shiba (Japanese breed of dog); shiba inu; brushwood dog
Moomin (troll characters in Tove Jansson's series of books)
monaural; monophonic; mono
skewered sweet rice cakes served with soy sauce and miso
middle-aged woman who looks very young for her age (as through "magic")
2008 financial crisis; global financial crisis; GFC
overseas assignment; overseas posting
world record; establishing a world record (in)
electrical machinery; appliances
baseball player; ballplayer
to go on the defensive; to play it safe
slight intoxication; being tipsy
child-rearing expenses; child-support payments (following divorce)
son (of others); boy; young master; green young man from a well-to-do family; young man innocent of the ways of the world
the same night; that night
tumor; tumour; swelling; boil; abscess
telepathy; tacit understanding; thought transference; non-verbal Zen Buddhist transmission to a disciple of the central tenets of Buddhism
young female rice planter; young girl
paper patch; paper backing; poster; sticker; label
ivy (esp. Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
pressure; clamping; tightening; fastening
Northern Europe; Nordic countries; Scandinavia
water caltrop; water chestnut; caltrop (weapon)
going straight to the point; cutting it short; as it turns out
heavy machinery; heavy equipment; heavy machine gun