mochi; (sticky) rice cake
shabu-shabu; thinly sliced meat boiled quickly with vegetables, and dipped in sauce
tie up; bind; sum; total amount; judo choking (strangling) techniques; last meal eaten when going restaurant hopping; completion
ramen; Chinese-style noodles
to put on weight; to gain weight; to grow fat; to get stout
weight training; muscle training
washing one's hands; water (or basin, etc.) for washing one's hands; restroom; lavatory; hand-washing (laundry, etc.)
gargling; rinsing one's mouth
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
if that is the case; if it becomes so; when it becomes so
homecoming; returning home
father; dad; papa; pa; pop; daddy
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
inside story; the real story (behind something); story not generally known
oh well, fine; fine, I guess; alright, I suppose; OK, then
what is to be done?; what should (I) do?; what (am I) to do?
cavity; hollow; void; hollow (voice, smile, etc.); blank (eyes, look, etc.); vacant (expression, stare, etc.)
to leave (someone) alone; to leave to oneself; to leave (someone) be
spring break; spring vacation
soba noodles eaten at night on New Year's Eve
to stick; to paste; to stretch; to spread; to form (e.g. ice on a pond); to fill; to swell
even if; no matter (what); if; though; although; supposing
to boil (something in hot water); to treat with medicinal steam (a swelling, etc.)
important; momentous; essential; principal; major
somewhat; to some extent; to some degree; some; part; portion
next (e.g. "next April"); forthcoming; coming; to come; to arrive; to be due to
thirty-first day of the month; thirty-one days
New Year's Eve; December 31
conclusion; end; completion; summing up; supervision
major cleanup; spring cleaning
busy; hurried; confused; flurried
equipping; installing; fitting; mounting; putting on
osechi; food eaten during the New Year's Holidays
making; producing; appearance (attire, make-up, etc.); build; physique; sashimi
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
work; operation; manufacturing; fatigue duty
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
removing one's hat; admiring someone greatly; "taking off one's hat" to someone
to cut corners; to be shoddy