mid-January festival in northern Japan, with snow huts in which children play house; snow hut
extra (charge, fare, etc.); premium; bonus; (after a number) tenths increase
handyman; utility man; odd-job man
major label debut (recording)
pleasant; delightful; enjoyable; joyful; cheerful; amusing
den of vice; rogue's den; brothel; red-light district; cluttered room
frightening; scary; (arch.) extreme; (arch.) exaggerated; (arch.) huge
billboard; advertising sign
administrator; janitor; manager; custodian; executor
to meet; to meet up; to rendezvous; to join (of roads, rivers, etc.); to flow together
other party; other side; ahead; in front; destination
work (e.g. of art); production; harvest; cultivation; technique
true to one's name; living up to one's name
qualitative difference; disparity; gap
one of these days; someday; one day
to grow wild; to run to waste; to become rough (of art, craft, etc.); to lose refinement; to intensify (of wind, rain, etc.); to become more severe
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
urgent business; pressing need; imperative
badness; evilness; bad; evil
poverty; penury; need; shortage; lack; want
employment scene; employment situation; job market; job situation
inferior; coarse; poor quality; inadequate; deteriorated
person who has committed suicide
labor; labour; manpower; working force
declining birth rates; decrease in the number of children
in spite of; nevertheless; although; despite; no matter the; regardless of
member of the Lower House
change; alteration; modification
popular; folksy; plebeian; ordinary; unpretentious
fortitude; perseverance; stoicism; patience
hearsay; learning by hearsay
leg trip (in sumo, judo, etc.); foothold; pedal; indicates a consecutive period of time incl. incomplete days, etc. at the ends
to be arranged (flowers, etc.); to be on display; to be buried
to support each other; to support one another
in advance; beforehand; previously
percussion; tapping; examining by percussion; sounding out (someone's intentions); making an approach (about)
modern; current; contemporary; trendy; latest; up-to-date
to go astray; to become corrupt; to go bad
making (a new suit, dress, etc.); having (something) made; buying new; new tune; new melody; new composition