first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
underwater; behind closed doors; behind the scenes; below the surface
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
everything; all; the whole; entirely; completely; wholly
to put in order; to arrange; to get ready; to prepare; to work out (e.g. business deal); to arrange (e.g. marriage)
right; correct; proper; righteous; just
way (of doing); manner; method; means
to trip (over); to stumble; to fail; to suffer a setback
door (esp. Japanese-style); shutter; window shutter; (arch.) entrance (to a home); (arch.) narrows
kaiseki; sophisticated traditional Japanese cuisine brought in courses; simple meal eaten before tea is served
hors d'oeuvre; appetizer; appetiser; starter
mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
Japanese mugwort (Artemisia princeps); mugwort (any plant of genus Artemisia); wormwood; sagebrush
tofu; bean curd; beancurd
garden; yard; courtyard; field (of action); area
sakura shrimp (Sergia lucens)
assimilation; absorption; adaptation; assimilation; anabolism; assimilation (phonology)
to get in; to go in; to come in; to flow into; to set; to set in
figure; form; appearance; dress; state; condition
unhappiness; misfortune; ill luck
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
to fall (of rain, snow, ash, etc.); to come down; to form (of frost); to beam down (of sunlight or moonlight); to pour in; to visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
elementary school student; primary school student; grade school student
junior high school student; middle school pupil
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
to be treated to a meal; to be given a meal
favourite dish (favorite); favourite food
flavor; flavour; charm; appeal; experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
discipline; training; teaching manners
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)
to say enough (as much as required); to say plenty; to say well; to say cleverly; to say often; to say frequently
painful; bitter; tough; difficult; cruel; harsh
long ago; already; a long time ago
at that time; at that moment; then; on that occasion
be supposed or expected to (do); be sure to (do); ought to (do)
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
to become independent; to leave one's hands; to leave one's possession
by the way; incidentally; sometimes; occasionally; precisely (at that time); exactly
contradiction; inconsistency
cheerfully; buoyantly; happily; in high spirits
to feel (as if); to have a feeling (that); to have a hunch (that); to feel like doing; to want to do
to cease; to stop; to be over