rice plant (Oryza sativa)
array; muster; line-up; full force
exactly; precisely; just; as if; as though; quite
shortish; rather short; somewhat short
range; stove; cooker; microwave oven
near; close; beside; vicinity; proximity; besides
New Year's Eve; end of the year
how many people; a number of people
in some way or other; one way or another; somehow; only just; barely
clear; clearing (a bar, hurdle, etc.); overcoming; getting through; clearing (the ball); clearing (e.g. a checked box)
exchange; interchange; switching; reciprocity; barter; substitution
matcha; powdered green tea
8th in rank; eighth sign of the Chinese calendar
flavor; flavour; charm; appeal; experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
next (to); adjoining; adjacent; house next door; neighbouring house; next-door neighbour
kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat
introduction; bringing in; leading in; installation
the year end; end of the year; last days of the year
too; also; still; as before; even so; either way
Shizuoka (city, prefecture)
to be solved; to be resolved; to loosen; to come untied; to be removed (of restrictions); to be lifted (e.g. a ban)
lineage; stock; descent; strain; blood relationship
mother's side of family; maternal (grandfather, uncle, etc.)
exclamation of surprised disappointment, disgust, or worry (yuck, ick, ack, eeew, crap!, blech, gross)
shamisen; samisen; three-stringed Japanese lute
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
to sever relations (with somebody; esp. a relative or spouse); to break off (with)
correct; right; correct interpretation (answer, solution)
Kansai; region consisting of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and surrounding prefectures; Kansai; south-western half of Japan (during the feudal era)
mountain stream; valley; dale; wetlands; swamp; marsh
good (quality, condition, etc.); Good (grade); B
supporting role (actor); minor role
to entrust; to leave to a person
to detain; to check; to restrain
tough; hard; determined; strong-minded; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe
to fly (with great force); to blast (e.g. into the sky); to lack common sense; to be extremely surprised (by)