a) 弦 -> 畜 -> 累 -> 績
弦 GEN, tsuru - string, bowstring
畜 CHIKU - animal raising, domestic animal
累 RUI - involvement, trouble, accumulation
績 SEKI - achievements, spinning
b) 案 -> 柱 -> 素 -> 続
案 AN - plan, proposal
柱 CHUU, hashira - pillar, column, pole
素 SO, SU - element, naked, simple
続 ZOKU, tsuzu(ku) - continue