New Year's holiday; period encompassing the close of the old year and the start of the New Year
every year; yearly; annually
year-end party; "forget-the-year" party; bōnenkai
custom; practice; convention; precedent
three flat objects (sheets of paper, pieces of cloth, etc.); cutting a fish into two boneless fillets and a piece with the skeleton
to flicker; to glimmer; to flit; to fall lightly (snow, rain)
extravagant (spending); generous; luxurious; bubbly; bubblelike
sunken kotatsu; low table over a hole in the floor (may have a heat source underneath and a hanging quilt to retain warmth)
equation; formula; ceremony; style; (arch.) enforcement regulations (of the ritsuryo)
tatami room; tatami mat room; formal Japanese room; dinner party in a tatami room (esp. when a geisha or maiko attends)
all members; all hands; everyone; everybody; whole crew
to go out to meet; to receive; to welcome; to accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to call for; to summon
to join forces; to cooperate
this year; this fiscal year; this school year
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
carefree; comfortable; at ease; easygoing; happy-go-lucky
triumphant pose assumed by an athlete
postscript; post scriptum; PS; P.S.
war funds; war chest; funds (for activities); campaign funds
guidance; leadership; instruction; shido (disciplinary action for a minor infringement of the rules of judo)
encouragement; urging; spurring on
please; kindly; I beg of you; by all means; without fail
please remember me; please help me; please treat me well; please do; please take care of
to give a round of applause; to applaud
to tower; to rise; to soar
nonchalant; unconcerned; in a casual manner
change (personnel); transfer; reshuffle
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
now that; since; so long as; because
male-female relationships; relations between the sexes; sexual relations
pushing forward (undaunted, bravely); working vigorously towards an aim; struggling on; striving towards
creating a (usually favorable) environment
so-so; passable; now, now; my, my
to take measures (in face of events being anticipated); to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain; to clap one's hands together
to imitate; to follow; to emulate
cheers; bottoms-up; toast; drink (in celebration or in honor of something); drinking one's glass dry
(one's) quota; assignment
order; rank; position (e.g. in a race); precedence
stinging; smarting; on edge; nervous; ripping; peeling