chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
trough; gutter; water pipe; flume; chute
debt trap; debt hell; being in debt up to one's ears
misedashi; debut of an apprentice geisha; ceremony in which a shikomi becomes a maiko
next; next person; room adjoining a noble's parlor
trading sexual favours (for career advancement, etc.)
revitalization of a town; town renewal (project)
only the results matter; it's all about the results
Boys (The Shirelles song)
host club; club that provides male company for female customers
young persons' association
to flatter; to curry favour (with); to play up (to); to suck up (to); to toady (to)
forging; tempering; drilling; training; disciplining
dispute; argument; contention
Katharine; Katherine; Katheryn
hollow; sharply; cleanly (of cutting); smoothly
to lose (a chance); to miss (a chance); to overlook; to omit; to deviate; to depart from (the norm, etc.)
the country; countryside; rural districts; cultivated land; fields
touting; tout; barker; pander
muddy; covered with mud; mud-caked
full tank (esp. of gasoline); full capacity (of a battery, receptacle, etc.)
dot; spot; mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; point (in a game); score; point (in geometry)
pawn (chess piece); boing; sproing (e.g. sound of releasing a spring); flipping through the air; tossing
flashy; gaudy; wrapped in cheap flattery
aimless; rambling; desultory; casual
Moro; Muslim inhabitant of the Philippines; conspicuously; openly; completely; entirely
bum; good-for-nothing; ne'er-do-well
municipality; local government; self-governing body; autonomous body
starting to work in a shop; joining a shop as an employee; going inside a shop; opening up a shop (in a building, etc.)
detonation by contact; contact detonation; touching off (something); triggering; sparking
loan; roan; lawn (i.e. short grass); lawn (type of cotton cloth)
to have the privilege of doing