Vocabulary

complete set (of volumes); every volume

elementary; primary

library; book storage; stack room

epic (poem); epic poetry

commercial company

promotion; advancement

yakisoba; fried noodles, usu. with vegetables and meat

to shine on; to illuminate

to shine

funny story; funny anecdote

shock wave

improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress

exterior; surface; outside

getting on and off (a vehicle); boarding and alighting

normal course (of action); proper course; regular way

to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem

Go board

to cross; to intersect; to join; to meet

crossing; intersection

friendship; companionship; fraternity; comradeship

court noble; nobility; kuge

to spread; to propagate; to popularize; to disseminate

protest; refutation; pleading

revision; proofreading

to strangle; to constrict

strangling (to death); strangulation

ascetic; pilgrim; devotee

flavoring; flavouring; spices

black ships; Western ships that came to Japan between the 16th and 19th centuries, esp. those of the Perry Expedition in 1853

blackened; black-painted; black-lacquered; blacked out

quadrilateral; square

the (four) limbs; arms and legs

parenthood; parent or someone with children on the way (esp. an expecting mother)

municipal organization; municipal organisation; municipality

normal school (Japan; 1872-1947); teachers' training college

careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering

blind spot (e.g. of a driver)

shrine parishioner

fatty acid

everywhere; all over; throughout