rise of the curtain; opening of a play; beginning (e.g. of an era); start; opening (of a tournament, festival, etc.)
head start; initiative; preemption
senior leadership; senior leader; upper echelon (of power); top-ranking officer
to follow; to come after; to come next (to); to rank next (to); to rank second (to)
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
possession; retention; maintenance; holding; keeping
military force; force of arms; strength of an army
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting); probe; probing move
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding (a runner) on base
throwing in; inserting; investment; commitment (of funds, personnel, etc.); launching (a product into the market); introduction
declaration of war; proclamation of war
to put an end (to); to bring to an end; to close the books (on); (lit.) to put a period (at the end of a sentence)
to branch; to fork; to separate; to split; to disperse; to scatter
each place; every place; various places; all parts (of the country, world, etc.)
to beat someone to the punch; to get the drop on (someone); to forestall
advantageous; favourable; better; profitable; lucrative; gainful
each (person); individually; one by one; one at a time; in turn
appropriate; suitable; fitting; apt; proper; right
to refuse; to reject; to repel; to repulse; to make (someone) leave; to send away
gift; boon; godsend; (good) result; fruit (e.g. of one's efforts)
command; order; dictation; nth year in the Reiwa era (May 1, 2019-)
excess; surplus; superabundance; overabundance
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
to live; to exist; to make a living; to subsist; to be in effect; to be in use
to be delirious with fever; to have a feverish dream; to be crazy about something
fierce battle; hard-fought battle; hot contest; severe fight
nerve; nerves; sensitivity
to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen
hegemony; leadership; initiative
without; unacceptable; not alright; (arch.) nonexistent; (arch.) not being (there)
superiority; superior power; predominance; preponderance
being evenly matched; being equal with; being on a par with; (arch.) eldest and second eldest brother; (arch.) older and younger brother
white heat; incandescence; (emitting) white light; becoming excited; getting heated (e.g. of a discussion); reaching a climax
nonaggressive defense (policy) (defence)
to endeavor (to do); to endeavour; to try hard; to work hard; to strive; to make an effort
to look back on (the past); to reflect on; to look behind (at); to turn round (and look); to consider; to concern oneself about
pardon; forgiveness; tolerance; leniency; mercy; going easy (on someone)