well-bred; of good upbringing
tanuki (Nyctereutes procyonoides); raccoon dog; sly dog; sly old fox; sly fox
English-speaking world; English-speaking countries; Anglosphere
number of characters; character count
novel; original; new; innovative
darn it!; darn!; oops!; oh dear!; oh no!
light meal; snack; refreshments
cracker; party popper; cracker; cracker
snack (to have with a drink); side dish
meeting convened to discuss issues; planning conference; review meeting; feedback session; investigative commission
breaking up (a meeting, gathering, etc.); dispersal (e.g. of a crowd); dissolution (of a company, organization, etc.); winding-up; dissolution (of the Diet, Parliament, etc.)
(staring) piercingly; (looking) hard
to persevere; to keep at something (regardless of one's fatigue)
aizuchi; backchanneling; interjections indicating that one is paying attention; two smiths hammering at an object in turn
figure; design; twill weave; pattern of diagonal stripes; style (of writing); figure (of speech); design
dull; uninteresting; insignificant; unimportant; absurd; foolish
old person; senior citizen; the aged; the elderly
to shake off; to shake free from; to swing completely (bat, club, etc.); to take a full swing; to break off from (pursuer); to pull away
each and every one of them; every last one of them; all a bunch of
laughingstock; butt of ridicule
stirring; rousing oneself
rash; thoughtless; imprudent; careless; frivolous
earthenware; porcelain; china; Seto ware; ceramic ware from Seto (Aichi Prefecture)
crack; crevice; fissure; chap; rift
degree of difficulty; difficulty level
not knowing when to let go (give up, etc.); unwilling to resign; having lingering attachment; regretful
to talk (someone) down; to argue (someone) into silence
decisively; decidedly; boldly; precisely; exactly
cunning (acquired with age); astute; crafty; sly; wily
moxibustion; chastisement; scolding
support; backing; patronage
thorough (criticism, defeat, etc.); utter; serious
to flatter; to toady (to); to curry favor (with); to butter up; (lit.) to grind sesame seeds
conversion; diversion; changeover; commutation; switchover
to get a big surprise; to be astonished; to have one's breath taken away; to be taken aback
bizarre plan; perplexing strategy; outlandish scheme
sleepiness; drowsiness; the sandman; Morpheus
disentanglement puzzle; wire puzzle
some; several; many; how many; how much; very