fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine); omikuji
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust
skating (esp. ice); skate; skates
declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
(at) the beginning of the New Year; early in the New Year
bad luck; ill fortune; misfortune
one's romantic fate; one's luck in love
excellent luck (esp. in fortune-telling)
in perfect form; going swimmingly
fulfillment; fulfilment; realization; realisation; completion
acquaintance; making someone's acquaintance
being excluded; being ignored; being kept in the dark (about); being kept out of the loop; (lit.) outside the mosquito net
to keep (a person) waiting
miko; shrine maiden; young girl or woman (trad. an unmarried virgin) who assists priests at shrines; medium; sorceress; shamaness
pipe; tube; gun barrel; gun; cannon; well lining
moderately good luck (in fortune-telling)
good fortune (esp. omikuji fortune-telling result); good luck; auspiciousness; unspecified day of the month (used to obscure the date a letter, invitation, etc. was written)
target practice; marksmanship; target shooting (e.g. at a fair)
before one knows it; without realizing; unawares; unnoticed
goes without saying; needless to say; obvious
street stall; stand; booth
participation (in a tournament, match, race, etc.); entry; appearance (on the stage, television, etc.); exiting (a venue, train station, etc.); exit; being dispatched (of an ambulance, fire engine, etc.)
what is to be done?; what should (I) do?; what (am I) to do?
to draw close to; to edge up to; to snuggle up to; to nestle close to; to cuddle with; to draw closer to
to contract a disease; to get sick; to become ill
to hit a nerve; to go for the throat; to touch a sore spot
to meet; to encounter; to see; to have an accident; to have a bad experience
to feel uplifted; to be cheered up; to hearten; to be inspired; to be energized
cotton candy; fairy floss; candy floss
first three days of the New Year (January 1-3)
long-distance relay race; stagecoach; post horse
regular; ordinary (e.g. session of parliament); established usage; precedent; regular practice
bright white (esp. for snow and ice); brilliant white
(sense of) cleanliness; (sense of) freshness; clean impression
year by year; annually; every year; from year to year
these days; nowadays; recently; lately
prosperity; bustle; activity; crowd; turnout
link; linking; link; hyperlink; linking (of object files); linkage