to stand side by side; to stand in a row
street stall; stand; booth
quick change (of costume); quick transformation; turning suddenly into; (sudden) metamorphosis
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
articles; supplies (e.g. office supplies); things (for); utensils; goods; equipment
celebration; celebratory event; congratulatory gift; tip; gratuity
happi coat; happy coat; workman's livery coat; traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat
high-spirited; cheerful; assertive; vigorous
to call in; to invite; to bring in
lottery; tombola; drawing
moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens); tall bamboo cultivated for its edible shoots
kagami mochi; New Year offering consisting of two mochi stacked on each other with a bitter orange on top, cut and eaten on January 11
year-end and New Year holidays (e.g. from December 29 to January 3)
crowded; packed; crammed; cramped; filled; overflowing
Kansai (region comprising Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and surrounding prefectures); Kansai (western half of Japan; during the feudal era)
bitter orange (Citrus aurantium); sour orange; Seville orange; orange (color, colour)
staff with plaited paper streamers
having one's choice; (ability to) pick and choose
being drawn to many things; distraction; difficulty of choice; difficulty in choosing; being unable to decide
sounds good; sure thing; no problem
to close one's eyes partly; to squint; to smile with one's whole face; to smile sweetly (at); to look fondly (at)
to congratulate; to wish (someone) well; to celebrate
Christmas cake; unmarried woman above the age of 25
first shrine visit of the New Year
tenets (of a religious sect); doctrines; (religious) sect; denomination; one's principles; one's tastes
clear weather; fine weather; formal; ceremonial; cleared of suspicion
to be excited; to be elated
Shinto shrine precincts; holy precincts; sanctuary
imitation; counterfeit; fake; replica
beginning and end; from beginning to end; result; outcome; dealing with something successfully
great delight; great satisfaction; rapture
mochi; small rice cake made from glutinous rice
osechi; osechi-ryōri; traditional food eaten during the New Year's holidays
(cash) register; checkout (counter); cashier
indispensable; essential; requisite; required; compulsory; necessary
small dish (served as a part of an ordinary household meal); side dish
accompaniment to a drink served at celebrations (such as New Year)
mashed sweet potatoes with sweetened chestnuts
(woman's) undersash; datemaki; rolled omelette mixed with fish paste (omelet)
leading a horse, cow, etc.; groom; horse boy; hors d'oeuvre; appetizer