preparation; arrangements
mashed sweet potatoes with sweetened chestnuts
shell (of crab, tortoise, etc.); carapace; person's back; years of experience
sharing with others what has been given to you; sharing a portion of the profit with others
soba noodles eaten at night on New Year's Eve
New Year's holiday; period encompassing the close of the old year and the start of the New Year
to smell sweet; to be fragrant
characteristic (of); peculiar (to)
seiza; kneeling with the tops of the feet flat on the floor, and sitting on the soles
to shuffle one's feet; to trample underfoot
very; much; greatly; a lot of
ranking; toplist (e.g. of WWW sites)
bang on the money; spot on; right answer
placing in a list (top ten, popularity, sales, etc.)
to become misty; to become hazy; to get blurry; to grow dim; to be overshadowed; to be upstaged
marked; pronounced; showing a strong tendency (towards)
value; worth; virtue; blessing
from beginning to end; from start to finish; from first to last; end-to-end; all the way through
any and every thing; altogether; lock, stock, and barrel; the whole shooting match; the whole kit and caboodle; without reserve
pardon; forgiveness; exemption; permission
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
first three days of the New Year (January 1-3)
business; trade; operations; sales
first shrine visit of New Year
to look at again; to re-examine (policy, estimate, plan, etc.); to review; to get a better opinion of; to see in a more positive light; to improve
trot; half run; jog; girl in charge of menial tasks in a samurai family
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
visit (to a shrine, grave, etc.); worship
torii; Shinto shrine archway
to go under; to pass under; to dive (into or under the water); to evade; to get around; to survive
grounds (esp. of shrines and temples); compound; churchyard; precincts
garden lantern; hanging lantern
gorgeous; gaudy; dazzling; gay; resplendent
to manufacture; to produce; to raise (crops); to invent; to dream up; to create
brightness of snow; reflected light of snow; (by) snow light
gear; cogwheel; cog (in an organization, company, etc.); cog in the machine
setting up a stall or booth (bazaar, festival); opening a branch office; opening a store
front shrine; hall of worship
monetary offering; offertory