whole year; entire year; n-th year anniversary
red rice (beans and mochi) for auspicious occasions
dried squid; dried cuttlefish; Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus); (thing that) grows on one over time
roasting; grilling; tempering (in metallurgy); -ware; porcelain
servile; subservient; obsequious; slavish; self-abasing; grovelling
oldest member of a group; longest-serving member
Echigo (former province located in present-day Niigata Prefecture)
person from the same province, town, village, etc.
a few years ago; some years back
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
to start working; to take action
to be talked about; to get a name for oneself; to get publicity
meritorious deed; services
large amount of money; great cost
to earn (income); to make (money); to score (points, victory); to gain (time); to work hard (at one's job); to labor
to amass; to accumulate; to store; to leave unpaid
putting money aside; savings; deposit (e.g. in a bank); accumulated surplus of wins; wins in the bank
to wager; to bet; to risk; to stake; to gamble
idiot; moron; stupid; foolish; trivial; insignificant; malfunctioning
another time; again; over again; formally; especially; intentionally
to look at again; to re-examine (policy, estimate, plan, etc.); to review; to get a better opinion of; to see in a more positive light; to improve
fine wrinkles; crow's feet
until now; still; yet; (not) yet; since
I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable; I feel regretful; thank you very much (for help, etc.)
warm; mild; (pleasantly) hot; considerate; kind; genial
payment date; date of payment
14th day of the month; 14 days
working overtime; detention; being kept in (e.g. after school)
fee; charge; rate; material
extremely; greatly; truly; really; (not) that much; (not) really
what kind of thing; anything (else); nothing (but)
pleasant; agreeable; comfortable; refreshing
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
rustic; unsophisticated; provincial; hick; uncool; unstylish
promise; agreement; appointment; engagement; convention; rule
fruit store; fruit dealer; fruit seller; fruiterer; greengrocer
confectionery shop; candy store; sweet shop
cart (esp. a food cart); stall; festival float; portable shrine dedicated to a god and shaped like a house; stage prop fashioned after a large building; framework (of a building)
great fortune; good luck; rice cake stuffed with bean jam
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye