agrément; approval by a state of a diplomatic appointment from a foreign country
slaughter (of livestock for meat); butchery
typeface; style of handwriting; calligraphic style
Zuo zhuan (c. 4th century BC); The Zuo Tradition; The Commentary of Zuo
New Year's visit to a shrine or temple which lies in a favorable (favourable) or lucky direction
goddess of (lucky) directions
mountain of death; steep mountain which the dead must cross to reach the afterlife
presumptuous; arrogant; audacious; forward; insolent
Yoshida Kenkou (1283-1352) (author of the Tsurezuregusa)
foreword to a collection of poems; preface; explanatory notes; captions
first three days of the New Year (January 1-3)
divine pronouncement (esp. in Tenri and Ōmoto)
great compassion and mercy
mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris); goggle-eyed goby
departure (sailing) formalities
conscious neglect; willful negligence; wilful negligence
bring-your-own (e.g. food and drink); carry-on (e.g. luggage)
furigana; kana over or beside kanji to indicate pronunciation
hymns of praise in Japanese
yeast mash; yeast starter
Izumi Shikibu (Poet of the Heian period, included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu)
the Six Ksitigarbhas (one for each of the six realms)
visit to a hospital, temple, school, etc.
picking through garbage; dumpster diving; scavenging rubbish
money talks; money is the key that opens all doors; money is the best lawyer in hell; (lit.) even the verdict of hell is determined by money
holiday traffic congestion caused by people travelling to their hometowns en masse
sravaka (disciple of Buddha); adherent of Hinayana Buddhism
changing the subject; on a different note; by the way