skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis); oceanic bonito; victorfish
prawn; shrimp; lobster; crayfish
namasu; dish of raw fish and vegetables seasoned in vinegar
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
finely cut strips (of vegetables); shredded vegetables
to have a taste (of something); to sample; to try
red; crimson; red-containing colour (e.g. brown, pink, orange); Red (i.e. communist); red light (traffic); red ink (i.e. in finance or proof-reading); (in) the red
charm against evil spirits; talisman; amulet
to represent; to signify; to reveal; to show; to express; to make widely known
to begin; to set about; to start
buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
New Year's Eve; end of the year
calamity; disaster; accident
to cut apart (cloth, paper, etc.); to sever (ties); to break off (relationship); to cut off (enemy's retreat); to block (road, etc.)
explanation; interpretation
oh well, fine; fine, I guess; alright, I suppose; OK, then
indicates concession or compromise; indicates permission
to rise; to erect; to get up
string; cord; man who is financially dependent on a woman; gigolo; restrictions; conditions
to pin down; to hold down; to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand); to clutch (a body part in pain); to get a hold of; to obtain
to descend; to go down; to be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.); to pass (of time); to surrender; to capitulate; to be less than
to be vague; to speak ambiguously; to be evasive; to not commit oneself
visitor (to a shrine or temple)
to be in confusion or commotion; to be in a turmoil; to be crowded or jammed with people
patrolling; one's rounds; inspection tour; watchman; patrolman
congestion; crush; crowding; confusion; disorder
visiting a shrine on New Year's Eve and staying there until (or returning on) New Year's Day
to step over; to step across; to stride over; to stretch over; to span; to bridge
to lose sight of (one's companions); to stray from; to miss (one's chance to ...)
(not) merely; (not) simply
to begin to open; to come out; to smile broadly; to come apart at the seams (clothes)
generally; mainly; nearly all; almost all; gist; summary; staying within bounds
feeling chilly after taking a bath
to stir; to churn; to rummage around; to throw into confusion; to throw into chaos
that kind of; that way; that move; that trick; that game
suddenly; casually; accidentally; incidentally; unexpectedly; unintentionally
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye