matter of hit-and-miss; mix of success and failure; variation (in quality, returns, etc.)
osteotomy; finely cutting a fish to cut up its small bones
light (color, colour, taste); simple; plain; frank; candid; ingenuous
coilgun (gun in which a magnetic projectile is propelled using electromagnetic coils)
radiant smile; contented smile; look of complete satisfaction
to boil down sake, mirin, etc. to reduce the alcohol content
short joke; quick one-liner
most (numerous); largest (number of)
on countless occasions; many a time
Urtica thunbergiana (species of stinging nettle)
ultralight; ultralightweight
excellent performance; fine play
to fall flat; to collapse in a heap
obstinate; stubborn; obstinate person; stubborn person
to boast; to brag; to exaggerate
(staring) piercingly; (looking) hard
focusing on only the good points or strong points; incorporating the benefits (while ignoring the drawbacks); picking the best of both (everything); cherry-picking (e.g. information)
lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus); lemon grass
seasonal goods; seasonal items; item of short-lived interest; faddish product; ephemeral work
with an interesting history (story); with a shady history; with circumstances that are difficult to explain
substantiality (of a meal); fillingness; solidity
reversal; return; return gift; return favour (favor); barb (on a fishing hook); mixture of soy sauce, sugar and mirin
sukiyaki; thin slices of beef, cooked with various vegetables in a table-top cast-iron pan
not eating enough; unsatisfied; dissatisfied with; leaving something to be desired
(rock) crystal; high purity quartz
posting (e.g. a notice); displaying; putting up
snowballing (phenomenon, effect)
beautiful woman with cold, standoffish air
to side with (someone); to support (someone)