expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
letter breaking off with someone; Dear John letter
lack of relation (to); independence (of)
state; condition; situation; appearance; circumstances
opposite side; bottom; rear; back; lining; inside; in the shadows
young person; youth; young
to collect; to assemble; to gather
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
to write down; to note; to jot down; to remember
to stop by; to drop in for a short visit
to wander from place to place; to change jobs
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
slightest connection; slender connection; sliver (e.g. of hope); one thread
to cling to; to hang onto; to rely on; to depend on; to implore; to entreat
natural; reasonable; understandable
perhaps; possibly; by some chance; by some possibility
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
maid; helper; help; assistance
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to throw; to hurl; to give up; to abandon; to cast (a glance, shadow, doubt, etc.)
to turn up; to roll up (e.g. sleeves); to do over and over again; to do relentlessly; to stage a comeback (against) (in mahjong, horse racing, etc.); to come from behind
to be transmitted (handed down) from generation to generation
celebration; auspicious occasion
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
reaching a stopping place; settling down (before the next stage); getting to a point where one can rest; one paragraph
god; deity; incredible; fantastic; (arch.) Emperor (of Japan); (arch.) thunder
to beg; to ask; to request; to invite
with a start; in surprise; suddenly (realize, remember, etc.); all of a sudden; puffing (air); with a puff
to come to one's senses; to calm down
calamity; disaster; misfortune
there's no other way; there are no other options; there are no alternative means
why?; what for?; how?; by what means?
satisfactory; decent; good; proper; worthy
type 1; category 1; first class
very; greatly; immense; enormous; serious; grave
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of one's arrival); invitation
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
worry; concern; anxiety; care; help; aid
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
sports ground; playing field; playground