earthenware; pottery; yakimono; flame-broiled food (esp. fish); tempered blade
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
military force; force of arms; strength of an army
reading too much into (what ... says)
to strain; to stretch; to string up; to cover over (e.g. with tiles, ice, etc.)
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
last moment; eleventh hour; platform made of dirt used to perform executions (decapitations) in the Edo period
island group; archipelago
to have; to possess; to own; to be endowed with
after having come this far; now that we've come this far
rubbing the wrong way (e.g. a cat); irritating
right of succession; right to the throne
the treasure that is children; child
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
pine tree (Pinus spp.); highest (of a three-tier ranking system)
as good as dead; might as well be dead; more dead than alive
to go ahead; to proceed; to carry on
to cause trouble; to cause a disturbance
programme; program; plans; arrangements
seal of blood; sealing with one's blood
doing as one is told; yes-man
change; alteration; substitute; rate of exchange
temporary; provisional; interim; special; extraordinary; extra
to incorporate; to work into; to insert
lower grade; low class; junior (officer)
demotion; relegation; downgrading
first day returning to work after the New Years holiday; first task at a new job; newcomer's first job
adoration; admiration; devotion
all present; all concerned; all of us
wife; your wife; his wife; married lady; madam
appetizer or snack served with drinks; accompaniment to an (alcoholic) drink
to offer; to propose; to suggest; to put forward; to request; to ask (for)
to break off with (e.g. one's lover); to be sharp enough to cut one's skin (of a new banknote, etc.)
blockhead; dunce; dimwit; dolt; slowcoach; slowpoke
lint (as in a clothes dryer or a pocket); waste thread; fibers, such as might wrap around the gears in small mechanisms and cause them to jam; fluff
kitchen knife; carving knife; (arch.) cooking; (arch.) food
the last moment; the very end
just made; fresh (from the oven); newly-built (house)
hug; carrying in one's arms (a baby, pet, doll, etc.)
flower basket; flower basket (or plate) used for flower-scattering rituals