ryokan; traditional Japanese inn
refined; genteel; graceful; decent
sales clerk (in a merchant house, ranking between the head clerk and an apprentice); shopman; shop assistant
person who gets easily elated (when praised, etc.); person who readily chimes in with others; person who gets carried away easily
foursome; group of four people; Gang of Four (Maoist political faction)
one's family; family member
to dish up; to arrange (food) on a plate
individual plate; single individual's small dish on which food taken from shared serving dishes is placed
to complain; to lodge a complaint
unwillingly; reluctantly; grudgingly; shaking one's head in refusal (like a child)
light seasoning; mild flavour; bland taste
barking up the wrong tree; calling at the wrong house
with all due respect; I'm sorry, but ...; I'm afraid ...
request; invitation; privilege in criminal law given to nobles of the fifth rank or above (ritsuryō system)
unsatisfied; unsatisfactory; insufficient in some way; lacking something
strongish; somewhat strong
dress; outfit; getup; to dress oneself; to outfit oneself
subtleties; niceties; fine points; subtle; sensitive
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
ho-ho-ho (e.g. Santa Claus)
harbour; harbor; landing place; wharf; anchorage
ship; boat; tank; tub; counter for boat-shaped containers (e.g. of sashimi)
opposite bank; farther shore
notice or order handed down from above; announcement; notification; Edo-period proclamation issued by the shogunate (or a daimyo, etc.) to the concerned parties
interior; backwoods; hinterland; back regions
entrance door; front door; gateway (to a region, etc.)
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
to be lifted up (with a crane, ropes, etc.); to be raised; to be hoisted; to turn upward (esp. of eyes); to slant upward
-stopper (thing that halts or prevents something); -blocker; -preventer
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)
summer sky; summery weather; clear, blazing summer weather
halfway up (down) a mountain; mountainside
morning; forenoon; just before noon
to water (a plant, a flower etc.)
thread (on an Internet forum, mailing list, etc.); topic; conversation; post
to behave well; to mind one's manners
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; nuisance; bore; burden
care-taking; house-sitting; house-watching; caretaker; house-sitter
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
opportunity; chance; folding; fold; small food box (wooden or cardboard); folding in ... (two, three, etc.); counter for folded items