black ships; Western ships that came to Japan between the 16th and 19th centuries, esp. those of the Perry Expedition in 1853; foreign disruptor (of the Japanese market); product, person, etc. arriving from the West and disturbing the Japanese market
organization; organisation; structure; construction; system (e.g. railroad, transport, party, etc.); tissue; texture (of a rock)
thorough; exhaustive; complete
something to think about; one's thoughts; concern; thinking about something; being absorbed in one's thoughts
rain; rainy day; rainy weather; the November suit (in hanafuda)
gently (raining); drizzling; moist; damp
to continue to rain or snow
entering the rainy season; beginning of the rainy season
holiday; day off; sleep; rest; good night
study; diligence; working hard; experience; knowledge; discount
care; looking after; repair; (police) raid; crackdown
awning (over a window, doorway, etc.); eaves (of a roof); narrow aisle surrounding the core of a temple building; visor (of a cap); brim; classic Japanese women's low pompadour hairstyle
chair; seat; stool; post; position; seat
to make merry; to be festive
umbrella; parasol; something shaped like an umbrella or a conical hat; shade (of a lamp); mushroom cap
to dance (orig. a hopping dance); to be manipulated; to dance to someone's tune
overflowing; flood; inundation; oversupply; plethora; abundance (esp. of something undesirable)
weather forecast; weather report
mark; sign; to mark; to put a mark on; trademark; paying attention to
to project; to show (on a screen); to portray; to depict; to reflect (the times, mood, etc.)
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
patience; endurance; perseverance
archipelago; group of islands
ocean; large sea; fabric pattern
to approach; to draw near; to gather (in one place); to come together; to stop by (while on one's way to another place); to drop by; to grow old
beach hut; beachside clubhouse
opening a new store; opening a new branch; setting up a stall (at a festival, trade fair, etc.); setting up a booth; exhibiting
festival; feast; harassment by an Internet pitchfork mob; online shaming; galore (as in "goals galore"); frenzy
temple festival; fair; fete day; day related to a particular deity and thought to bring divine blessing to those who celebrate it
anniversary; commemoration
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
Japanese style; Japanesque; Japanism
he; she; that person; (arch.) you
simply; merely; only; solely
near oneself; close to one; familiar