probably due to its hardiness--the grass can live for a long time even after it has been severed.
Japanese: 由来は、切っても相当長いこと生きる生命力の強さを弁慶に喩えたものか。
English: This is the nickname of the second US-made machine tender steam locomotive used for the state-owned Horonai Railway in Hokkaido.
Japanese: 北海道の官営幌内鉄道で使用されたアメリカ合衆国製のテンダー型蒸気機関車の第2号機に付けられた愛称。
English: Motonaga KOZAI (birth date unknown - September 7, 1507) was the busho (warlord) during the Sengoku period (period of warring states) (Japan).
Japanese: 香西元長（こうざいもとなが、生年不詳-永正4年8月1日(旧暦)（1507年9月7日））は、戦国時代(日本)の武将。
English: The Kozai clan was originally the samurai of Sanuki Province but moved to Kyoto at the time of Motonao, and Motonaga's younger brother inherited the estate at Sanuki.
Japanese: 香西氏は元来讃岐国の武士であるが、元直の頃には京都へ詰めるようになり、讃岐の領地は元直の弟が継承している。
English: In 1507, he burnt down the Kamo-sha Shrine which refused Yakusen Kyoshutsu (the contribution for miscellaneous taxes) to the mobilized army of his master Masamoto HOSOKAWA, who was a Kanrei (shogunal deputy), to battle at the front lines in Tamba Province.
Japanese: 永正4年（1507年）に、主である管領細川政元の丹波国出陣に際して役銭供出を拒否した賀茂社を焼き討ちしている。
English: Motonaga supported Sumiyuki HOSOKAWA during the conflict to determine the heir to Masamoto; when it seemed unlikely that Sumiyuki would inherit the family estate, he schemed with Nagatada YAKUSHIJI and Magoshichi TAKEDA and assassinated Masamoto (Eisho Disturbance) to support Sumiyuki as the family head.
Japanese: 政元の後継者を巡る争いで元長は細川澄之を支持していたが、澄之が家督を継承する望みが薄いことを悟ると薬師寺長忠・竹田孫七らと共謀し、同年に政元を暗殺（永正の錯乱）して澄之を当主として擁立した。
English: He first expelled his former opponent, Sumimoto HOSOKAWA from Kyoto to Iga, but he incurred a counterstrike from Takakuni HOSOKAWA and Sumimoto HOSOKAWA, and was instantly killed by stray arrows during the battle at Sumiyuki's palace of Yushoken.
Japanese: しかし一度は競争相手である細川澄元を京都から伊賀へと駆逐するが、細川高国や澄元らの反撃を受けて澄之の邸宅であった遊初軒での戦いで流れ矢に当り即死した。
English: Masakiyo NAKAI (1565 - March 7, 1619) was the Daikugashira (construction prefect) in the early Edo period.
Japanese: 中井正清（なかいまさきよ、永禄8年（1565年）-元和(日本)5年1月21日(旧暦)（1619年3月7日））は、江戸時代初期の大工頭。
English: He served as the construction officer for Ieyasu TOKUGAWA after the Battle of Sekigahara and participated in the construction of Nijo-jo Castle.
Japanese: 関ヶ原の戦いの後、徳川家康に作事方として仕え、二条城建設に活躍した。
English: He managed the construction of many important architectural structures related to the Tokugawa clan, including Edo-jo Castle, Chion-in Temple, Tenshu (castle tower) of Sunpu-jo Castle, the scale of town planning in Edo, Zojo-ji Temple, Nagoya-jo Castle, Dairi (Imperial Palace), Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and so on.
Japanese: 江戸城、知恩院、駿府城の天守、江戸の町割り、増上寺、名古屋城、内裏、日光東照宮など、徳川氏関係の重要な建築を担当した。
English: FUJIWARA no Moromichi (October 16, 1062 - July 18, 1099) was a court noble during the period of Insei (a government by a retired emperor), and was a Toshi choja (chieftain of the Fujiwara family).
