although; though; despite the fact that ...
animal husbandry; livestock industry
dilettante; person of fantastic taste
rating; classification; allocation; grading
willpower; guts; determination; character; nature; disposition
running; gliding; first (harvest) of the season; beginning; start; kitchen sink
to name; to call; to christen; to term
the Horse (seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Horse (around noon, 11am-1pm, or 12 noon-2pm); south; fifth month of the lunar calendar
simmered with; cooked with; boiling; boiled dish
something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
to pass (e.g. car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to get ahead of
diligent application (to work or study); cultivating one's character by studying hard; mutual encouragement (to improve); working hard together; friendly rivalry
treatment as a guest; guest
readiness; preparedness; attitude; kanji "vapor" radical
to make a breakthrough; to break ground
to excuse oneself; to take one's leave; to resign (post); to quit; to decline; to turn down
unable to leave the work at hand; right in the middle of something; tied up; busy
purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.); company (or restaurant, place, etc.) that caters to or is popular with a specific clientele
opening time; starting time of work
to change completely; to change suddenly
to play an instrument (esp. string instruments); to dance
fixed period; fixed term; regular; periodic; fixed-term commuter pass; fixed-term deposit
to use excessively; to use too much; to spend too much; to overwork someone
intuition; instinct; insight; hunch; immediacy
to be prepared to flee; to become restless; to become agitated
lifting a ban; raising an embargo; opening a season (hunting, fishing, etc.); publishing contents; revealing information
being moved (to tears); being touched (by); (falling) softly (of leaves, petals, etc.); becoming slightly drunk; becoming tipsy
to cost little; to come cheap
last-minute cramming; overnight cramming; (vegetables) salted just overnight
practice; practising; experience
to do wholeheartedly; to put one's heart into something
bunch of flowers; bouquet
messenger; envoy; emissary