Vocabulary

to receive; to get; to accept; to take; to buy

one-by-one; separately

one month

to get irritated; to get annoyed; to be on the edge; to fret; to lose patience

pilchard (esp. Japanese pilchard, Sardinops melanostictus); sardine

rainy season

reception (desk); information desk; receptionist; information clerk

(preparatory) meeting; briefing session; (making) advance arrangements

to knock together; to strike against each other; to clash

to give birth; to bear (child); to lay (eggs)

diviner; fortune teller; soothsayer

leap year

and so on; and so forth; et cetera; and such; and the like

picture postcard

to get; to earn; to acquire; to procure; to gain; to secure

closet (built into the wall, usu. with sliding doors); (built-in) wardrobe

to calm down; to compose oneself; to regain presence of mind; to relax

lost property; something dropped and left behind

mikoshi; portable Shinto shrine carried through the streets during festivals

to take down; to bring down; to lower (a hand, flag, shutter, etc.); to drop (an anchor, curtain, etc.); to let down (hair); to launch (a boat)

to replace; to convert; to change

acquaintance; friend; familiar face

in spite of; despite; although

to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to concern oneself (with); to take part (in); to interfere (in)

first calligraphy of the year

writing down from other written material; writing kanji text from hiragana

multiplication

to be far apart (from); to be a long way off (from); to be remote; to be distant

shade; shadow

basket (shopping, etc.); hamper; cage

lending; loaning

place; point; part; spot; area; passage

faint; dim; weak; slight; vague; indistinct

hypothesis; supposition; assumption; tentative theory

title (e.g. Doctor, Professor, Lord); job title; position (in a company); degree; status; rank

kana; Japanese syllabaries (i.e. hiragana and katakana)

karuta; traditional Japanese playing cards, esp. hyakunin isshu karuta or iroha karuta

dead leaf; dry leaves

poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful

alternately; by turns