dramatic turn-around; major reversal; great comeback; game changer
eta; group comprising the lowest rank of Japan's Edo-period caste system and whose work usually involved handling human bodies or animal carcasses
until something reaches the very limit; until the very last minute; up to the breaking point
draining basket (traditionally made of bamboo); colander; something full of holes; zaru soba; strong drinker; someone who can drink like a fish
assigned role; duty; position; suitable role; best-suited job
envious; jealous; enviable (position, etc.)
to cover (with); to smear; to sprinkle
to take in; to gather in; to adopt (e.g. an idea); to accept (e.g. advice); to harvest; to reap
self-sufficiency; self-satisfaction
acquisition of foreign currency
pouring one's energy into; focusing one's efforts on; concentrating on; committing oneself to
characteristic; (distinctive) feature; peculiarity; spot color; spot colour
show; performance; act; entertainment industry; show business
one-on-one fighting sport (without weapons); combat sport; martial art
munching; crunching; scratching (an itch)
to stuff into; to jam; to shorten; to move closer together; to reduce (spending); to conserve; to focus intently on
chief vassal; senior statesman
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post); to be delivered
reluctantly; grudgingly; unwillingly
left breast; left side of the chest
total; complete; all-out; general; extensive; full-scale
opportunism; waiting and seeing (how the wind blows); sitting on the fence; straddling
intelligence network; information network
(not) even with; (not) even using
shrieking; squealing; screeching; chattering (e.g. of a monkey); chittering
fragment; scrap; piece; shred
delivering an order; dispatch of an order; messenger; orderly; runner
government; government service; the bureaucracy; government post; government official
to get one's breath back; to calm down
irritating; irritated; frustrating; vexing; (feeling things are) not quick enough; (feeling) too slow-going
basement floor; underground floor
great; grand; extensive; large-scale
inborn nature; genuine; intrinsic; essential
not caring; not giving a damn
elaborate; delicate; exquisite