一いっ国こく一いち城じょうの主あるじ

expression, noun

head of a household; business owner; proudly independent person

Modern figurative use: someone who is the master of their own domain, whether a home, a small business, or a personal sphere, with a sense of proud independence.

• 定てい年ねん後ごは小ちいさな店みせを開ひらいて、一いっ国こく一いち城じょうの主あるじとして気きままに暮くらしている。

  After retirement, he opened a small shop and lives freely as the master of his own little domain.

• 彼かれは家いえでは一いっ国こく一いち城じょうの主あるじだ。

  At home, he is the lord of his own castle.

expression, noun

feudal lord; daimyo

Historical literal meaning: a lord who ruled a single castle and its domain. Now used mainly in historical contexts or as the origin of the modern figurative sense.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だい、一いっ国こく一いち城じょうの主あるじとして領りょう地ちを治おさめることは大だい名みょうの証あかしだった。

  In the Warring States period, ruling a domain as the lord of a single castle was a mark of a daimyo.