middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer
washing; sashimi chilled in iced water
small token (of gratitude); my (humble) feelings
to rule; to govern; to administer
water content; moisture; water vapor (vapour); steam; dropsy; edema
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
handling things like an adult; behaving like a mature grown-up
vigilantly (watching for an opportunity); eagerly; with an eagle eye
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
national holiday; public holiday
training (esp. in-service); induction course
heel (of foot, shoe, stocking, etc.)
more than most people; more than other people; compared with other people; more than others
one portion; one serving; adult; grown-up; fully fledged; established
thaw; defrosting; decompression (e.g. of a file); unpacking; extracting
barrier; checkpoint; gateway; hurdle; obstacle; trial
(a) step ahead; (a) jump ahead
entrance examination for selected candidates (who have been recommended to the university)
later on; eventually; afterwards
hollow; cavity; hole; cave
to dodge (e.g. a question); to evade; to sidestep; to give (someone) the slip
whatever will be, will be; things happen the way they happen
washing place (e.g. for laundry or tableware); place for washing oneself in a bathroom
to stay on; to remain; to hold out; to stop (doing); to give up
to scatter; to cause a shower of; to disperse; to distribute; to resolve (a symptom, condition, etc.); to relieve
Hokkaido (island, prefectural-level administrative unit)
unintentionally; unconsciously; by mistake; heedlessly; against one's better judgement (judgment)
show one's real ability; illustration of the distinctive character of (something)
Buddhism's highest paradise
counter for nights of a stay; overnight stay; lodging