absolute best; very finest; top-class; first-rate; elite
to be thoroughly attracted by; to be completely fascinated by
one child; only child; one of several children (esp. the son and heir); one stone
way of listening; listener
beat; palpitation; pulsation; throbbing
fine performance; excellent acting
happy tears; tears of joy
winding; meandering; zigzagging; zig-zag; in twists and turns; sinuously
a few hours; several hours; a couple of hours
school rules; school regulations
violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement
to make snide remarks; to put into bad mood
very small; tiny; insignificant
to be believed to; to be expected to; to be feared to; to be poised to; to be considered to; to be likely to
to hug; to clasp to one's breast
shrine office; office of a Shinto shrine
main hall; great hall; large hall; reception hall
amulet or talisman issued by a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple
white clothes; white robe; white gown (worn by doctors, chemists, etc.); commoner without rank (in ancient China); layperson
red hakama (worn by miko or noblewomen at court)
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
kimono; Japanese traditional clothing (esp. full-length); clothing; clothes
bent back; hunchback; stoop
bamboo thicket; bamboo grove
if I had to say; if pressed (to answer); if I must choose; if I had to choose
everybody's friend; people pleaser; person who is affable to everybody; flawlessly beautiful woman; flawless beauty
ceremony for purifying a building site (before building commences); ground-breaking ceremony
busiest and most profitable business period; peak season
one's mind; one's heart; one's intention
in swarms; in great crowds; plentifully; a lot (of); minor actress; bit-part actress
rear; rear unit guard; anchor (man)
to contract (to do); to undertake; to take on (work); (arch.) to take responsibility for; (arch.) to be liable for
to omit; to leave out; to overtake; to pass; to say; to speak
helper; assistant; help; assistance
avid desire; craving; thirst; watering at the mouth; drooling
opening session; anteroom
dealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.); attending to; handling; serving