meanwhile; in the meantime
winds and clouds; nature; the elements; situation; state of affairs
small; narrow; familiar prefix; slightly; a bit
carefree; relaxed; comfortable; at one's ease
bashful; shameful; ashamed
forcibly; by force; against one's will
practical; matter-of-fact; realistic; utilitarian; pragmatic
to lead; to take the lead (in doing something); to precede; to go before; to die before (esp. one's spouse, parents, etc.); to be a prerequisite
for the present; for the time being; for a while (from now); for some time (to come)
(flight of) stone steps; stone stairway
to come near (to); to approach; to be on the verge of; to be about to reach (a stage, period, etc.); to overhang; to hang over
both ends; either end; both edges; double-mindedness; sitting on the fence
old person; senior citizen; the aged; the elderly
to shed light; to cast light
nobori; long, narrow banner attached to a pole on one side and a horizontal rod along the top; Boys' Day nobori; carp streamer
remaining snow; lingering snow
here and there; in twos and threes; now and then; from time to time; lightly fluttering (of falling petals, leaves, etc.); swirling (in the wind)
wintry sky; cold weather (in winter); wintry weather
yearned for; longed for; missed
shrine office; office of a Shinto shrine
omen; sign of luck; origin; history; dependent arising; doctrine that everything has a cause and there is nothing that arises out of nothing
stand; stall; booth; kiosk; store
to change (into); to turn (into); to transform (into); to influence
Inari (god of harvests, wealth, fertility, etc.); Inari shrine; inarizushi (sushi wrapped in fried tofu); scrotum; testicle sack
here and there; in places
first rank in the hierarchy of the government; highest rank given to a shrine
going and worshipping (at a shrine or temple); visit (to a shrine or temple to worship)
bottle; jar; decanter; flagon; phial; vial
front shrine; hall of worship
step; stair; shelf; layer; grade; level; dan (degree of advanced proficiency in martial arts, go, shogi, etc.)
worshipper; worshiper; visitor (to a shrine or temple); pilgrim
(traffic) congestion; traffic jam; gridlock; delay; stagnation
monetary offering; offertory
to step forward; to volunteer
omniscient point of view (in narration)
conveyor belt; belt conveyor
to become better; to improve