rice cakes; pounded mochi rice
red bean paste; red bean jam; filling (e.g. of a manjū); stuffing; padding
feature; trait; characteristic; peculiarity; distinction
novel; original; new; innovative
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
to call out (to); to call; to summon (a doctor, etc.); to invite; to designate; to name; to garner (support, etc.)
to return; to come home; to leave; to get home; to get to home plate
unusual; rare; new; novel; fine (e.g. gift)
strongly hoping or requesting (of something that is difficult to be brought to fruition)
to part (usu. of people); to part from; to separate (of a couple); to break up; to lose (e.g. one's mother); to be bereaved
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
island; one's territory (e.g. of a sex worker, organized crime gang); one's turf
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
as soon as...; just after...; immediately after...; hurriedly; in haste; quickly
first shrine visit of New Year
to empty; to remove; to move out; to clear out; to be away from (e.g. one's house); to leave (temporarily); to dawn
road approaching a shrine
congestion; crush; crowding; confusion; disorder
driving on the left side of the road; driving on the left-hand side of the road; left-hand side driving
down-train; train heading toward the ending point of its route; down-slope; downward going; downbound (esp. away from Tokyo); downstream
to anyone; to everyone; by anyone; by everyone; in everyone; in anyone
to hold back others from achieving success; to stand in the way of; to sabotage
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
finding employment; getting a job
uneventfully; without incident; without a hitch; peacefully
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
nicely; properly; frequently; often; I'm glad that you ...; thank you for ...
disposal; throwing away; dealing with (a problem); measure; punishment; penalty
hostel; dormitory; (arch.) bureau (government department beneath a ministry under the ritsuryo system); (arch.) tea-ceremony room; (arch.) villa
luggage; baggage; burden; payload (of a packet, cell, etc.)
a lot; lots; enough; sufficient; enough; too many
nonexistent; not being (there); unowned; not had; unique; not; impossible
job hunting; job searching
this is not the time (for that); that's out of the question right now
seems; I think; I guess; don't you agree?; I thought you'd say that!
for a moment; for a minute; for a while; for some time; for the time being; for now