application; subscription; entry (competition, raffle, etc.); enlistment
major company; big company; front castle gate; force attacking the front of a castle
publisher; publishing house; publishing company
final selection (e.g. of applicants); final screening; shortlisting
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
light music; popular music
rise; increase; upload; posting online; close-up; completion of filming; upswept hairstyle
video (esp. digital); video clip; animation; animated cartoon; in-betweens (animation)
elegance; dandyism; sophistication; affectation; showing off; putting on an air
dry; dry (tone, humour, etc.); unemotional; dry (of alcohol)
point of a spear; spearhead; focus (of one's attack, criticism, etc.); aim; force (of an argument); edge
lacking skill; uninspiring; unexciting; dull; unrefined; boring (from being too plain)
maid cafe; cafe with waitresses dressed in cute maid costumes
tea drinking; teahouse; tearoom; coffee lounge
preface; introduction; lead in (to a joke, question, etc.); lead up; payment in advance (by bank transfer); swinging (one's body) forward
to cringe with fear; to cower with fright; to be terribly afraid
base (of a plant, tree, pillar, etc.); (part near the) root; roots (of one's hair); root (e.g. of a problem); source
common; ordinary; conventional; customary
miko; shrine maiden; young girl or woman (trad. an unmarried virgin) who assists priests at shrines; medium; sorceress; shamaness
costume; fancy dress; masquerade; converted (cruiser)
(not) very; (not) so; (not) very much; (not) particularly; (not) especially
(very) unusual; unconventional; eccentric; novel; original; striking
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; this way and that
concept; general idea; notion; intention; aim; design
since one was born; in one's (entire) life; in all one's life
to this extent; to this degree; this much
food and drink; eating and drinking
sentry box; guardhouse; guard lodge; (Edo period) police box
defense; defence; guard; policing; security
in so doing; when you do so; in this regard; on this occasion; some time during that period
wearing a sword; being armed with a sword; sword
Bakumatsu period; closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate; end of the Edo period
imperial loyalist samurai of the Bakumatsu-era; patriots; idealists willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the nation
paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)
root; source; origin; foundation; basis; essence
program (e.g. theatre, theater); programme; (theatrical) piece; number; performance
to get out of bed; to show a leg
preparing (food) in advance; making in advance; pre-made; prepared in advance
attentively; with great attention to detail (e.g. when teaching); patiently
relying completely on others; being totally dependent on others
distinction; difference (between two things); sense of propriety; proper conduct (according to social or moral norms); accountability; taking clear responsibility (for a fault or failing)