first-rate; finest quality; the best
string instrument; stringed instrument
since one's birth; in one's whole life; all one's life
beginning of autumn; beginning of fall
strategic point; crucial time; watershed; crunch
October; tenth month of the lunar calendar
school festival; campus festival
refreshment booth; refreshment stand; snack bar
mock exam; practice exam; practice test
to have one's name entered (in a list)
(within) the (Tokyo) metropolitan area
Achilles tendon; calcaneal tendon; Achilles' heel; vulnerable point
carrying a person in one's arms; princess carry; bridal carry
to be in the news; to be talked about; to become a popular topic of conversation; to become the talk of the town; to become topical
friendly match (game); friendly
serving concurrently as; holding the additional post of
teacher; instructor; teaching staff; faculty member
to feel uncomfortable; to be offended; to have a bad time
short; shortstop; short (circuit); short hair; short selling
Parent-Teacher Association; PTA
frame; flame (abusive or threatening message)
lowering; sinking; depreciation; price fall; punch line (of a rakugo story); (arch.) sword strap
widow; divorced woman not remarried; unmarried woman
amount sold; sales; proceeds; takings; turnover
contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
spirit; drive; vigour; ambition; aspiration
soba stall with a stand-up counter only; standing soba noodle restaurant; stand-up soba noodle bar
each time; always; often; thank you for your continued patronage
handmade; homegrown; hand-crafted; homemade
hotcake; (American) pancake
chit; sales slip; voucher
nice; likeable; desirable
glass (drinking vessel); tumbler; cups (playing card suit)
personality; individuality; TV personality; celebrity
to talk on and on; to rattle on; to keep on talking (without pause)
having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored