floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
block (of wood); chip; splinter
heavy (feeling, etc.); gloomy (weather, etc.); oppressive (atmosphere, etc.); stifling; strained
large hole; big deficit; heavy losses; long-shot win (in horse racing, etc.); big winnings (on a long shot)
to worry (about); to fret (over); to be anxious
first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
to raise one's hand; to surrender; to raise one's hand to someone (as a threat to strike); to become better (at something); to improve; to throw one's hat in the ring
as ... as one can; as ... as possible; as much as possible
relaxed; familiar; easy to access; friendly
to take notice (of); to pay attention (to)
with these words; while saying
section; cross section; profile
to rot; to go bad; to corrode; to weather; to become useless; to blunt; to become depraved
fortunate error; lucky break; fluke
to comfort; to console; to amuse
what would (you) do?; what to do about it
to cuddle; to comfort; to rock; to soothe; to dandle; to humor
offer; tender; providing; sponsoring (a TV program)
having in mind; happening to know of; idea
platform truck; hand truck; trolley; (railway) truck; bogie; flatcar
progress; pace; carriage; step; stage
to hang over; to shroud; to enshroud; to envelop; to screen
you (people); gentlemen; ladies and gentlemen; my friends
restoration; repair; mending
work; labor; achievement; performance; salary; income
is something that; is that which
stirring; rousing oneself
outer canthus; outer corner of the eye
to have tears in one's eyes; to be close to crying
start; commencement; beginning; initiation
excellent speech; masterly speech
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
no!; no no!; no, not at all
shopkeeper; storekeeper; proprietor of a shop
scrap lumber; piece of wood
difficult to imagine; quite unlikely to; very doubtful; would not expect
arrival (of post, news, correspondence, etc.); receiving (a phone call, email, etc.)
place; point; part; counter for places, parts, passages, etc.
even; (if) only; just; besides; on top of that