turning point; critical juncture; knot (in a tree, etc.)
slowly and quietly; stealthily
lower floor; downstairs; bottom of the stairs; foot of the stairs
new leaves; young leaves; fresh verdure
to replace; to convert; to exchange; to interchange; to substitute (person, staff member, player, etc.)
beyond expectation; contrary to expectations; unexpectedly
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
assortment (of food); assorted dishes; combination platter
some; several; many; how many; how much; very
food; provisions; nourishment (mental, spiritual, etc.); sustenance (e.g. of one's life); source of encouragement
carefully; closely; attentively; profoundly; deeply; at length
self-control; self-restraint
to scramble for; to struggle for; to contend for; to fight for
unsightly; ugly; unseemly; indecent; deplorable; disgraceful
senior; elder; person older than oneself
dissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while traveling (travelling); present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
upright; honest; faithful; conscientious; sincere
public order; public peace; public security; law and order
small (of a grain or berry, etc.); small (in stature); limited (in abilities)
cased; boxed; precious; cherished; girl who has been sheltered from the world; one's special talent
ignorant of the ways of the world
to that extent; accordingly; that being the case; that state; that condition
furoshiki; wrapping cloth; cloth wrapper
container; case; receptacle; coffin; casket
powerful; strong; forceful; reassuring; encouraging
to ward off; to brush away; to fling off; to drive away
good story; heartwarming story; good prospect (e.g. marriage, business)
schoolchild without lunch
gathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance
being open but having virtually no business
actual profit; practical use; benefit
moment by moment; hour by hour
to cry softly; to sob; to weep
look; glance; sight; summary; list; table
going side-by-side; going abreast; running concurrently; occurring at the same time; keeping pace with