to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
good humour (humor); good mood
triumphant; exultant; in high and proud spirits
large screen (TV, film, etc.)
arriving at the present; present-day; to arrive at the present day
short pause; short interval
an infinite variety of; multifarious; being extremely varied and wide-ranging
good outward appearance; looking nice; being attractive; making a fine show
taking no notice (of); thinking nothing of; disregarding; not aware of; completely ignoring; being out of consideration
playboy; libertine; (professional) gambler; person without a steady job; idler
outdoors; outside; open air; fields; outskirts; suburbs
extinction; extinguishment; disappearance; annihilation
script; libretto; scenario
to scribble (write quickly); to dash off
the rise of the curtain; opening (of play); beginning (e.g. of an era); opening (festival, event, etc.)
to get a (driver's) license
long-cherished ambition; satisfaction
heritage railway train (typically running on a scenic tramway previously used for logging or mining); sightseeing train
tatami room; dinner party in a tatami room with a geisha or maiko
trip by boat; sea trip; voyage; cruise
embarking (a ship); embarkation; boarding; ship (carrying someone)
on board a ship; aboard a ship
Emperor Seiwa; Seiwa Tenno (850-880 CE, reigning: 858-876 CE)
cormorant fishing; cormorant fisherman
good-quality; superior in quality
to sew; to stitch; to weave one's way (e.g. through a crowd)
deer (esp. the sika deer, Cervus nippon); cervid
Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica)
Kasuga Grand Shrine (in Nara)
branch shrine; corporate spin-off; split-off business
direct connection; direct link
to be treated to a meal; to be given a meal
peerless; matchless; unrivaled; unrivalled; unequaled; unequalled
dissatisfied-looking; looking discontented