Vocabulary

ceremony held to pray for good weather (during long periods of rain)

number of colors

you can't judge someone until you've spent time with them; you can't judge something until you've tried it; judge a man by living with him, and try a horse by riding him

lenient; gentle

relaxed

Tobin tax (on cross-border currency trading)

difficult character; complicated kanji

ancient clan

prom

drinking establishment; bar

emotional labour

steepness; steep place

unusual; different

introduced species (esp. invasive species as defined by law)

Invasive Alien Species Act

Invasive Alien Species Act

cold northerly winter wind from the Rokko Mountains

over-the-counter drug

over-the-counter drug

bulbil (esp. of a Japanese yam); propagule; brood bud

longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)

paper towel; kitchen paper; kitchen roll

the whole town

tartar; tartare

sexual culture; sexual mores

sexual culture; sexual mores

point of departure; initial point; starting point

temporary staff recruitment agency; employment agency

teratoma; teratocarcinoma; teratoid tumor

entrance door; front door

(husked grains of) rice

adjoining rooms

worthless thing; trivial thing

sacrificial pawn; sacrificed piece

counter for loads (that can be carried on one's shoulders)

Diplomorpha sikokiana (species of flowering plant)

torinoko paper; torinokogami; high-quality eggshell-colored Japanese paper made primarily of Diplomorpha sikokiana fibres

ground; land; earth; soil

soil (esp. reddish soil)

gurgling down; being sucked into; caving in suddenly