(national) capital (city); metropolis
cavalry; cavalryman; trooper
sky; the skies; high-altitude sky; upper air
absolutely normal; perfectly commonplace; taken for granted
by extension; in turn; by the same token; in addition; as well; consequently
secret manoeuvres (maneuvers); operating behind the scenes
fetters; shackles; hobbles; encumbrance; hindrance; burden
guidance; leading; induction; introduction; incitement; inducement
in the end; at the end of the day
coming out; going out; attending (work); appearing (on stage); start; beginning; origins
unrelated; irrelevant; unconcerned; unconnected
to swing; to sway; to shake; to waver; to feel shaken; to become unstable
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; game; match; high of the season; height (of summer, etc.)
fragment; broken piece; one of the same group; accomplice; one of a pair; counterpart
to be at a loss for words
all over; filled in; complete; total; clichéd; hackneyed; plaintext
to flash (e.g. lightning); to flicker; to flutter (e.g. flag); to wave; to flash into one's mind (e.g. an idea); to come to one suddenly
with these words; while saying
to mistakenly say; to misspeak; to misstate (the facts); to make a slip of the tongue
pushing through; bulldozing; doing something by force; arm twisting
seeming; giving the appearance of; giving one the feeling of
flawless; absolute perfection
proud; boastful; bragging; conceited
opposite side; bottom; rear; back; lining; inside; in the shadows
taking leave (of a visited place); leaving; going home; leaving one's employment; quitting one's job; being dismissed
Committee of the National Diet
fiction; made-up story; fable; fabrication; myth
how far; to what extent; up to what point
contradiction; inconsistency
decision; determination; resolution
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
impediment; burden; encumbrance; hindrance; drag
borderline between life and death; verge of death; deadline (boundary around a prison which prisoners were not allowed to cross)
to climb over; to get over; to overcome (a difficulty, obstacle, etc.); to surmount; to surpass (a predecessor); to overtake
cool-headed; level-headed; hard-headed
pressure; oppression; suppression
resemblance; similarity; likeness; analogy
collar; lapel; neckband; nape of the neck; scruff of the neck
to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
one-by-one; separately; every single; each and every; without omission
just now; at this moment; at this point of time
to become famous; to gain fame