active duty; active service; student taking (university) entrance exams while still enrolled in school; student who passed their university entrance exams on the first try
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
various; varied; diverse; all sorts of
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
major powers of the world; great powers
worthy of special mention
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
high (e.g. ball in baseball); highish; on the expensive side; comparatively expensive; wait tile which produces a winning hand with a higher score
to add to one's circle of friends (or colleagues, etc.); to take in; to accept
to fall into (someone's) hands; to fall under someone's control; to become someone's property (e.g. of an object)
dispute; conflict; trouble; strife
area; zone; (lit.) belt (of land)
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
to brace oneself; to focus one's energies; to focus one's mind
southern part; the south (of a region)
naming; giving a name; designation; nominal
settlement; village; community; (bacterial) colony
dispute; strife; quarrel; dissension; conflict; rivalry
in a manner of speaking; as it were; so to speak; if you like; per se
Warring States period (of Japanese history, approx. 1467-1568 CE); Sengoku period; Warring States period (of Chinese history, 403-221 BCE); era of vicious competition
to go upstream; to go back (in time, to origin); to date back to; to trace back to
end of war; cessation of hostilities
fertile; rich; productive
western part; the west (of a region); the West (United States)
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
domination; rule; direction; management; control (e.g. over one's emotions); determining (e.g. one's fate)
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
abundant; plentiful; rich; wealthy; open (mind); relaxed
doing whatever one pleases
to start (something); to start up; to boot (a computer); to launch (a business)
to build up one's strength; to get stronger; to give (someone) strength; to cheer (someone) up; to encourage (someone)
that's a different matter; that's a different story
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); small fight with a military enemy; squabble; quarrel; brief argument
to roll up; to enfold; to swallow up; to involve; to drag into
the rise of the curtain; opening (of play); beginning (e.g. of an era); opening (festival, event, etc.)
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first