a meeting by chance is preordained
Que Sera, Sera (song title); Whatever Will Be, Will Be
without cause; without reason
starfish; sea star; asteroid; northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis)
to sow seeds; to sow the seeds of ... (e.g. conflict)
cover; mantle; shroud; hood
red ball; amber; (arch.) patent medicine; brand of sweet wine
plump; fleshy; chubby; (walking) slowly; with soft-footed steps (of toddlers, small animals, etc.)
to (prepare to) run away (from one's responsibilities, etc.)
person who is ignorant of the real world; (lit.) frog in a well
holding out a little longer
to get narrower; to contract
Heaven's blessing; gift of nature; natural resources
self-centered; self-centred; selfish
beautiful legs; great legs
Hotei; Budai; god of contentment, depicted as a pot-bellied monk who carries a large cloth bag on his back
beginning of the year; new year; New Year's call; New Year's greetings
pleasant memory to take to the afterlife; good memory; something that makes one feel one can die in peace
year-end party; "forget-the-year" party; bōnenkai
heigh-ho; heave-ho; hold on!; just a minute; la-la
eccentric; queer; unconventional; peculiar; original
university (college) professor
Benten (goddess of arts and wisdom)
attentively; with great attention to detail (e.g. when teaching); patiently
club; fraternity; sorority; clubhouse
stingy; cheap; very frugal
to swell; to expand; to inflate; to bulge
to stir up; to poke (the fire); to beat (an egg); to arouse (interest, feelings, etc.); to stir; to stoke