tatami mat; Japanese straw floor coverings
mandarin (esp. the satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu)); mandarin orange; tangerine; citrus (Citrus spp.)
kitchen; financial situation
rice bowl; tea cup; teacup
earthenware; unglazed (bisque-fired) earthenware
to become experienced (after many years of practice)
simple; plain; modest; frugal; reserved
fusuma; Japanese sliding screen
tea; tea plant (Camellia sinensis); tea preparation; making tea; brown; (arch.) mockery
to sit cross-legged; to sit at ease
rice cracker; senbei; Japanese cracker; rice cookie; wafer
nori; laver; edible seaweed, usu. Porphyra yezoensis or P. tenera, usu. dried and pressed into sheets
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
fragment; broken piece; chip; ounce (of truth, conscience, etc.); trace; shred
astringency; tartness; austere elegance; elegant simplicity; subdued style
and; thereupon; because of that
life; existence; (one's) working life; career; life force; lifeblood
official name; formal name
government service; the bureaucracy
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
creative work (e.g. artistic, literary)
literature; books (reference); document
descendant; posterity; offspring
to search about for; to hunt around for; to look high and low for; to look everywhere for
suddenly; all of a sudden; abruptly
bookshelves; bookshelf; bookcase
to finish reading; to read through
counter for books; volume
female private parts; female genitals
bulky; massive; thick; heavy
in search of; in order to look for
separate room; another room; special room; (arch.) concubine (of a noble)