bamboo steamer; steaming basket; wooden frame holder with reed base used to steam food over a pot; soba served on a small wickerwork tray; wickerwork tray (for serving soba)
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
formal; stiff; strict; ceremonious
to bear; to stand; to support; to withstand; to be fit for; to be equal to
to take (something) along; to bring with one; to carry (something) away; to bear
bowl (wooden); counter for bowls of food or drink
to soak (in); to steep; to dip; to pickle; to preserve (in salt, vinegar, etc.)
to obey (an order, law, etc.); to abide by (a rule, custom, etc.); to follow (a person); to accompany; to go alongside (e.g. a river); to follow (e.g. a sign)
greeting the New Year (on New Year's Eve); welcoming the New Year
temple bell rung 108 times on New Year's Eve
(Shinto) shrines and (Buddhist) temples
Buddhist temple; religious building; church; cathedral
space; room; unused land; room (for reconsideration, doubt, etc.); leeway; margin
to flicker; to glimmer; to flit; to fall lightly (snow, rain)
the New Year begins; the New Year starts; to end (e.g. apprenticeship, service)
eating with one's fingers; snitching food; snatched food; embezzlement; misappropriation; flirting
flavor; flavour; charm; appeal; experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
ginger (Zingiber officinale)
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
large-hearted; generous; liberal; placid; composed; cool
from now on; after this; in the future; from here; from this point
concentration; diligence; asceticism; zeal in one's quest for enlightenment; adherence to a vegetarian diet
to prostrate oneself (before)
biological parent; real parent
lower back; waist; hips; body (of hair, noodles, paper, etc.); resilience; spring
congratulations!; well done!; best wishes!; all the best!
sleeve (esp. of a kimono); pocket of sleeve; vicinity (esp. of a bridge); approach; foot of a mountain; base of a mountain
three; three years of age
to set aside; to keep in reserve; to hold on to
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
to state; to express; to say; to tell; to mention
well; properly; best regards; please remember me; just like ...; as though one were ...
putting money aside; savings; deposit (e.g. in a bank); accumulated surplus of wins; wins in the bank
husband; master (of a house, shop, etc.)
twelve o'clock; noon; midnight
to empty; to remove; to move out; to clear out; to be away from (e.g. one's house); to leave (temporarily); to dawn
(matter) for congratulations; worthy of celebration; happy (occasion, ending, etc.); naive; too good-natured; gullible