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
keep it up!; way to go!; you've got it!; that's it; attaboy!; attagirl!
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 (alcohol, poison, etc.); to quaff; to down
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; vicinity
regular customer; regular patron; regular visitor; 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)
middle of the night; dead of night
merrymaking; high jinks; drunken revelry; spree
horizontal (as opposed to vertical); side-to-side (as opposed to front-to-back); width; side (of a box, etc.); beside; aside
with a rustling sound; (rummaging) around
slightly; lightly; thinly; faintly; dimly
light; bright; bright (colour); cheerful; bright; bright (future, prospects, etc.); rosy
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 do (something negative); to make (a blunder); to commit (an error); to eat (up); to drink
thoroughly; completely; severely; harshly; (arch.) scattered; (arch.) disconnected
closing up shop (for the day); stopping business; going out of business