straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
if one is unlucky; if one is careless; if things don't go well
preconception; preconceived notion; prejudice
party in full swing; party at its peak
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
spinning rapidly; turning quickly; fast-forward (VCR, etc.); scanning
announcement; presentation; demonstration; displaying; showing; introducing
group engaged in some activity (players, companies, forces, etc.)
simple; artless; naive; unsophisticated
flat; level; calm; tranquil; relaxed (sitting posture); comfortable
legume (esp. edible legumes or their seeds, e.g. beans, peas, pulses); bean; soya bean (Glycine max); soybean; female genitalia (esp. the clitoris); kidney; small
high sensitivity; highly sensitive (e.g. film, radio receiver); high speed (film); discerning; discriminating; of refined tastes
to extol; to laud; to sing the praises of
modesty; humility; being humble
to take a step backward; to step back (i.e. to re-think something); to distance oneself (from); to behave humbly; to budge (a little); to make one concession
daikon (variety of large white Oriental radish, Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus); ham actor
great burdock (Arctium lappa); gobo
nimono; food cooked by boiling or stewing
stir-fry; fried food (cooked in wok, frying pan, etc.)
enlightening; deep; meaningful; profound; subtle; rich in nuance
kinpira gobō; braised burdock root; chopped burdock root (and sometimes carrot) cooked in sugar and soy sauce
down-train; train heading toward the ending point of its route; down-slope; downward going; downbound (esp. away from Tokyo); downstream
plump; fleshy; well-rounded; pleasant (fragrance); rich
the ancients; ancient people
ugly (of a person); plain; unattractive; (arch.) lacking ability; (arch.) incompetent
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while travelling; present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
to stick to; to cling to; to adhere to; to become intimate (of a man and woman); to get close; to get married