expression / noun:

• match made in heaven; perfect match; great coupling; sika deer and maple leaves (a common motif in poetry and classical Japanese painting) [literal]

noun:

• doing something for the first time (ever, in a season, etc.) - polite language ➜ 初【はつ】
• new item; first crop of the season

noun:

• game in which children use a piece of charcoal on a string to create and lift up snowballs - archaism

noun:

• egg boiled, peeled, and steeped in soy sauce marinade - Food term

noun:

• textbook approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; government-approved textbook

expression / adverb:

• in the end; at the end of the day

expression:

• (person) with a turned-up chin

expression / godan ~ぐ verb:

• to fill a hole with earth

noun:

• row of syllables on the Japanese syllabary table that ends with the vowel sound "e" - Linguistics term ➜ 五十音

noun / ~する noun:

• admission to the courtroom

noun:

• spiritual protection of the state - Buddhism term

noun:

• taking food with one's chopsticks upside down (a breach of etiquette)

noun:

• re-opening of offices in New Year (usu. Jan. 4) ➜ 御用納め

expression / godan ~す verb:

• to engage in a heated discussion

noun / ~の noun:

• tax withholding at the source

noun:

• root of the nose

expression / godan ~む verb:

• to count on someone as the only support

expression / godan ~つ verb:

• to clap one's hands in prayer

noun:

• autumn (fall) (September) tournament, held in Tokyo - Sumo term

noun:

• song sung by children during the New Year's bird-driving procession (later adopted by door-to-door musicians) ➜ 鳥追い【とりおい】・門付歌

noun:

• phalanx (phalange) of the hand
• phalanx (phalange) of the foot ➜ 趾骨

noun:

• government agencies concerned with ...

noun:

• one-fifth of the night (approx. 2 hours) ➜ 五更

~と adverb / adverb:

• with a click; with a snap - onomatopoeia

noun:

• ornamental clip (hair, obi, etc.) - abbreviation

noun:

• visit by the empress or the crown prince