before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
going to bed; retiring (for the night)
patronage; favour; favor; custom
on the occasion of; at the time of
to wait for a long time; to wait and wait; to eagerly await
well; properly; best regards; please remember me; just like ...; as though one were ...
performance (at a party or banquet, etc.); side show; entertainment
I'm home!; I'm back!; now; at present; just now; a moment ago
sky; heaven; God; svarga (heaven-like realm visited as a stage of death and rebirth); deva (divine being of Buddhism); top (of a book); sole (of a Japanese sandal)
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
decorative paper envelope for giving New Year's gifts (usu. money given to children) and congratulatory gifts
picking up; gathering; type-picking; walking
lavish feast; splendid banquet; corporate largess; lavish hospitality
getting; obtaining; winning; scoring (in ice hockey, basketball, etc.)
passage (of people or vehicles); passing (through); traffic; common usage; widespread use
look; glimpse; apparently; seemingly; (arch.) first meeting
(at) the beginning of the New Year; early in the New Year
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine; sensitive; delicate (feelings, sense, etc.); subtle
often (happens); tend to; be apt to; be likely to
qualitative difference; disparity; gap
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine); omikuji
first shrine visit of the New Year
monetary offering; offertory
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
brush tip; first on a list; head; chief
successively; one after another
older brother; elder brother
invasion; raid; attack; visitation (of a calamity)
buying a replacement; replacement purchase
communication skills; communication ability
disappointed; dejected; disheartened; indignant; angry
tatami room; dinner party in a tatami room with a geisha or maiko