Vocabulary

soft (esp. of softball, tennis, etc.)

difficult to understand; unintelligible; abstruse

fault; weakness; flaw; defect; drawback; disadvantage

three-legged race

dairy products

recapture; retaking; recovery; taking back

detective; investigator; sleuth

fresh water (i.e. not salt water)

pistol

frank; direct; plain; straightforward; point-blank; concise

mild winter; warm winter

to get to know each other; to make acquaintance

arbitration; intercession; mediation

condolence call; visiting a bereaved family to offer condolences

provocation; stirring up; arousal; excitement; stimulation

direct control; direct supervision

rare

attacking a fleeing enemy

severe; bitter; scathing

online shopping service (with delivery by mail); mail order; mail-order sales; shop-by-mail service

household head; master; host (e.g. of a tea gathering); innkeeper; owner (e.g. of a hotel)

low interest rate

made of iron

astronomy

astronomical observatory

raindrops; falling drop of water

contagious disease; communicable disease; transmissible disease; infectious disease; epidemic

fields (of rice and other crops)

paint; coating; varnish

abrupt; sudden

crown prince

inequality; unfairness

reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for

grant; allowance; endowment; bestowal; assignment; conferment

prefectures (of Japan, excl. Tokyo and Hokkaido)

support (e.g. of one's dependents); maintenance

ukiyo-e; ukiyoe; Edo-period woodblock print

to dance (orig. a whirling dance)

dance (esp. Western style); dancing

hamlet; subunit of village