thin-culmed dwarf bamboo (growing in clusters); Japanese transverse bamboo flute (high-pitched; usu. with seven holes); sliver (strand of loose fibers)
Tsuyama, a region in the Okayama prefecture
all-night vigil over a body; wake
roll (e.g. of cloth); winding (e.g. watch); volume (of book); speeding up; heel (of a Japanese sandal)
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
East-Asian lacquer; japan; Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly Rhus verniciflua)
to be ordered (to do); to be charged with (a duty); to be assigned (a job)
introduction; presentation; referral; listing
thump-thump; bang-bang; pit-a-pat; to beat fast (of one's heart); to throb; to pound
after a long time; for the first time in a while
to say something is all right; to give the all-clear (e.g. to do something)
worldwide; global; international; world-famous; world-class
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
let's see what you've got; show me what you've got
theatre; theater; playhouse
peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic
electricity; (electric) light
to raise; to raise up; to wake; to wake up; to cause; to bring about; to start
guest seating (e.g. theater, stadium); passenger seat (e.g. taxi); audience
(in) the middle of; (in) the midst of; (in) the course of; (at) the height of
the future; future prospects
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); (arch.) province (of Japan)
unity; consolidation; uniformity; unification; compatible
difficult to ...; hard to ...
unwillingly; grudgingly; shaking head in refusal (like a child); no!; no no!
unexpectedly; surprisingly; unexpected; unanticipated; unforeseen
leaping; activity; leapfrog (over a problem); making a leap (e.g. in logic); making great strides; making rapid progress
particularly; especially; in particular; expressly
largish; biggish; a little bit larger
to turn; to revolve; to visit several places; to function well; to pass a certain time
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
insertion; letter drop; things sent to a prisoner; supply of provisions, refreshments, etc. to someone carrying out a task
to insert; to put in; to send in (to a prisoner; e.g. clothes, books); to deliver (food, refreshments, etc. to workers); to supply