ageing; aging; senile deterioration
Ringo no uta (1946 song; the first post-war hit song)
to break into song; to burst into song; to begin singing
(not) anything; (nothing) at all; (not) any
General Headquarters (office of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers; 1945-1952); GHQ
possession; retention; maintenance; holding; keeping
each day; from day to day; day-to-day
babies born on October 10, supposedly conceived on New Year's Day; normal gestation time (i.e. 9 months)
fighting to be first; scrambling to take the lead
small room; closet; cubicle; booth; stall
illegitimate child; bastard; love child
cheerful; lively; lighthearted
merry voices (e.g. of children playing)
Kagoshima (city, prefecture)
deterioration; becoming decrepit; becoming worn out
Japanese nationality; Japanese citizenship
side or bottom of a ship; ship's hold; bottoms; shipping; tonnage; freight space
to trail (of smoke, clouds, etc.); to hang (of mist, haze, etc.); to lie (over); to linger; to flow (e.g. of hair in the wind)
China under the Qing dynasty; Qing China; Qing dynasty
ship used in Japanese missions to Ming dynasty China
entry into port; arriving in harbor
locals; local inhabitants
to attract interest; to arouse someone's interest
wokou; wakō; Japanese pirates who raided the Chinese and Korean coastlines between the 13th and 16th centuries
wharf; bridge; jetty; pier