Nara Prefecture (Kinki area)
unspecified large number (of people)
bolero (dance); bolero; shrug
isolated and helpless; alone and unassisted
ancient city; former capital
actor; actress; man of wits; clever person; cunning fellow
to meet; to assemble; to congregate
blank form; sheets of paper; sheet of paper
serving customers; looking after visitors; reception
clerk; office worker; office staff
money loser; high-cost, low-return project
suggestion; hint; implication
good-for-nothing; useless; worthless
right in front; just opposite; under the nose
almost every day; almost daily
middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer
correction; looking over; touching up
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
manufacturer (esp. a major company); producer; maker; maker (person or device that makes something)
plaster cast; cast; gypsum; plaster of Paris
order; command; directions; instructions
to be lazy; to be idle; to slack; to neglect (e.g. one's work); to be neglectful of; to skip (e.g. school)
diligent; earnest; attentive to detail; brisk (working, moving); frequent (e.g. checking)
independence; autonomy; self-reliance
smoking area; smoking corner
to come unstuck from; to peel off; to come off
poor-looking; impoverished-looking; scrawny (e.g. figure); thin-looking; sparse (e.g. meal)
awkward; uncomfortable; embarrassing
abstaining from smoking; quitting smoking; prohibition of smoking; No Smoking; Smoking Prohibited
recommendation; endorsement
shabby; unsightly; unkempt
making a round trip; going and returning; round-trip ticket; return ticket; correspondence; exchanging (of letters)
sneakily; secretly; stealthily; on the sly
half-finished (cigarette); half-smoked
shadow (e.g. on someone's happiness); cloud; shade; gloom