expensive (たかい) / worthful, precious (たかい, とうとい, たっとい) / superior, aristocratic (たかい, とうとい, たっとい, えらい, あてやか) / to esteem (とうとぶ, たっとぶ)

1923 Great Kantō earthquake

You should treasure every encounter, for it will never recur.

vicissitudes, the way that the world or a person prospers one day and declines the next

dotting the i's and crossing the t's

successive series of questions and responses

stagehand in kabuki and bunraku (who dresses fully in black)

steam whistle

drop (of liquid); droplet

A representation of Westminster Quarters, a chime often used in Japan