blind acceptance; blind belief; credulity
fiction; fabrication; concoction; fictitious; fictional; imaginary
otherwise; or else; if not
huge sum (esp. of money); enormous sum; massive amount
hardly any; almost nonexistent; very little
geothermal electric power generation
making practical; making useful; implementing
rate; ratio; comparatively; contrary to expectations
needle (compass, gauge, etc.); hand (clock); indicator; guiding principle; guideline; guide
not worth mentioning (with neg. verb); nothing special
day after day; day in and day out; every single day
routine work; everyday work
to stifle a smile, yawn, etc.; to bite to death
pathogenic bacteria; germ; pathogen
to cause a person trouble
to wait and see; to see how the land lies
wrong; not good; hopeless; past hope; must not do
to have an uneasy conscience
to get up (from sitting); to stand up; to (finally) start to do something; to get off one's backside; to take action
hurriedly; in a hurry; in haste; (arch.) sudden
to put in order; to arrange; to get ready; to prepare; to work out (e.g. business deal); to arrange (e.g. marriage)
rice cakes; pounded mochi rice
refined; admirable; superb
piling up high (food in a bowl); filling (a bowl); heaped bowl
manjū; steamed yeast bun with filling
offering (e.g. to the gods); votive offering
gal (unit of gravitational acceleration)
power; might; authority; spirits; vigor; vigour
mochi; (sticky) rice cake
supply; provision; raising; procurement
to rot; to go bad; to corrode; to weather; to become useless; to blunt; to become depraved
astonished beyond words; speechless out of shock
to feel like it; to get to think that way; to become so minded
current; urgent; to confront (an issue); to face (up to something); for the meantime; at present
(death from) starvation; starving to death
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
(unrefined) brown sugar; muscovado
adzuki bean (Vigna angularis)
freezing weather; agar-agar; vegetable gelatin
wagashi; traditional Japanese confectionery
to add (numbers); to add (something); to top up (with something); to take care of (e.g. one's business)
painful; bitter; tough; difficult; cruel; harsh