special selection; special approval; special prize; highest honours
Star Festival (held in July or August); Tanabata; Festival of the Weaver
woman textile worker; Vega (star in the constellation Lyra); Alpha Lyrae
Altair (star in the constellation Aquila); Alpha Aquilae
Milky Way; luminous band corresponding to the plane of the galaxy
absolutely every little bit; everything from A to Z; systematically; thoroughly; one after another
blind spot (on the retina); blind spot; weak point; loophole
nori; laver; edible seaweed, usu. Porphyra yezoensis or P. tenera, usu. dried and pressed into sheets
April Fools' Day; April fool
guaranteed; certified; warranty included
let me humbly say; most humbly; with all due respect
shoulder massage (performed by tapotement); tap on the shoulder (request to resign)
rhyming game; play on words; pun
having said that; be that as it may
ikebana; Japanese art of flower arrangement
Japanese music (esp. traditional Japanese music)
sitting together in a circle; happy circle; harmony
older brother; elder brother
health preservation; recuperation; recreation
happi coat; happy coat; workman's livery coat; traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat
quality collar for an under kimono
June; sixth month of the lunar calendar
ninth day of the month; nine days
lower reaches (of a river); bottom; lower part; lower half (of the body, esp. the privates); feces (faeces); end