exactly; precisely; closely; tightly; properly; without fail
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
back-facing; backwards; backward-looking; retrogressive; reactionary
board; plank; sheet (of metal); plate (of glass); cutting board; chopping board
along; parallel to; in accordance with
to hurt; to ache; to feel a pain; to be injured; to be spoiled (e.g. food); to be damaged
motionlessly (e.g. stand, wait); (be) still; fixedly (e.g. gaze, stare); intently (e.g. listen, think); patiently (endure); stoically
to kick away; to kick off; to kick hard; to refuse curtly; to reject outright
moss; short plants resembling moss (incl. other bryophytes, lichens, very small spermatophytes, etc.)
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
process; procedure; sequence; protocol; instruction
to come out; to appear; to turn up; to emerge
to push into; to cram into; to stuff into; to break in; to burgle; to burglarize
meandering; snaking; zigzagging
to be in disorder; to lie scattered around
to praise; to commend; to compliment; to speak well of; to speak highly of
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
winter vacation; winter holidays
occasionally; once in a while; now and then; rarely; seldom
extended leave; long vacation
shut-in; stay-at-home; hikikomori; social withdrawal; shunning other people
holiday house; vacation home; villa; prison; jail
New Year's Eve; end of the year
to be truant; to slack off; to play hooky; to skip school; to cut class; to skip out
lucky; nice!; score!; bingo!
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
garbage (rubbish) collection point
mischief; prank; pastime; hobby; playing with (a lighter, etc.); fooling around with
bird; bird meat (esp. chicken meat); fowl; poultry
kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat
administrator; janitor; manager; custodian; executor
to freeze; to be frozen over; to congeal
maintenance; servicing; putting in place; establishment; development
shoe; shoes; boots; footwear; footgear
skating (esp. ice); skate; skates
to glide; to slide (e.g. on skis); to fail (an examination); to bomb (when telling a joke); to drop; to go down