declining aristocracy, an elite class of people displaced by changes in society / (specifically) the Japanese upper class brought to ruin after World War II

illustrious family; prestigious family / distinguished ancestry

(historical, Taiwan under Japanese rule) aboriginal tribes

(collective) Levites (member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi)

a member of the sexual minority

sexual minority

response, answer (to a letter), letter in reply

to reply, to answer (to a letter)

one time / one round; one bout

turning around (a ship), changing course