the place one comes from; one's birthplace; one's hometown
chance; start; opportunity; cause; reason; excuse
instead; but (on the other hand)
pretty; lovely; clean; clear; completely; entirely
river; stream; River; the ... river
to have (e.g. lunch); to take (e.g. vitamins)
when it becomes; when it comes to
riverside; riverbank; edge of a river
grabbing a handful (of); grabbing as much as one can in one handful; catching with one's hands
to comb out; to brush; to untangle; to unravel
board; plank; sheet (of metal); plate (of glass); cutting board; chopping board
to spread out (e.g. a futon); to lay out; to lay down (e.g. a cushion); to impose widely (e.g. martial law); to promulgate; to pin down; to hold down
cool; refreshing; clear (e.g. eyes); bright; clear; distinct
to come of age; to become an adult; to become fully qualified; to stand on one's own
hometown; birthplace; native place; (arch.) ruins; (arch.) historic remains
far away; distant place; long ago; far back; by far
existing (at the present moment); alright; acceptable; to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to have
good; excellent; fine; nice; pleasant; agreeable
to get shabby; to go downhill; to go to seed; to go to the dogs
difference (of opinion); strange; odd; different
earth; soil; the earth (historically, esp. as opposed to the heavens); the ground; low-quality torinoko-gami (containing mud); (period of) refraining from construction in the direction of the god of the earth (in Onmyōdō)
very; awfully; exceedingly; (not) at all; by no means; simply (cannot)
serious; not joking; straight; (arch.) cannot; (arch.) should not; (arch.) will not
Metropolis (of Tokyo); (Tokyo) Metropolitan District; counter for cities and towns; capital
to have tears in one's eyes; to be moved to tears
to be (deeply) moving; to pack an (emotional) punch; to be emotionally touching; to strike home; to strike a chord
not understanding; not knowing
Murou Saisei (1889.8.1-1962.3.26)
poem; poetry; verse; Chinese poem
employment en masse (esp. of middle and high school graduates from the rural districts during Japan's post-war economic boom)
was it?; I think it was ...; if I've got it right; (I, we) used to ...; I remember ...; it was ...
job hunting; job searching
period of rapid growth (especially Japan's period of rapid economic growth after WWII)
young person; youngster; young people; (the) youth
simultaneously; all at once; in unison
city; Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly
what is called; what you call; what they call; so-called
golden child; promising young talent; (lit.) gold egg; golden egg; gold mine; cash cow
economic superpower; economic powerhouse
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to underestimate; to make light of
far; distant; distant (past); remote (in time); distant (relationship or kinship); having little to do (with someone); far (from something else in quality, degree, etc.)