staying at home during the New Year's holiday
spool (of thread); reel; bobbin; tuning peg
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine)
soba noodles eaten at night on New Year's Eve
prefix used to strengthen a derogatory adjective
stingy; mean; narrow-minded; petty; shabby; poor
slightly good luck (as a fortune telling result)
scorch; burn; burnt rice; part of ceramic glaze that has become dark or darkish-brown during firing
year-end party; "forget-the-year" party; bōnenkai
within the year; before the year is out
the way one drinks; one's manner of drinking
New Year's Day; New Year's morning; morning of New Year's Day
proxy; ringer; substitute; second serving of noodles (to add to previously purchased ramen)
seed leaves (of a dicot); cotyledons; bud; early stages; very beginning
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
shrewd; astute; cunning; alert
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
prize beyond one's reach; unattainable object; woman who is out of one's league; (lit.) flower on a high peak
New Year's Eve; end of the year
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine)
New Year's Eve; December 31
to get used to; to become accustomed to; to be at home (on the stage)
first shrine visit of New Year
shōchū; Japanese spirit distilled from sweet potatoes, rice, etc.
tolerable; passable; adequate; so-so
ramen restaurant; noodle restaurant
to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.); to be bright; to be clear-headed; to be alert; to look upbeat; to be perky; to master (a skill)
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
duty; sense of duty; honor; in-law; relation by marriage
one's relationships; people one knows; circle of friends