superb piece of work; masterpiece; exquisite item; perfection; unique article
kombu (usu. Saccharina japonica); konbu; kelp; any edible species from the family Laminariaceae
indicates two contrasting actions; (arch.) indicates possessive (often found in place names and compound words)
hill; height; knoll; bonus points awarded to the winner at the end of a game
working earnestly; sincerity; diligence; effort; pains
to load (a gun, etc.); to charge; to put into (e.g. emotion, effort); to include (e.g. tax in a sales price); to hang over; to shroud
charm; attractiveness; courtesy; ingratiating behaviour; entertainment; amusement
while surprised; suddenly
divine wind (esp. a typhoon thought to have protected Japan from a Mongolian invasion in the 13th century); kamikaze
just like that; in the twinkling of an eye; in the blink of an eye; (lit.) in the time it takes to say "ah!"
to sell (well); to be well known; to be popular; to be famous
more and more; all the more; at last; finally; (at the) last moment; worst possible time
wild; violent; rough-mannered; rough (e.g. work); crude; coarse
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming
what time; (lit.) which hour
nine; nine years of age; twelve o'clock (old time system)
ten; 10; ten years of age
eleven; 11; jack (playing card); Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo (Cuculus fugax); Horsfield's hawk cuckoo
twelve; 12; queen (playing card)
thirteen; 13; king (playing card)
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
to pay (e.g. money, bill); to brush off; to wipe away; to drive away (e.g. one's competitors); to sell off (something unneeded); to dispose of; to pay (e.g. attention)
hole; opening; pit; hollow; burrow; den; deficit
ahead; before; the future
good performance; good work; great success
tea (usu. green); tea break (at work); tea ceremony
someone else's hands; someone else's possession; hand (worker); aide; labor; labour
reliable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
making something strong even stronger; solidifying something's chances; (lit.) (giving) a metal rod to an ogre
on-stage performance by musicians in a kabuki play; shamisen accompaniment when a performer (esp. a rakugo story teller) appears on stage
light; well-lit; bright (of a colour); brightly-coloured; cheerful; bright; encouraging (for the future of a project, etc.)
coming down from one's seat and prostrating oneself (to pay obeisance); musicians' box on the left side of the stage; lower seat
to be fit (for a role); to be qualified (for); to be equal (to a task); to be able to fulfill one's duties (as)
teacher; master; religious leader; specialist; (arch.) five-battalion brigade comprising 2500 men (Zhou-dynasty Chinese army)
stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded
dressing room; green room; backstage; behind the scenes; the inside; inside affairs
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
children's (TV) show; children's program
to be popular; to come into fashion; to be prevalent; to spread widely (e.g. disease); to flourish; to thrive
(for) how many days; what day (of the month)