Vocabulary

decorative lights; illumination

pines with entwined branches

flying fish roe

greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili); purplish amberjack; greater yellowtail

mirugai clam (Tresus keenae, species of gaper clam)

northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis); sweet shrimp; northern pink prawn; red shrimp; Maine shrimp

northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis); sweet shrimp; northern pink prawn; red shrimp; Maine shrimp

Mactra chinensis (species of trough shell)

Japanese egg cockle (Fulvia mutica)

Japanese common squid; Pacific flying squid (Todarodes pacificus)

icefish (Salangidae spp., esp. the Japanese icefish, Salangichthys microdon); noodlefish; whitebait

kelp with herring roe (sushi type)

middle and high-school students

debut; first appearance; new release

ganguro; young girl who heavily tans her skin, bleaches her hair and wears heavy make-up

money politics; pork-barrel politics

capital injection

criticality accident (in the nuclear industry)

Java water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica); Japanese parsley

shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule); henbit

dish of vegetables, konnyaku, etc. simmered in soy sauce and water until the liquid is almost gone

dried young anchovies (or sardines)

small dried sardines or anchovies (gomame) cooked almost to dryness in soy sauce and sugar

simmered burdock root seasoned with sesame and vinegar

dried codfish soaked in water for few days, and cooked almost to dryness in soy sauce and water (Kyoto speciality)

white fish vinegared and rolled with kombu

warm spring weather; spring warmth

spring; the springtime

business machine(ry)

smoking seat (in a restaurant, train, etc.); smoking section

crew member

habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis); yellow-spotted pit viper

Japanese puppet theatre

chief of the general affairs department (bureau); chief of the executive section

paper folded and tucked inside the front of one's kimono (esp. for use at the tea ceremony)

lucid dream; dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming

bowlegs; bandy legs

melodic incoming call tones (esp. mobile telephones); ringtone; ring tone

gaining admission into a school in a school district other than one's own