Gion Festival (in Kyoto during the month of July, with high point on the 17th)
Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2-7)
being extremely busy; being swamped with work
pain; anguish; distress; suffering; hardship
to drive away; to order off; to chase away; to force into an unpleasant situation (bankruptcy, prostitution, suicide, etc.)
planning; project; plan; design
director; executive; officer; official; person in charge
severe; strict; tough; hard
to take a veneer off something
receiving (a message, letter, email, etc.); reception (radio, TV, etc.)
terminal; computer terminal; information access device (smartphone, tablet, book-reader, etc.); end (e.g. of a roll of film)
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
fresh made; freshly baked; freshly roasted
to behave; to conduct oneself; to entertain; to treat someone (to a drink); to make tea for someone (tea ceremony)
lunch; (Western-style) single-plate lunch set; plate lunch; launch (boat); motorboat; ranch
suddenly and in a loud voice (e.g. sobbing)
program (e.g. theatre, theater); programme; (theatrical) piece; number; performance
moderator; host; chairman
there are no tricks or gimmicks (phrase used at magic shows); perfectly ordinary (e.g. mirror, pack of cards)
always; forever; very; greatly (esp. of hopes and desires)
nude (figure, painting, statue)
to manufacture; to produce; to raise (crops); to invent; to dream up; to create
characteristic; traditional; peculiar; inherent; native; eigen-
about; roughly; generally; on the whole; completely; quite
misfortune; ill fate; bad luck; obscurity
reserve; spare; treasured; valued; (ace) up one's sleeve; trump
the imperial family or household
hack; inferior horse; inferior person; incapable person
to let out; to utter; to issue; to send; to leave; to depart
figure; form; figurine; model figure; figure skating
dully; dispassionately; apathetically; in a subdued manner
agile (person's movements); nimble; adroit; lively; brisk; skillful
to begin to dance; to break into a dance
what the?; what's going on?; what's this?
terrible; dreadful; amazing (e.g. of strength); great (e.g. of skills); to a great extent; vast (in numbers)
to crush (with the weight of misfortune)
dry and rough; desiccated; rustling
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
corner; nook; shade; shadow; dark circles (under the eyes); dark rings
completely; fully; entirely