genuine; real; full-scale; full-blown; full-fledged; professional
big moment (e.g. performance, in the spotlight); gala occasion; (on the) world stage
news coverage; collecting data (e.g. for an article); covering (something for media); interview
beautiful; lovely; heartwarming; beautiful
believer; adherent; devotee; fanboy; fanatic; superfan
member of a (school) club who does not partake in the club's activities
raw; uncooked; natural; as it is; unprotected (sex); live (i.e. not recorded); inexperienced
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze; to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice); to extort
just a minute; small quantity
habit (often a bad habit, i.e. vice); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
ignition; lighting; firing; setting off
being quick-eared; having sharp ears; being first to know about something
photograph; photo; picture; moving picture; movie
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
traditional art; traditional performance art
entertainment; performance
among (other things); especially; particularly; inter alia; above all (else)
step; stair; grade; rank; counter for breaks in written language (or speech, etc.); dan
middle school (esp. the middle school section of a school that also encompasses other grades); junior high school
national convention; national competition; national athletic meet
individual; private person; personal; private
overall victory; championship
grudge; malice; intention; disposition; obstinacy; reason
Japan's best; number one in Japan
brilliant; glorious; glittering; bright; splendid (e.g. achievement, success); promising (e.g. future)
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
to leave (behind); to leave (undone); to not finish; to save; to set aside; to leave (to someone, esp. after one's death)
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
(stage) appearance; performance; participation (e.g. in a tournament)
sad; miserable; unhappy; sad; lamentable; deplorable
reason; cause; circumstances
solitude; loneliness; isolation
even; (if) only; just; besides; on top of that
ordinary person; member of the general public; non-celebrity
earth; ground; place; territory; bottom (of a package, book, etc.); earth (one of the five elements)
to crawl; to creep; to slither; to wriggle; to trail (of vines, flowers, etc.); to spread