noun / ~の noun:

• this world; the present life (in contrast to the land of the dead)

expression / noun:

• lost decade; decade of economic stagnation
• decade in Japan from 1992 to 2002

ichidan verb / transitive:

• to bring near; to bring close; to let go near
• to associate with; to bring (people) together; to let come near (of a person)

noun / ~する noun:

• notification; official notice; directive (e.g. from higher to lower levels of the administration)
• being well versed (in something) ➜ 精通

noun:

• one's course of action; deciding what to do with oneself, whether staying in the present position or leaving it - four character idiom

noun:

• fiery chariot - Buddhism term
• kasha (mythical beast said to devour dead bodies)
• (in China) train (i.e. steam locomotive)
• vile old hag - abbreviation - archaism ➜ 火車婆

noun:

• word to soften awkward topics (esp. refusal in business conversation, e.g. "I am afraid that ...") - e.g. 申し訳ありませんが、あいにく - obscure term - From English "cushion word"

noun:

• long interlude (in folk songs or koto music)
• wiles (e.g. used by a prostitute to lure customers); finesse; trick

noun:

• temporary manifestation by a buddha (in order to save people); manifested form (often a Shinto deity) - Buddhism term ➜ 本地

noun:

• Coming of Age Day (second Monday in January. Prior to 2000 was Jan 15); Adult's Day

noun / ~する noun:

• locking sword to sword (in a duel) and pushing

noun / ~する noun / ~の noun:

• fierce, close-fought competition

adverb:

• even at the best of times; already; (even) under normal circumstances; in addition to; as it is

noun:

• apprenticeship in the running of a household; prospective bride who undertakes an apprenticeship to learn housekeeping - four character idiom

noun:

• center for collecting charitable contributions (money, goods, and-or services) and distributing them to people in need - four character idiom

noun:

• flower-patterned material used to bind the ends of the spine in books - From English "head band" ➜ 花布

noun:

• pushing back one's opponent while locked in close quarters - Sumo term

suffix:

• having a tendency towards; being close to

expression:

• even the hardest of hearts can be moved to tears; a tear in the ogre's eye [literal] - proverb

noun:

• skewering one's food with a chopstick in order to pick it up (a breach of etiquette)

noun:

• ringing one's chopsticks against a dish (in order to request seconds, etc.) (a breach of etiquette)

noun:

• ornamental weights used to keep curtains and the like from blowing around in the wind

godan ~く verb:

• to have a facial tattoo (esp. one around the eye, one form of punishment in ancient Japan) - was v4k - archaism - obscure term

noun:

• hand; arm - polite language ➜ 手
• handwriting; penmanship - honorific language

interjection:

• 'shake' (command to have a dog place its paw in your hand) ➜ お代わり

expression:

• when kids get in a fight, their parents come to their aid; yelping curs will raise mastiffs - proverb

noun:

• wooden ladle or rod used to stir the rice porridge used in a kayaura divination ➜ 粥占

noun:

• second blooming (in a season); reflowering; reflorescence ➜ 返り咲き【かえりざき】
• return to working by a prostitute, kabuki actor, etc. - archaism