播く, 蒔く: to sow seeds (also figurative); to scatter something; to pay out (especially to multiple people); to turn someone out (so that they do not return)

煙幕: smokescreen

Short for 中国地方 (Chūgoku chihō): the Chūgoku region of Japan

the central part of a country, historically, commonly known as the capital city or the main region, where an emperor or other ruler resides / something within a country

(historical or contemporary) any of several kingdoms, empires, or states of the Chinese people

a surname

in other words; what I (you, etc.) mean is

to startle; to surprise; to astonish

past tense and perfective aspect of 言う (iu, yū) [godan]

nonetheless, although, be that as it may