mackerel (esp. the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus); server (in an online game)
black-market channels; illegal channels
craftsman; artisan; craft; craftsmanship; plot; scheme
proud; boastful; bragging; conceited
fast-talking; rapid talking
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
worthless; shit; disparaging; demeaning
adoration; admiration; devotion
something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
to collect the best; to put together the cream of the crop
to check; to stop; to keep back
challenging; defiant; provocative; aggressive
provocative; incendiary; inflammatory; suggestive; lascivious; risqué
to be irritated; to get annoyed; to lose one's patience
body guard; military escort
to flatter; to soft-soap; to sweet talk; to cajole; to instigate
to get conceited; to become vain; to get stuck up; to get a swollen head; (lit.) to become a tengu
mishmash; miscellany; medley; jumble; mixture; odds and ends
I; me; myself; (arch.) we; (arch.) us; (arch.) ourselves
intimidating enough to quieten a crying child
wooden doll; blockhead; good-for-nothing
cannot suppress one's anger; cannot stomach
thickheaded; obtuse; slow; sluggish; indulgent (esp. to the opposite sex); doting
dead tree; withered tree; leafless tree; bare tree
to scatter; to disseminate (e.g. a rumor); to spread (e.g. germs); to distribute widely (e.g. leaflets); to hand out freely; to spend recklessly
masterwork; masterpiece; crowning work; one's magnum opus; work of the highest quality
my husband; one's family; family member
medical prescription; medical practitioners' receipt for health insurance claim
minimum; lowest; minimal; least
decisive action; going through with; daring to do; carrying out
to run counter to; to go against; to disobey; to infringe
high and low; rise and fall
O-Bon; Obon; Bon Festival; tray
bowl (wooden); counter for bowls of food or drink
depending on the situation; should time and circumstances permit
being moved forcibly, e.g. being carted to a police station, transportation for forced labour, etc.