New Year's Eve; December 31
the New Year begins; the New Year starts
New Year's holiday; period encompassing the close of the old year and the start of the New Year
hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds
promotion (school, military, etc.)
looking depressed; long face
to accomplish something; to leave a mark; to make an impression; to build a track record
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
doctor's degree; doctorate; PhD
appointment; nomination; ordination; commission; designation
awarding; conferment; granting; presentation
honorable certificate; honourable certificate
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
January; (lit.) 13th month
wild uproar; pandemonium; clamor of voices; noisy; uproarious; clamorous
tatami mat (esp. as a measure of room size, either 1.82 sqm or 1.54 sqm)
kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat
mandarin (esp. the satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)); mandarin orange; tangerine; citrus (Citrus spp.)
being dotted with; being scattered
to unfold; to unroll; to open
to be dyed; to be tainted; to be infected; to be stained
strategic arrangement of go stones; opening moves; preparation; preparatory steps; groundwork
low-ranking soldier; graduation; moving on (from); outgrowing (something); low-ranking samurai (1870-1872); death (of a noble, etc.)
personal history; curriculum vitae; resume
to make matters worse; besides; what's more; in addition; on top of that
grace; favor; favour; blessing; benefit
the ancients; ancient people
ancient civilization; ancient civilisation
tradition; legend; folklore
Middle Ages (in Japan esp. the Kamakura and Muromachi periods); medieval times; mediaeval times
unclear; obscure; unknown; unidentified; ignorance; lack of wisdom
one by one; one each; one at a time
indicate reason; infers some protest
subjectivity; subject (philosophical); ego; one's personal opinion; one's own idea
outrageous; monstrous; appalling; inordinate; overambitious
to have an idea; to have a clue
absence; being away from home; house-sitting; house-sitter; being left unattended to (of one's studies, etc.); neglecting
video telephone; video call; video chat; skyping
inscrutable; incomprehensible
dear me; I mean; or rather
inner-city area; city center