skillful handling of a kitchen knife
technology; engineering; technique; skill; art; craft
to learn; to study; to take lessons in
cloth; fabric; dough; batter; inherent quality; one's true character; unglazed pottery
base; basis; base (e.g. military); depot; base; base bag
capsicum (Capsicum annuum, esp. the cultivated chili peppers); chili pepper (chile, chilli); cayenne; shichimi pepper
sauce; Worcestershire sauce
every last one; one and all; from A to Z; as soon as; right after; no sooner (than)
to cut off; to excise; to tear off; to cut out; to whittle down; to tear out
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; by the way
very interesting; of absorbing interest; having a keen interest (in); being immensely curious (about)
serious look (on one's face); straight face
to speak unanimously; to speak in chorus; to speak in unison; to speak in one voice
real thing; original; actual
distinction; difference; separate; different; exception; exclusion
battlefield; battleground
Obon; Bon Festival; Buddhist festival for honouring the spirits of one's ancestors, held in mid-August or in some regions, mid-July; tray
oblong; vertical writing style (e.g. on envelopes); portrait orientation
sunken kotatsu; low table over a hole in the floor (may have a heat source underneath and a hanging quilt to retain warmth)
teppanyaki; dishes prepared on a hot steel plate (usu. placed in the middle of the table)
way; manner; (for) the first time in (e.g. ten years); after ...; ...-sized; amount (equivalent to ...)
in preparation; (shop) not yet open for business
to receive favor; to receive assistance; to receive help; to be looked after; to be taken care of; to become dependent (on)
beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
overserious; deeply sincere; very earnest
unconcernedly; nonchalantly; indifferently; blankly; vacantly; absentmindedly
adaptability; capacity to adapt; ability to adjust
keenly; deeply; calmly; quietly; fixedly (gazing, staring); intently
tightly; closely; exactly; precisely; suddenly (stopping); perfectly (suited)
to visit; to call on; to pay a visit to
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
anger; getting angry; taking offense; losing one's temper
to die; to pass away; to lose spirit; to lose vigor; to cease; to stop
bothersome; tiresome; bother to do
what the?; what's going on?; what's this?
puzzled; perplexed; quizzical; dubious; suspicious