Vocabulary

female emperor (of Japan)

funeral service of a Japanese emperor

parhelion; sun dog; sundog

paraselene; moon dog; moondog (bright spot on either side of the Moon caused by refraction of moonlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere)

technical score (in figure skating, etc.)

fund-raising activities

the palace sanctuary, shrine of imperial ancestors and temple inside the Japanese imperial palace

Imperial New Year's Lectures (ceremony in which the emperor and members of the imperial family Their Majesties listen to expert lectures in the fields of human, social and natural sciences)

weaning ceremony

(Japanese) imperial succession

allowance allotted to the Imperial family

emotion; affect

Murakami Fund (Japanese investment fund)

entering a city

politician (or someone otherwise engaged in politics); statesman

question time (section of proceedings in parliament)

Order of the Chrysanthemum

corner; nook; recess

easy to deal with; tractable; manageable

division into groups; separation into classes (e.g. of schoolchildren according to ability)

to seem bitter (over); to appear vexed; to be resentful; to appear to regret

darkness; gloom

big and round (esp. of eyes); round and cute

black pepper (Piper nigrum)

black diamond

brown bread; rye bread

breaking ground; ground-breaking (ceremony)

simulated experience; simulation

the feeling between (new) lovers

Chakaman (brand-name of rechargeable lighter)

to be squashed by; to be pinned under

dogs and cats; pets

day on which the temperature rises above 35°C; extremely hot day

nap room (in an office, fire station, etc.)

debate between party leaders (in the Japanese Diet)

soba noodles in broth served continuously so that the customer never has an empty bowl

Peking duck

drug-sniffing dog

to lose one's way; to get lost

because; as; since; so; due to