to raise one's hand; to surrender; to raise one's hand to someone (as a threat to strike); to become better (at something); to improve; to throw one's hat in the ring
August; eighth month of the lunar calendar
mobile home; camper-van; RV
traveling expenses; travelling expenses; carfare
hotel charge; lodging expense
counter for nights of a stay; overnight stay; lodging
incessant working; working non-stop
cannot avoid doing; cannot help but (do); is compelled to do; (feel) obliged to (do); has to do
to soak; to dip; to steep; to moisten; to wet
several years; a few years
Nagano prefecture (Chūbu area)
citizen; resident; person; user (of a website, esp. as a collective, e.g. Twittersphere)
not ... for nothing; not ... with nothing to show for it; worthwhile; no wonder ...
to rest; to suspend; to give relief
as if (something untrue were actually true); like hell (e.g. "like hell I will")
to be exhausted; to be worn out
even; even if; even though; because of; on the grounds that
cloth; bujian (spade-shaped bronze coin of ancient China)
ramune; type of lemon soda sold in a Codd-neck bottle; compressed tablet candy
chattering; chit-chat; (ladies) prattle
Honshū (largest of the four main islands of Japan); Honshu
to separate (by distance, time, etc.); to isolate; to interpose; to have between; to alienate; to estrange
mark; sign; symbol; emblem; badge; crest
Kyūshū (southernmost of the four main islands of Japan)
support; backing; aid; assistance
playing; play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect)
to stick; to paste; to stretch; to spread; to form (e.g. ice on a pond); to fill; to swell
home area; home town; local
stretch; tension; resilience; springiness; will-power; pluck
ryokan; traditional inn; Japanese-style lodging, usu. professionally-run
proprietress (of a traditional Japanese inn or restaurant); landlady; hostess; mistress
reservation; appointment; contract; subscription; programming (e.g. a device); setting (e.g. a timer)
virtually empty; quite empty; inadequately defended; defenseless; defenceless
overnight stay; stopover; inn; hotel; anchorage; night duty
disaster relief; monetary assistance to disaster victims