with these words; while saying
without intermission for ten (long) years; with constancy of purpose for ten (long) years; in the same old rut for years on end
method; process; manner; way; means; technique
ignorance; (lack of) enlightenment or civilization (civilisation); unenlightened; uncivilized; uncivilised
easy money; easy gain; making a killing
to see the light; to be awakened to the truth; to have the scales fall from one's eyes
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
rather; better; instead; if anything
one's home; hometown; native place; birthplace
certain; definite; clear; credible
to get; to secure; to learn; to master; to complete
to add; to write a postscript
making a round trip; going and returning; round-trip ticket; return ticket; correspondence; exchanging (letters)
eagerly (waiting); (waiting) impatiently
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
letter; missive; note; mail
yielding; submission; surrender; giving way; succumbing
curtain; bunting; act (in play)
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
to stretch larger; to enlarge (photos); to delay (e.g. the end of a meeting)
irresponsible; perfunctory; lukewarm; half-baked; reasonable; moderate
proposal; offer; request; application
deed (esp. negative); act; action; one's doing
difference; discrepancy; variation
to be within others' sight; to be visible; to be conspicuous; to attract public attention; to come under observation
unfounded (e.g. rumour); groundless; baseless; completely untrue
to correct; to touch up; to smarten up; to put one's hand in (e.g. pocket)
April; fourth month in the lunar calendar
to be ill; to suffer from; to have trouble doing ...; to be unable to ...; to fail to ...
strange; odd; unexpected; change; incident; disturbance
crash; smash; bang; sound of a large, heavy object falling
in the same way as; just like
to span; to bridge; to cross; to straddle
Izumi (former province located in the southwest of present-day Osaka Prefecture)
fast; quick; early (in the day, etc.); premature; (too) soon; not yet
to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
loose; slack; gentle (slope, curve); slow (speed); lenient; liberal
tabi; Japanese socks (with split toe)
to squat; to crouch down (completely, generally with face looking through knees)
passerby; pedestrian; foot passenger