shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
role; assignment; position (of responsibility); post; part (in a play, film, etc.); role
activity (esp. energetic or successful); great efforts; active participation; walking about with great vigor
honour; honor; glory; privilege
curry and rice; rice and curry; curry rice
of course; certainly; naturally
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
sure; certain; reliable; trustworthy; If I'm not mistaken; If I remember correctly
kindness; favor; favour; goodwill; affection; liking (for someone)
to treat (a guest); to receive; to entertain; to be hospitable to; to make welcome
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
consideration; concern; attention; thoughtfulness; making arrangements; care
for; for the sake of; to one's advantage; because of; as a result of
calendar; calender (machine for flattening things)
May; fifth month of the lunar calendar
national holiday; public holiday
so much; so often; oh, yes!; that's it; that's right; quite
needless fear; groundless apprehension; unfounded worry
extended leave; long vacation
Golden Week; string of public holidays in late April-early May
Constitution Memorial Day (national holiday; May 3)
Greenery Day (national holiday; May 4)
Children's Day (national holiday; May 5)
weekend; Saturday and Sunday
to include (in a group or scope); to instruct; to make one understand; to include (a nuance); to put in (an implication); to put in (someone's) mouth
dizziness; giddiness; vertigo
whole year; all year round; always; all the time; during an era; second-year kindergarten student
with a friendly grin; smilingly
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
query; interrogation; enquiry; question; inquiry
with a (cry of) "ah!"; with a shout (of surprise, shock, etc.); in surprise; in astonishment
to raise one's voice; to shout; to yell; to speak up (e.g. in protest); to speak one's mind
great (quantity, amount, etc.); huge; enormous; serious
consequence; outcome; result; blame; fault
to overflow; to brim over; to flood
scenery; scene; landscape; scene (e.g. of a crime)
to long for; to yearn for; to hanker after; to be attracted by; to be drawn to; to aspire to