Japanese: 藤原師通（ふじわらのもろみち、康平5年9月11日(旧暦)（1062年10月16日）-承徳3年6月28日(旧暦)（1099年7月18日））は院政期の公卿で藤氏長者。
English: In 1076, Moromichi married FUJIWARA no Matako, the daughter of FUJIWARA no Toshiie with the title of Gon Dainagon (provisional chief councilor of state).
Japanese: 承保3年（1076年）、権大納言・藤原俊家の娘である藤原全子（またこ）を妻に迎える。
English: His eldest son, FUJIWARA no Tadazane, was born in 1078, but the couple's relationship became distant.
Japanese: 承暦2年（1078年）長男・藤原忠実が生まれるが夫婦関係は冷却化する。
English: Matako bore a grudge about this all her life; she worshipped an image of her father, Toshiie, whose creation she ordered, and cursed Moromichi (according to "Taiki" (diary of FUJIWARA no Yorinaga)).
Japanese: この恨みを全子は生涯忘れず、父・俊家の画像を描かせて礼拝し、師通を呪ったという（『台記』）。
English: This was carried out in order to end the long internal conflict of the Sekkan regents between the FUJIWARA no Yorimichi and Norimichi cliques.
Japanese: これは藤原頼通流と教通流による摂関家内部の長年の対立に終止符を打つものだった。
English: Once he was inaugurated Kanpaku following Morozane in 1094, Moromichi actively participated in the affairs of state with the 16-year-old Emperor Horikawa, who desired to become politically independent.
Japanese: 寛治8年（1094年）師実の後を継いで関白に就任すると、16歳となり政治的自立を志向する堀河天皇と共に積極的な政務を展開する。
English: Moromichi criticized especially the political interference of the Retired Emperor Shirakawa, and publicly stated, 'the ox-drawn carriages should not be parked around the entrance of the retired emperor's mansion' (according to "Imakagami" (The Mirror of the Present)).
Japanese: 特に白河上皇の政治介入には批判的で、「おりゐのみかどの門に車たつ様やはある（位を降りた上皇の邸の門に、牛車が立ち並ぶことなどあろうか）」と公言した（『今鏡』）。
English: He studied academics under OE no Masafusa, and learned the traditional bureaucratic lessons for practical business.
Japanese: 師通は大江匡房に学問を学び、匡房に代表される伝統的な実務官僚層を掌握する。
English: Meanwhile, he considered the new and rising power of the In-no-kinshin (vassal attending on a retired emperor) to be dangerous; there is a story told that he destroyed the palace of FUJIWARA no Akisue, saying that it was not up to his social position (according to "Kichibu Hikunsho").
Japanese: 一方で、新興の院近臣勢力に対しては警戒感を示し、藤原顕季の邸を身分不相応だとして破壊したという話が伝わっている（『吉部秘訓抄』）。
English: He also restrained the retired emperor from reappointing Kinshin-zuryo (close servants who receive land) while ignoring the Zuryo-kokka-sadame (criteria to determine if one is eligible for employment as an imperial court officer).
Japanese: また、上皇が近臣受領を受領功過定を経ずに重任させようとしたのを制止している。
English: Such politics were referred to as 'politically-solemn in the Kaho and Eicho eras' (according to "Honcho seiki" (Chronicle of Imperial Reigns)).
Japanese: その政治は、「嘉保・永長の間、天下粛然」（『本朝世紀』）と評された。
English: In 1095, Moromichi rejected the mass protest by the Enryaku-ji Temple and Hiyoshi-sha Shrine monks, demanding the exile of Mino no kami (the governor of Mino Province), MINAMOTO no Yoshitsuna, and dispatched samurai and ordered them to attack the monks.
Japanese: 嘉保2年（1095年）美濃守・源義綱の流罪を求める延暦寺・日吉社の強訴に対しては、要求を拒否して武士を派遣、攻撃を命じる。
English: Since the mountain temple monks and Shinto priests were struck with and injured by arrows, Enryaku-ji Temple cursed Emperor Horikawa and Moromichi.
Japanese: 矢が山僧・神人に当たり負傷者が出たことで、延暦寺は堀河天皇・師通を呪詛した。
English: The Enryaku-ji Temple spread the word that Moromichi's death was a divine punishment, and his political power ended in just five years.
Japanese: 延暦寺は神罰が下ったと喧伝し、師通の政権は僅か5年で終焉することになった。
English: His successor, Tadazane, being only 22 years old, was inexperienced in political duties and lacked the strength to loyally serve the retired Morozane.
Japanese: 後継者の忠実は22歳で政務の経験に乏しく、引退していた師実にも忠実を支える余力は無かった。
English: The Sekkan-ke (regent families) had to subordinate themselves to In (the retired emperor), and their power decreased greatly.
Japanese: 摂関家は院に対する従属を余儀なくされ、その勢力を大きく後退させることになる。
English: On January 5, 1073, he was promoted to Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) and retained his position as Ukone no Gon no chujo.
Japanese: 1073年（延久5年）1月5日、正五位下に昇叙し、右近衛権中将如元。
English: On January 28, 1074, he was promoted to Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade) and retained his position as Ukone no Gon no chujo.
Japanese: 1074年（延久6年）1月28日、従四位上に昇叙し、右近衛中将如元。
English: On October 24, 1076, he was promoted to Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank) and retained his position as Ukone no Gon no chujo.
Japanese: 1076年（承保3年）10月24日、正三位に昇叙し、右近衛中将如元。
English: On October 25, 1079, he was promoted to Junii (Junior Second Rank) and retained his positions as Gon Chunagon and Sakone no daisho.
Japanese: 1079年（承暦3年）10月25日、従二位に昇叙し、権中納言・左近衛大将如元。
English: On November 25, he was assigned additionally as Daibu (director general) to Chugu (Empress) (FUJIWARA no Katako, who was the Chugu of Emperor Shirakawa and daughter of FUJIWARA no Morozane).
Japanese: 11月25日、中宮（白河天皇中宮、藤原師実の娘、藤原賢子）大夫を兼任。
English: On January 28, 1080, he was promoted to Shonii (Senior Second Rank) and retained his positions as Sakone no daisho and Chugu daibu.
Japanese: 1080年（承暦4年）1月28日、正二位に昇叙し、左近衛大将・中宮大夫如元。
English: Motohiro KONOE (April 28, 1648 - October 13, 1722) was a court noble and Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor) who lived in the early to mid Edo period.
Japanese: 近衛基熙（このえもとひろ、慶安元年3月6日(旧暦)（1648年4月28日）-享保7年9月4日(旧暦)（1722年10月13日））は江戸時代前・中期の公家、関白。
English: He became the central figure within the Imperial Court during the reign of Emperor Higashiyama and tried to improve relations with the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
Japanese: 主に東山天皇の御世に朝廷政治の中枢となり、幕府との関係改善に尽力した。
English: Motohiro was born the eldest son of Naotsugu KONOE (Kanpaku and Sadaijin (chief of Imperial Japanese Council of State, Left Division)) on April 28, 1648.
Japanese: 慶安元年（1648年）3月6日、近衛尚嗣(関白・左大臣)の長男として誕生。
English: His father, Naotsugu, passed away at a young age, and the Retired Emperor Gomizunoo ordered that Motohiro be adopted outside of the Konoe family, under the roof of the retired emperor, since Naotsugu did not have a son with his legal wife, Imperial Princess Akiko.
Japanese: 父、尚嗣が早世し、尚嗣と正室昭子内親王の間には男子がなかったため、後水尾上皇の命により、近衛家の外にあった基熙が迎えられて上皇の保護下で育てられた。
English: Motohiro participated in the Genpuku (Coming of Age) ceremony in January 1655 (December 1654, in old lunar calendar) at which time he was granted the rank of Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade Rank), and became Sakone gon no shosho (Provisional Minor Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards).
Japanese: 承応3年（1654年）12月に元服して正五位下に叙せられ、左近衛権少将となる。
English: He received successive promotion to the head of the Sekkan-ke regent family and came in line with Kugyo (the top court officials) when he was promoted to the rank of Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank) in 1655.
