start; beginning; build up; how well a pitcher pitches at the start of the game
body double; double; wire puller; person behind the scenes; shadow commander
lineage; stock; descent; strain; blood relationship
human; human-like; as a person
way of talking; speaking style
magnificent; grand; fair; square; grandly; boldly
first-class; first-rate; characteristic (of); peculiar (to); school (e.g. of flower arrangement); one flag
belief; faith; conviction
courage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
to prove successful; to take hold; to amount to something
distorted; crooked; oval; elliptical shape; round, wooden container for cooked rice; oval coin
brittle; fragile; weak; tender-hearted; sentimental; easily moved
master; expert; Meijin (professional title); Meijin (highest title for male players in competitive karuta)
elaborate; delicate; exquisite
imitation; counterfeit; fake; replica
peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic
expression; representation; description; representation (of a group)
criticism; commentary; review
to be to the point; to be pertinent
crowd of people; great number of people; in great numbers
to praise; to commend; to compliment; to speak well of; to speak highly of
average; medium; mid-grade (item); regular grade; same level as; equal to
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
to be fit (for a role); to be qualified (for); to be equal (to a task); to be able to fulfill one's duties (as)
genuine article; real thing; real deal
to behave; to conduct oneself; to act; to treat (someone) to (food or drink); to entertain (e.g. to lunch)
firm; unshakeable; resolute
(those) who are; (that) which is; in the capacity of
to use one's own judgement; to not be swayed by others; to have confidence in oneself
cause and effect; causality; karma; fate; unfortunate; unlucky
work; business; company; study
to cut off; to lop off; to prune
to become defiant; to fight back; to turn upon; to take the offensive
one's circumstances; environment; situation (in life)
life and death; life or death
recital; recitation; public reading
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
one night; one evening; all night; overnight
as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough; really; actually; ever
to compare; to make a comparison (between); to compete (on); to measure (one's strength, ability, etc. against another's)
right arm; right-hand man; right hand; right-handed pitcher