staking out (in advance; e.g. a seat or a spot); saving a place; reserving a location
to like too much; to like to excess; to adore
advertiser; advertising sponsor
having gone too far to turn back
dishwasher; dishwashing machine
leaving (fleeing) the capital
state-supported provincial temple (Nara period)
falling asleep (in one's clothes); lying down to nap; crashing out
year-end party; "forget-the-year" party; bōnenkai
remote mountain; mountain recesses
to publish a book; to put out a book
self-interest; selfish desire
shielding; sheltering; screening; shading; masking
solo exhibition; one-man exhibition; one-woman exhibition
imperial palace; shrine; Grand Empress Dowager; Empress Dowager; woman of imperial lineage who has borne a child; elderly woman of imperial lineage
to be unable to do; to find something difficult to do
to accept (a thing) with thanks
(husband and wife) both working; dual income
every month; monthly; month by month
establishment; opening; setting up; inauguration
to level (earth); to cut through (a mountain); to split (the opposition); to break (strike)
to control; to command; to get the better of
to collect (e.g. one's thoughts); to get in order
no need to guess; certainly
patient; unhurried; leisurely
vacuum cleaner; vacuum; hoover
going around; orbiting; circling; circumference; girth; surroundings
food and drink; eating and drinking
nursery school; day nursery; preschool
blind spot (on the retina); blind spot; weak point; loophole
fried egg; sunny-side up fried egg
proceeding to the capital (Tokyo)
cherry blossom viewing; flower viewing
mouthful; morsel; gulp; sip; one word; in short
firmly; plentifully; with all one's might
drinking party; get-together
publisher; publishing house; publishing company
something like that; sort of like that; similar to that; in that vein
association; socializing; socialising; fellowship
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
circuitous; roundabout; indirect