Japanese: 以後、摂関家の当主として累進し、翌年明暦元年（1655年）従三位に上り公卿に列せられる。
English: He became Gon no Chunagon (Provisional Middle Counselor) in 1656, Gon no Dainagon (Provisional Major Counselor) in 1658, and was honored with Imperial Princess Tsuneko, the daughter of the Retired Emperor Gomizunoo, becoming his legal wife on January 9, 1665 (November 23, 1664 in old lunar calendar).
Japanese: 明暦2年（1656年）に権中納言、万治元年（1658年）に権大納言となり、寛文4年（1664年）11月23日には後水尾上皇の皇女常子内親王を正室に賜った。
English: Motohiro was assigned as Naidaijin (Minister of the Center) at the age of 18 in July 1665, as Udaijin (Minister of the Right) in 1671, and promoted to Sadaijin (Minister of the Left) in 1677.
Japanese: 寛文5年（1665年）6月、18歳で内大臣に任じられ、寛文11年（1671年）には右大臣、さらに延宝5年（1677年）に左大臣へすすんだ。
English: He came one step closer to becoming the Kanpaku, but Cloistered Emperor Gomizunoo, who had supported him, passed away in 1680, and Emperor Reigen began to control the government himself.
Japanese: いよいよ関白就任の一歩手前にまで迫ったが、1680年、基熈の後ろ盾とも言うべき後水尾法皇が崩御し、霊元天皇が親政をおこなうようになった。
English: Emperor Reigen was known for having a distaste for the bakufu, and Motohiro himself was also treated with hostility as one of 'pro-bakufu clique.'
Japanese: この霊元天皇は幕府嫌いで有名で、基熈も「親幕派」として天皇から疎まれるようになる。
English: Udaijin Kaneteru ICHIJO, favored by Emperor Reigen, was assigned as Kanpaku in 1682 before Motohiro, who after that was not assigned duties at the Imperial Court of Reigen.
Japanese: そして1682年には関白職に右大臣一条兼輝を越任させるという贔屓の人事が行われ、以降基熈は霊元朝では干され続けた。
English: Some may have thought that Motohiro was favored by the Edo bakufu, but the reality was totally the opposite, since Tsunayoshi TOKUGAWA, the Seii taishogun (great general who subdues the barbarians) at that time was facing his successor problem with Tsunatoyo TOKUGAWA (who later became the Sixth Shogun Ienobu TOKUGAWA) of the Kofu clan, whose legal wife was Hiroko KONOE (who later became Teneiin), the eldest daughter of Motohiro.
Japanese: しかもその一方で、江戸幕府の方から好かれていたのかと言えば全くの逆で、時の征夷大将軍徳川綱吉は、自分の後継問題で緊張関係にあった甲府藩徳川綱豊（後の6代将軍徳川家宣）の正室・近衛熈子（後の天英院）が基熙の長女であった。
English: Tsunayoshi acted coldly toward Motohiro, the father-in-law of Tsunatoyo, and Motohiro truly went through an inactive period.
Japanese: 綱豊の舅である基熙に対しても冷淡であり、この時期はまさに沈滞期であった。
English: However, when Emperor Reigen passed his position to Emperor Higashiyama, Motohiro succeeded in overthrowing Kaneteru ICHIJO in 1687, once seeing that Sento Gosho (the Imperial Palace) began Insei (rule by a retired emperor).
Japanese: しかし1687年に霊元天皇が東山天皇に譲位して、仙洞御所より院政を開始したのを見計らって、一条兼輝を失脚させることに成功。
English: He was finally assigned to his long-wished Kanpaku in February 1690 to authorize the Imperial Court of Emperor Higashiyama, and he opposed the Retired Emperor Reigen's attempt to regain power, by labeling him a member of the 'pro-bakufu clique.'
Japanese: 1690年（元禄3年）1月にようやく念願の関白に就任し、東山天皇治世の朝廷政治において権勢をふるい、霊元上皇が朝廷権威の復興を企図したのに対し、「親幕派」としてことごとくこれに反対した。
English: Once Emperor Higashiyama grew up, he began to detest the Insei of the Retired Emperor Reigen, and became more dependent on Motohiro.
