national isolation; closing the country (to foreigners); sakoku; policy of national isolation enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate
low spirits; lack of enthusiasm; lack of motivation; low voltage (e.g. circuit); low tension (e.g. current)
Your Majesty; His Majesty; Her Majesty
important; having a high status; having standing; exalted; of high station
collection (of art, stamps, etc.); collecting; collection (i.e. a range of new clothes); fashion show
the ancients; ancient people
several people; a few people
sarcophagus; stone coffin
cicada; locust; small-sized pulley
cast-off skin (snake, insect, etc.); husk; empty shell; exuvia; exuviae
in a manner of speaking; as it were; so to speak; if you like; per se
to spin; to make yarn; to spin (a tale); to assemble (e.g. words); to put together
in history; ever; historical
one's circumstances; environment; situation (in life)
sensitive; susceptible; emotional; impressionable; sentimental
same generation; one's generation
poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful
this very day; today is the day (that ...); today for sure
difficult to get into; not be easily influenced into joining some mood or activity
I can relate (to that); that happens to me as well; that's all too familiar to me; something often encountered or experienced; something many people can relate to; all-too-familiar story
persevering; very patient
acting as agent; acting on (someone's) behalf; executing business for
manner; demeanour; demeanor; bearing
soft; tender; soft (colour, light, etc.); subdued; informal; light
lining; backing; backing up (e.g. a theory); support; bolstering
president (of a country); big man; boss; buddy
telephone number; phone number
belief; faith; conviction
amplification; magnification; amplification; making larger
passionate; ardent; enthusiastic
gotcha; alrighty; got it; OK
guidance; showing the way; guide; guidepost; signpost; waymark
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
ancient script; ancient character; ancient alphabet
change; conversion; transformation; transformation
lower part; substructure; subordinate (office); good and faithful servant
to rearrange (classes); to recompose; to reset; to recombine (genes)
to open up to someone else; to divulge one's true feelings; to be openhearted