currency, money

word puzzle where four kanji are arranged around a blank in the middle, and four 熟語 (jukugo, “kanji compounds”) are to be formed by filling in the blank.

first, the beginning, the start

at first, firstly

Japan

(archaic) Japan

Short for 日本国 (Nihon-koku): Japan (a country and archipelago in East Asia) / a surname

numismatics

Kyūjitai form of 貨幣学 (“numismatics”)

a Japanese river otter (Lutra lutra whiteleyi)