Japanese: また、東山天皇が成長すると、霊元上皇の院政を疎ましく考えるようになり、反対に基熙への依存を強めるようになる。
English: In addition, the bakufu was cautiously observing the actions of the Retired Emperor Reigen and began to forge closer ties with Motohiro, who had a strong influence over Emperor Higashiyama.
Japanese: また、幕府も霊元上皇の動きを警戒して、東山天皇への影響力を有する基熙との距離を縮めていった。
English: Motohiro passed the Kanpaku and Toshi choja (chieftain of the Fujiwara family) positions to his right-hand man, Kanehiro TAKATSUKASA, in 1703, and in 1707 his eldest son, Iehiro KONOE, became Kanpaku and Toshi choja.
Japanese: 1703年自らの片腕だった鷹司兼熙に関白職と藤氏長者を譲り、1707年には長男の近衛家熈が関白・藤氏長者に就任する。
English: In 1704 Shogun Tsunayoshi gave up waiting for the birth of a son and invited Ienobu to become his successor, and Ienobu and his legal wife, Hiroko, entered the Edo-jo Castle.
Japanese: また1704年、将軍綱吉は遂に男子誕生を断念して家宣を後継者として迎え、家宣と正室・熈子が江戸城に入った。
English: Motohiro went to Edo in 1706 on the invitation of Tsunayoshi and Ienobu, a rare move for the Sekke regent family, and met with Tsunayoshi, and Ienobu and Hiroko, husband and wife.
Japanese: 1706年、綱吉・家宣の招待で摂家としては異例の江戸下向を行い、綱吉や家宣・熈子夫妻と会見する。
English: At that time, Motohiro told Tsunayoshi and Ienobu that Emperor Higashiyama sought to assign Imperial Prince Yasuhito (later became Emperor Nakamikado) as his heir.
Japanese: その際、基熙は東山天皇が慶仁親王（後の中御門天皇）を後継に立てる意向である事を綱吉・家宣に伝えている。
English: Ienobu became a shogun with the death of Shogun Tsunayoshi TOKUGAWA in June 1709, and Motohiro's ties with the shogun family deepened.
Japanese: 1709年5月、将軍徳川綱吉の薨去で家宣が将軍に就任、将軍家との関係も深まった。
English: Emperor Higashiyama abdicated the throne to Emperor Nakamikado in July, and in November began Insei while Motohiro became Daijo-daijin (Grand minister of state).
Japanese: 6月には東山天皇は中御門天皇に譲位して院政を開始、10月には太政大臣に就任する。
English: This rank was vacant for a long time after the death of Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, and Motohiro was the first to be inaugurated to the position during the Edo period (Ieyasu TOKUGAWA and Hidetada TOKUGAWA were actually assigned to this position but did not participate in the imperial court government), and Motohiro, who had deep trust from both the Emperor Higashiyama and Ienobu TOKUGAWA, was inaugurated to the position.
Japanese: この座は豊臣秀吉が死去して以後長く空位で、江戸時代に入ってからは基熈が実質上初めての就任（実際には徳川家康・徳川秀忠父子が就任しているが、ともに実際の朝廷の政務に当たった事は無い）であり、東山上皇・徳川家宣双方からともに厚い信頼を受けていた基熈であったからこそ可能となった就任といえる。
English: However, soon after, Emperor Higashiyama suddenly fell ill from smallpox and died just nine days after Motohiro's retirement from the Daijo-daijin position.
Japanese: ところが、その直後に東山上皇が疱瘡に倒れて基熙の太政大臣辞任からわずか9日後に崩御してしまう。
English: In the following year, 1710, Motohiro strongly demanded to visit Edo, and met with Ienobu and Hiroko, husband and wife.
Japanese: 翌1710年には再度の江戸下向を強行し、再び家宣・熈子夫妻と会見する。
English: He resided at Kanda Palace for two years hence and became a consultant for shogun and officers of the bakufu concerning bakufu and imperial court politics.
Japanese: それから2年以上もの間神田御殿に滞在し、将軍や幕閣から政治・有職などの諮問を受けた。