幕 - curtain, bunting, act of play

raising the curtain

rise of the curtain; opening of a play

staff; staff officer

horizontal banner

curtain-raiser; prologue

black curtain

one act (of a play)

advancing to the first grade

curtain

makuuchi; top division (of professional sumo)

fall of the curtain; end of an act

Bakumatsu period; closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate; end of the Edo period