stationing in Japan

a female given name

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

waiting impatiently / time dragging on

pertussis; whooping cough

happy birthday

happy birthday

a national holiday in Japan on the birthday of the 今上天皇 (Kinjō Tennō, “present reigning emperor”), currently February 23

五日 (itsuka, go-nichi, “fifth (5th) day”) / 十日 (tōka, jū-nichi, “tenth (10th) day”) / 十五日 (jūgo-nichi, “fifteenth (15th) day”) / 二十日 (hatsuka, nijū-nichi, “twentieth (20th) day”)

fifty days / Short for 五十日の祝 (ika no iwai): a Heian-period celebration on the 50th day after a child's birth / Short for 五十日の餅 (ika no mochii): mochi fed to the child during ika no iwai