bamboo grass; generally smaller species of running bamboo that do not shed their sheaths (e.g. Sasa spp.)
tanzaku; long, narrow strip of paper used for writing poetry, wishes, decorations, etc.; thin rectangle
wish; desire; request; prayer
Boys' Day celebration (May 5)
rice cake wrapped in oak leaves; sleeping in a futon folded in half
sōmen; fine white noodles
chirashi; chirashizushi; sushi rice in a box or bowl with a variety of ingredients sprinkled on top
konpeitō; small coloured sugar candy covered with tiny bulges
sakubei; twisted confectionery eaten during Tanabata
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
contrivance; managing (to raise money); one's financial condition
named after; associated with; connected with
intestines; bowels; entrails; guts; placenta (of a pumpkin, melon, etc.); fibrous pulp
great wisdom; excellent disposition; strength (to face something); willpower; vigor
Kaguya-Hime (main character of Taketori Monogatari); Princess Kaguya; Kaguyahime (manga series by Reiko Shimizu)
familiar; well-known; regular (e.g. customer); old acquaintance; old friend; (a) regular
Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo-Cutter)
suitor (e.g. for a woman); wooer
to blow (on); to breathe (on); to pick (a fight); to provoke; to exaggerate; to ask (an unreasonable price)
highly priced; expensive; valuable; costly
absconding; making off; taking off; slipping away; vanishing; disappearing
great shame; great disgrace; harsh humiliation; deep embarrassment; unbearable loss of face
loss of eyesight; loss of sight; going blind; blindness
literal translation; direct translation
Arthurian legend; legend of King Arthur
fascinating; voluptuous; bewitching; captivating
wild; uninhibited; extravagant; rampant
written description of one's thoughts
copy-and-paste; copypasta (block of text that is copied and pasted across the Internet)
protagonist; main character; hero; head (of a household); proprietor (of a store)