scissors; shears; clippers; hole punch
deep-frying; deep-fried food; abura-age; thin deep-fried slices of tofu
to steam (food, towel, etc.); to be hot and humid; to be sultry
surimi; minced fish (or meat) mashed into a paste
forming; shaping; fashioning; casting; molding; moulding
weird; strange; mysterious
hoop (of a barrel, bucket, etc.); discipline; solidarity
chopped burdock root (and sometimes carrot) cooked in sugar and soy sauce
gyoza; pot sticker; crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork and vegetables
just made; fresh (e.g. from the oven); newly built (e.g. house); brand-new
wheat gluten (usu. steamed or baked)
to taste and compare several dishes (or foods) of the same type
noted product; local specialty
to arouse someone's interest; to whet (appetite); to be appealing; to be intriguing; to be fascinating
fully prepared; all ready
spirit; sprite; energy; vigor (vigour); fine details; semen
Paratya compressa (species of freshwater shrimp)
three-lips (freshwater fish of the minnow family, Opsariichthys uncirostris)
grace; favor; favour; blessing; benefit
adjacency; contiguity; being adjoined
Utsunomiya (city in Tochigi)
example; illustration; precedent
to compete with; to vie for
potential; latent faculties; potential capacities
parking area; parking lot; rest stop; service area
drive-through; drive-thru
to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to dabble in; to know a little bit about; to learn a little of
irregular (schedule, service, etc.); indeterminate (length of time); staggered (payments)
stationing (e.g. of troops); garrison
police box; koban; alternation; alternating (current, stress, etc.)
sea cucumber (Holothuroidea spp.)
food culture; dietary culture; cuisine
to eat; to become eclipsed (of an astronomical object)
antipathy; reluctance; resistance
straw mat used as a bag for carrying earth