insisting (unreasonably); obstinate insistence
Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
quick to take a hint; very responsive; quick on the uptake
one's history as a performer
pesticide-free; non-chemical; organic
enka singer; singer of Japanese traditional ballads
teacher's cane; teacher's pointer
world-class; (of) high global reputation
San'etsu (the three former provinces of Echizen, Etchū and Echigo)
fashion sense; sense of fashion
chief executive officer; CEO
to talk; to chatter; to tell (e.g. secrets)
enka; traditional-style Japanese popular ballad
starting up (e.g. business, computer)
court lady; lady-in-waiting (Heian period); separate room in a palace (esp. for a lady) (Heian period); room for a very low class prostitute; very low class prostitute
all-Japan; all-Japan championships; (Japanese) national championships
(one's) wife; (someone's) wife; landlady
all over Japan; throughout Japan
musical composition; tune
one's junior; younger generation; next generation; moving backwards; backing up; reversing
interesting; fascinating; intriguing; amusing; funny; comical
to mount up; to pile up; to accumulate; to increase
meeting hall; assembly hall
a few minutes; for a few minutes; for a number of minutes; for a period of a few minutes; for several minutes
championship; title (of champion)
not bad; not half bad; pretty good
how; in what way; in what manner
whole year; entire year; n-th year anniversary
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up
severe; strict; tough; hard