divorce of a couple who have been married for a long time (often brought on by retirement of the husband)
maternity leave; paternity leave
sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)
currently popular; in fashion; trendy
to be perturbed; to be agitated
adversity strengthens the foundations; after a storm comes a calm; what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
various foods cooked together; hodgepodge; hotchpotch; mulligan stew
to start working; to take action
to show one's age (e.g. to start creaking at the joints); to wear out (e.g. machinery)
host club; club that provides male company for female customers
to jaunt around; to play around; to visit one place after another without effect
old friend; familiar face
yōkan; jellied dessert made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar
to be disgusted with; to be fed up with; to run out of patience with
to do wholeheartedly; to put one's heart into something
to buy a replacement; to replace by buying something new
come on; hurry up; chop chop; yeah; that's right; exactly
perfect; complete; flawless
knight on a white horse; Prince Charming
to throw out; to fire; to expel; to give up; to abandon; to neglect
salaried; with pay; vacation; (paid) holiday
the way one drinks; one's manner of drinking
new employee; freshman employee; new hire
you're lying; yeah, right; liar; fibber
to be profitable; to yield a profit
mountain recess; deep in the mountains
to be powered on; to be turned on
iron (for pressing clothes); hair iron; hair tong; curling tong
malicious; deliberately mean
pressing; stamping; press (machine); the press; news media; military press (weight lifting)
lack of filial piety; disobedience to one's parents
answering machine; answer phone
welfare; well-being; social welfare; social security; social service
great success; roaring business; busy; packed-out
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
strange; weird; wonder; mystery; cleverness; adroitness
back off!; leave me alone!
matter for great congratulation
established fact; fait accompli