gold and iron; firmness; adamancy
Narita divorce; divorce of a newlywed couple upon returning (to Narita Airport) from their honeymoon abroad
green car (Japan Railway's 1st class)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; NASA
apartment with one bedroom and a combined dining room and kitchen
apartment with one bedroom and a combined living room, dining room and kitchen
explosive increase; rising dramatically; shooting up
husband; master (of a house, shop, etc.)
inheritance from a parent
giga-; 10^9; gigabyte; GB; data traffic (esp. on mobile phone)
civilization and enlightenment; Japan's Westernization movement during the Meiji era (Westernisation)
service area; toll road rest stop; rest area
upper; upward; outer; surface; top
Nara prefecture (Kinki area)
(taking a) spectacular photograph; photo taken at just the right moment
one place; (all in) the same place; one spot; one location; one part; one passage
oh well, fine; fine, I guess; alright, I suppose; OK, then
gradually; day by day; every day; each day
to explain away; to talk one's way out of; to excuse oneself; to evade
(sense of) presence; realism; ambiance
S; s; south; sulfur; nth year in the Shōwa era (1926.12.25-1989.1.7); small; second
to lay out a futon; to make a bed
guarantor; surety; sponsor; reference; bondsman
sightseeing spot; tourist attraction
to be shy; to be bashful; to feel awkward; to feel embarrassed
millennium; one thousand years; (fig.) long time
not factored in; not included in calculations; unaccounted for; unplanned for
Tokaido (Edo-period Edo-Kyoto highway)
intimate friend; close friend; bosom buddy; chum
to hit a nerve; to go for the throat; to touch a sore spot
high and low; rise and fall
according to; by (means of); due to; because of
repeated at intervals; every other (day, week, month, ...)