hardening; fortifying; pledge; vow; defense; defence
to work hard; to try hard; to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to devote oneself to
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
announcement (esp. over public-address system); official announcement; formal information release
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
shameful; disgraceful; unsightly; indecent; unseemly; unbecoming
according to plan; as planned
candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (to host an event, e.g. the Olympics)
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
Imperial Palace (of Japan); imperial residence
to invite; to ask; to beckon; to wave someone in; to call in; to send for
hopelessly inaccurate; not even remotely close; can't hit the side of a barn
sub; substitute; reserve; sub-
with a pitter-patter; choked up (with emotion); heart-wringing; momentary tightening of one's chest caused by powerful feelings (e.g. parting with a loved one)
to be delighted; to be glad; to congratulate; to welcome (a proposal, advice, etc.); to take kindly to; to do with pleasure
vice-president of a political party
to take on; to undertake; to take over; to inherit; to guarantee; to vouch for
to sound shrill (of a voice); to sound high-pitched and excited; to get excited; to become restless; to be thrown too high; to come in high
to cover; to hide; to conceal; to wrap; to disguise
spectacular move (chess, shogi, etc.); brilliant move; expert; virtuoso; master
to add fuel to the fire; to make things worse; to stir things up
advertisement; advertising; announcement; notice
existence; being; presence
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
gazing steadily at; observing (a person) closely; maintain a watch over
strong spirit; mettle; backbone; guts; fighting spirit
to undertake; to take on (task); to assure; to guarantee; to vouch (for)
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
separation; partition; detachment; segregation; isolation
member of the Diet; Diet member; member of parliament; MP
press conference; news conference
pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
polite; courteous; careful; close; overly courteous; overly careful
expressly; especially; specially; intentionally; deliberately; on purpose
location of a press conference; press conference room
scabbard; sheath; cap (on a brush, pen, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
kickoff party; rally; pep party
interview; audience; meeting; (viewing) party
opposite; reverse; contrary; front and back; parallel to; back to back
as expected; just as one thought; as feared; sure enough
present point (i.e. in history); at the present time