kana orthography; syllabary spelling
distance between outstretched thumb and middle finger (approx. 18 cm)
patricians (ancient Roman nobility)
fierce (fight, competition, etc.); severe; hot; hard; bitter; keen
leaning out of a car or train window
grilled eggplant; fried eggplant
all one's life; throughout one's life; as long as one lives
ceremony honouring the spirits of ancestors (esp. the Bon festival)
collection of stories (esp. myths, legends, etc.)
ridgepole-raising; setting up of the framework of a house
portable shrine (carried in festivals); buttocks; lower back; waist
ice milk; ice cream-like product (category) containing at least 10% milk solids and at least 3% milk fat; iced milk
right of first night; jus primae noctis; droit du seigneur
half-awake voice; sleepy voice; voice of when one has just woken up
a sentence; one sentence; (short) piece of writing
man who doesn't adhere to traditional masculinity, esp. with women and careers; herbivore man
different form; different shape
desolate field; withered field
final month of pregnancy; month in which childbirth is due
ancient Shinto (as practiced prior to the introduction of Confucianism and Buddhism to Japan)
insect bite; bug bite; sting
zigzag-shaped paper streamer often used to adorn Shinto-related objects
jam-packed; packed; packed like sardines
to brandish; to flash; to display
shed; shelter; terminal (e.g. cargo, airport, etc.); temporary covering of a building being built
filling (meal); heavy; solid; substantial
one (written) character; (arch.) Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum)