preceding paragraph; first part
poem of four lines, each of five (Chinese) characters
to read out; to read aloud; to call out; to finish reading; to read through
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine)
ghostleg lottery; ladder lottery; lottery in which participants trace a line across a lattice pattern to determine the winner
matter of hit-and-miss; mix of success and failure; variation (in quality, returns, etc.)
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
framework (of a building); foundation; mainstay; support; supporter
(being) fully equipped; (being) fully furnished; completeness
devastating; catastrophic; crushing
town area; urban area; metropolitan area; built-up area
living necessities; everyday commodities; daily commodities; everyday goods; subsistence goods
incessant; constant; continuous; perpetual; everlasting
transportation network; transport network; traffic network
garbage disposal; refuse disposal; waste treatment
neighborhood; neighbourhood; street; block; town
contract; compact; agreement
wastepaper; scrap of paper; paper scraps
second hand clothes shop; somebody who sells second hand clothes
assimilating broken ceramics via baking
kamado; traditional Japanese wood or charcoal-fueled cook stove
(material) recycling society; recycling-oriented society
(arch.) large river (esp. the Yangtze); Lake Biwa
important point; strategic position; key point
flexible; lithe; soft; pliable
to destroy; to crush; to break by striking; to spoil; to ruin