throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
Kinki (region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara)
region south of Tokyo on Pacific Ocean side of Japan; eastern sea; East Sea (Korean name for Sea of Japan)
Aomori (city, prefecture)
Yamagata (city, prefecture); mountain shape; chevron; cone
Niigata (city, prefecture)
Fukushima (city, prefecture)
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
Imperial Palace (of Japan); imperial residence
to collect; to put (it all) together; to summarize; to aggregate; to bring to a conclusion; to finalize
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
field; sports stadium; arena
whole; all; general; gross; entire; overall
100,000; hundred thousand
all over Japan; throughout Japan
very messy; (stuff) all over the place; (lit.) no space even for one's feet
the more ... the more ...; as; (arch.) while; (arch.) during; (arch.) because; (arch.) since
running; gliding; first (harvest) of the season; beginning; start; kitchen sink
as (for); for; in the capacity of
good performance; good work; great success
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
suggestion; proposition; proposal; submission (of a bill); motion; proposal
to refer to; to use as reference
sure; certain; reliable; trustworthy; If I'm not mistaken; If I remember correctly
Hakone ekiden; Hakone long-distance relay race
to start; to begin; to start up (a business, society, etc.); to open (e.g. a store); to start ...; to begin to ...
that is so; that is right; it looks to me; people say that; it is said that; I hear that
national polity; National Athletic Meet
torchbearer (esp. Olympic); flame-bearer
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
I see; that's right; indeed
participation; joining; entry; adherence
once; before; formerly; never yet; never before; first time
great player; star player
young man; young woman; young people; youth; youngsters
to connect; to link together; to tie; to fasten; to maintain; to preserve
the other day; lately; recently; meanwhile; in the meantime