earthly paradise; Shangri-la
to throw open; to leave open
rich (in flavor, color, smell, etc.); thick; very likely; highly possible; passionate; hot
apron; apron (airport); apron (stage)
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
instantly; immediately; equals; means; oneness (of two opposing things); inseparability
U-turn; returning home (after a vacation); returning to one's (rural) hometown (after having lived in a big city)
just barely; only just; at the very limit; at the last moment
to look around; to survey
to all appearances; no matter how you look at it
suspicious behavior; acting suspiciously
search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
grand; magnificent; lavish; forceful; powerful; vigorous
to have a cramp; to twitch; to stiffen (of a face, expression); to freeze; to shrink (of skin, due to a scar); to tauten
echo; reverberation; response; reaction; repercussions
to purify; to cleanse; to exorcise; to purge; to ward off
with a glitter; with a sparkle; brand new; shiny and new
material; material properties; quality of material; quality of wood; quality of lumber
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to fall to one's knees; to go down on one's knees (e.g. to express respect)
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
to droop (e.g. ears of grain); to bow one's head; to hang one's head
deep knowledge; attainments; scholarship
perhaps; possibly; maybe; by some chance
beautiful woman; (a) beauty
polite; courteous; careful; close; overly courteous; overly careful
return present; return gift; something done in return (as way of thanks); retaliation; revenge
ill-bred; impolite; rude; impudent; insolent; blunt
presumption; assumption; estimation
sunburn; suntan; tan; becoming discolored from the sun (e.g. paper); yellowing
strongish; somewhat strong
dark brown; colour of tanned skin
simple; plain; uncomplicated; straightforward; simple-minded; naive