superintendent; director; curator; chief librarian
audience (with a person of high standing); eye-level
to have tears in one's eyes; to be moved to tears
surely (not); certainly (not)
women's bridal robe with trailing skirts worn over a kimono
to wear; to be dressed in; to be adorned in; to clad oneself with
solemn (ceremony, atmosphere, etc.); austere; grave; majestic; dignified; stately
pompadour-like hair style, popular for unmarried women in the Edo period; shimada coiffure
as before; as ever; as it was originally
to branch; to fork; to separate; to split; to disperse; to scatter
celebratory drink; celebratory spirits; holiday cheer
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
thought; imagination; mind; desire; wish; love
for the present; for the time being; for a while (from now); for some time (to come)
each (person); individually; one by one; one at a time; in turn
to be soaked in; to be flooded; to be submerged; to be immersed in (joy, memories, alcohol, etc.); to give oneself over to; to bask in
mental preparedness; being braced for; being steeled for
to put oneself on guard; to stand ready; to square off
long-awaited; long-waited-for; someone who has waited a long time; something that one has waited impatiently for
kitchen maid; kitchen duties; cooking
to celebrate; to congratulate; to present (a gift) in celebration; to drink in celebration; to wish for (a happy future, good fortune, etc.); to pray for
to think, feel, consider, know, etc.
quantity; amount; volume; number; amount of money
ship; boat; tank; tub; counter for boat-shaped containers (e.g. of sashimi)
apiece; each; at a time; piecemeal
to pull apart; to separate; to have a lead over; to pull ahead of; to outdistance
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
Saitama (city, prefecture)
prefectural; managed by a prefectural government
senior high school; high school
graduation; completion (of a course); moving on (from); outgrowing (something); leaving (a group, company, etc.)
light and easy; lambent; clever; witty; smart
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
stroke of the brush; touch; literary style
valuation; appraisal; evaluation; appreciation; recognition; acknowledgement
young and energetic; up-and-coming
period; epoch; the times; those days; oldness; ancientness