Vocabulary

chance; opportunity

independent administrative institution; independent administrative agency

all-star game

self-willed; (doing or saying things) to suit one's own convenience; oblivious to the convenience of others

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; MHLW

implant (esp. dental)

snowboard; snowboarding

interval; period of time

hereabouts; around there; that area

shape

portrait

popcorn

graduate student; postgraduate student

World Heritage (site)

Osaka (city, prefecture)

cheese cake

scissors (in rock-paper-scissors)

history

Sunday

United Kingdom; Britain

smallness; small item

dementia

file extension

Bufferin (brand of buffered aspirin)

year

mid-January festival in northern Japan, with snow huts in which children play house

apology

in perfect form; going swimmingly

first (of its kind) in Japan

popular line (of products); best-selling line; hot sellers

minced meat or fish that is seasoned and fried (usu. served on top of rice)

Yasukuni Shrine

hundred-yen store; dollar store

this weekend

telecommunications

blowing one's top; losing it; flipping out

fan site (website run by fans of a celebrity, TV show, etc.); fansite

erogenous zone

one person; one customer

bookmark (in a browser)