the same as it was long ago;  unchanged;  traditional
 form;  shape;  figure;  visage
 letter (of alphabet);  character;  writing
 the real pleasure (of something);  the real thrill;  flavour of ghee; (fig.) delicious taste;  Buddha's gracious teachings
 blood;  blood;  ancestry;  (the) blood;  feelings
 everything;  all;  the whole;  entirely;  completely;  wholly
 sprinkling (of rain, salt, etc.);  pattering;  flipping (through a book, etc.);  riffling;  sparse;  scattered
 next;  following;  subsequent;  stage;  station
 breaking ball (pitch);  curve ball;  screwball
 okonomiyaki;  savoury pancake containing meat or seafood and vegetables
 large;  big;  older;  senior;  final;  ultimate
 Kansai;  region consisting of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and surrounding prefectures;  Kansai;  south-western half of Japan (during the feudal era)
 language;  dialect;  word;  phrase;  speech;  (manner of) speaking
 sweetness and saltiness;  salted and sweetened taste
 over the top;  thickly;  heavily;  richly
 system;  lineage;  corollary;  system (range of strata that correspond to a particular time period);  (taxonomical) series
 tag;  label;  game of tag;  tag-team match;  working together as a team
 reason;  cause;  circumstances
 certain;  sure;  doubtless;  I have no doubt;  You can depend on it;  It's a safe bet
 to persevere;  to persist;  to insist that;  to stick to (one's opinion);  to remain in a place;  to stick to one's post
 remnant;  residue;  remaining;  left-over
 Japanese style;  light wind;  moderate breeze
 thickness (of a sauce, soup, etc.);  viscosity;  thick consistency
 to drift;  to float;  to waft (e.g. a scent);  to hang in the air;  to be in the air (e.g. a feeling or mood);  to wander;  to walk around aimlessly
 to give birth;  to bear (child);  to lay (eggs);  to produce;  to yield;  to give rise to
 which way;  which direction;  which one (esp. of two alternatives);  who
 popular name;  common name;  given name
 somehow;  in some way;  for some reason;  faintly;  vaguely
 pilaf topped with bechamel or other cheese-based sauce, then oven baked
 stimulus;  impetus;  incentive;  encouragement;  motivation;  provocation
 to calm down;  to compose oneself;  to calm down;  to settle down;  to settle down (in a location, job, etc.);  to settle in;  to be settled
 essential;  important;  crucial;  vital;  main
 very;  considerably;  by no means;  not readily;  middle;  half-way point
 one more time;  once more;  once again
 taking on (a challenge);  attempt;  try;  tackling;  challenging (someone to a contest)
 to cover (with something);  to put on (e.g. on someone else's head);  to plate something (with a metal);  to pour or dash a liquid (on something);  to charge (a person with a guilt)
 fellow;  guy;  thing;  object;  he;  she