nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter
first thing in the morning
mochi; small rice cake made from glutinous rice
soy sauce; soya sauce; shoyu
nori; laver; edible seaweed, usu. Porphyra yezoensis or P. tenera, usu. dried and pressed into sheets
kinako mochi; mochi coated in sweetened soy flour
being on duty; person on duty; one's turn
yearned for; longed for; missed
to slacken; to loosen; to relax; to slack off (e.g. one's work, attention); to not put one's heart in
foot of a rock; large rock, most of which is buried
to scatter away; to blast away; to blow away (via explosion)
karuta; traditional Japanese playing cards, esp. hyakunin isshu karuta or iroha karuta
race game (board game played with dice in which the object is to reach the end of a track); ban-sugoroku; sugoroku; traditional Japanese board game similar to backgammon
battledore (early form of badminton racket)
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
complete; completion (of a collection, video game, etc.)
to be digested; to master (a skill); to be proficient; to mature (e.g. personality); to mellow; to mature (foodstuff)
knowing only too well; being fully aware of
condition; situation; prospects
helpful person; person who likes looking after others; overly helpful person; annoyingly helpful person; manager; go-between
New Year's greetings; New Year's call; New Year's gift
to be worried; to be grieved; to pine for
beginning of the year; new year; New Year's call; New Year's greetings
magician; wizard; sorcerer; witch; mage
to be curious; to wonder; to marvel
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
extinction; extinguishment; disappearance; annihilation
to do one's best; to do something to the best of one's ability
curious; strange; unusual
to feel like; to feel inclined to do
as you see; as you can see; in accordance with what you see
to indicate; to show; to point to
something broad and flat; common; ordinary; low-ranking employee; freshman
wagon; tea wagon; teacart; station wagon; estate car
lucky-dip bag; grab bag; mystery package (with a variety of articles possibly worth more than the purchase price)
the more you do (it), the... (e.g. "the more you drink, the better it tastes")
to continue to increase; to continue to mount
savior; saviour; rescuer; Messiah; Jesus Christ
gentle; mild; meek; tender
(common) millet (Panicum miliaceum); proso millet
price reduction; discount