prosperous; flourishing; popular; widespread; active; lively
signboard with gold or gilt lettering; slogan; noble cause
handwriting; handwritten; hand-painted; hand-drawn
bill; handbill; flier; flyer; leaflet; poster
striding; swaggering; strutting; lording it over others; acting as though one owns the place; throwing one's weight around
drinking bout; merrymaking
a few years ago; some years back
four and a half tatami mats; four-and-a-half-mat room; small room esp. for assignations
to get along (with someone); to be like-minded; to be congenial
department (faculty) of literature
respect; esteem; reverence; honour; honor
hit it off with (a person); find a kindred spirit in (a person); sympathy; mutual understanding
wearing wooden clogs; floatplane
muddy; covered with mud; mud-caked
the people; citizens; the populace
tip of nose; before one's eyes; under one's nose; tip (of something)
to give one's life (e.g. in battle); to devote one's life (e.g. to a cause)
agricultural community; farm village; rural
textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
patriotic feelings; patriotism
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
meeting; assembly; association; conjunction
to store; to save up; to accumulate (e.g. knowledge); to build up (e.g. experience); to grow (a beard, moustache, etc.); to wear
rock (music); rock; boulder; on the rocks
ordinary soldier; mere soldier