idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
to flip; to snap; to repel; to use (an abacus); to calculate; to strum
really; very; extremely; (not) anything; (not) at all; (not) a bit
skillful; skilful; adroit; clever; shrewd; ingenious
song lyrics; words of a song; libretto
to raise one's voice; to shout
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
irresponsible; blithe; heedless; devil-may-care; sloppy; slipshod
to be peevish; to sulk; to pout
to gulp down (a drink); to slurp
yes?; no?; isn't it?; is it?
middle-age; middle age; midlife; one's middle years
man; male; masculine gender
unexpected; contrary to expectations; by chance; casual
utagoe coffeehouse; sing-along tearoom; coffee shop in which customers can sing in chorus accompanied by a band
northern country; northern provinces; northern regions; northland
enka; traditional-style Japanese popular ballad
absurd; unreasonable; extreme; senseless; disorderly; chaotic
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
neighbourhood; neighborhood
regular customer; regular patron; frequenter; constant companion
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
merrymaking; high jinks; drunken revelry; spree
horizontal (as opposed to vertical); lying down; side-to-side (as opposed to front-to-back); width; side (of a box, etc.); beside
with a rustling sound; (rummaging) around
slightly; lightly; thinly; faintly; dimly
light; well-lit; bright (of a colour); brightly-coloured; cheerful; bright; encouraging (for the future of a project, etc.)
on closer reflection; on second thought; come to think of it; actually
the skin (of a human being); warmth of the skin; body warmth
to raise one's voice; to shout
futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
in the twinkling of an eye; in a flash
to go pale; to grow pale; to lose color; to turn white
to fail; to blunder; to make a mess; to drink up; to eat up
thoroughly; completely; severely; harshly; (arch.) scattered; (arch.) disconnected
closing up shop (for the day); stopping business; going out of business