to use one's influence; to pull strings; to take measures; to make the necessary preparations
to catch; to capture; to grab; to clutch; to catch hold of (someone); to stop (e.g. a stranger in the street)
in the same way as; just like
to pick a fight; to pick a quarrel
intently; single-mindedly; devotedly; solely; earnestly; with all one's heart
arbitration; intercession; mediation
to lie down; to throw oneself down
to abandon; to throw away; to discard; to forsake
down to earth; reasonable; able to deal with
littering; (carelessly) tossing away
one's father; one's old man; middle-aged (or older) man; old man; one's boss; proprietor (of a restaurant, store, etc.)
one-sided; unilateral; arbitrary
speciality; specialty; special subject of study; sole interest; single focus; concentrating exclusively on
cooking; food preparation
equipment; facilities; installation; accommodations; conveniences; arrangements
minimum; at the very least
to spread out (e.g. a futon); to lay out; to lay down (e.g. a cushion); to impose widely (e.g. martial law); to promulgate; to pin down; to hold down
to lend; to loan; to rent out; to hire out; to hand (over); to give
bang; bam; noontime signal gun (carried out early Meiji to Taishō); noon gun; last round in a game of 12 rounds; precisely
market price; speculation (e.g. on stocks); reputation (according to conventional wisdom); estimation
merchant; trader; expert (in a trade or profession); professional; woman working in the nightlife business (bar or nightclub hostess, geisha, etc.); demimondaine
to carry on one's back; to bear; to take (responsibility); to assume; to suffer (an injury); to sustain (a wound)
offer; tender; providing; sponsoring (a TV program)
to act as a go-between (for); to mediate; to arrange; to entertain (guests); to treat; to receive
occupation; calling; livelihood
chain store; retail chain; restaurant chain
publication (of a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); issue; issue (of banknotes, bonds, passport, etc.); raising (an event)
personal (employee); employed; retained
in a sense; in some way; to an extent
convenient; useful; finding useful; coming in handy; (priceless) treasure
substitute; replacement; stand-in; proxy; compensation; exchange
uninterested (in); having no interest (in)
to persuade; to urge; to coax; to make advances (to); to seduce; to court
to be within one's capabilities; to be easy to chew
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
silver hair; gray hair; grey hair
play; recreation; playing (a sport); play; playing (a musical instrument); musical performance; play (theatrical performance)
trade; buying and selling; trafficking (e.g. of humans, arms, drugs); dealing
in a daze; absent-mindedly; dimly; hazily; with a roar (of flames); with a whoosh
charm; fascination; to charm; to fascinate; to captivate
the big two ...; two major ...; two main ...