celebrity; famous person; public figure; big name
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
a diamond on a dunghill is still a diamond; quality is quality; an old eagle is better than a young crow; (lit.) even if it's rotten, it's still sea bream
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
living; lifestyle; living room
(Japanese-style) living room
yakisoba; fried noodles, usu. with vegetables and meat
seashore; beach; food wrapped in nori
kotatsu; table over an electric heater, with a hanging quilt to retain heat (orig. over a charcoal brazier in a floor well)
to become rounded; to roll into a ball
to be decided; to be settled; to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.)
to be delighted; to be glad; to congratulate; to welcome (a proposal, advice, etc.); to take kindly to; to do with pleasure
paradise; heaven; Kingdom of Heaven
good-for-nothing son; profligate son
pursuit of knowledge; studying; learning; training; completing a course
make; manufacture; -made; made of ...; made in ...
to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to patch (clothes); to mend; to add (e.g. charcoal to the fire); to replenish with
Meiji era (1868.9.8-1912.7.30)
nonchalant; unconcerned; in a casual manner
unwillingly; reluctantly; grudgingly; shaking one's head in refusal (like a child)
signboard; sign; draw; attraction; reputation (of a shop); name
to carry on one's back; to be burdened with; to take responsibility for; to have (something) in the background; to be in front (of something); to be conceited
these days; nowadays; today; at this time (of day); at this hour
bookstore; bookshop; publisher; main building
informal social gathering; convivial meeting; get-together
to be dispirited; to be dejected; to be disheartened; to lose heart
stacking flat and face up (magazines, books, etc.)
yawn; yawning; kanji "yawning" radical (radical 76)
sleeping late in the morning; sleeping in; lie-in; late riser; person who is bad at getting up in the morning
lateness; tardiness; arriving late
bread; (sweet) pastry; staff of life; one's bread
four corners; crossroads; intersecting street; street corner
newly appointed; inaugural
10,000; ten thousand; myriad; everything; all; (arch.) various
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...