3000; three thousand; many
whole nation; whole land; whole country
to use as an example; to take as an illustration; to draw a parallel
four times (as much); quadruple; fourfold
excellent plan; best policy
to synchronise the breathing with the opponent prior to the start of a match
I would rather; I would as lief do; strong preference
act of terror; act of terrorism
to work on (someone); to appeal to; to make approaches to; to begin to work
something heard for the first time; hearing something for the first time
to bring up a subject; to touch on a matter
outside ...; beyond ...; not included in ...
present continuous tense; present progressive form; ongoing; (currently) active; currently in progress
stronghold; citadel; base (of operations); headquarters
(national) capital (city); metropolis
absolutely normal; perfectly commonplace; taken for granted
secret manoeuvres (maneuvers); operating behind the scenes
fetters; shackles; hobbles; encumbrance; hindrance; burden
coming out; going out; attending (work); appearing (on stage); start; beginning; origins
unrelated; irrelevant; unconcerned; unconnected
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; game; match; high of the season; height (of summer, etc.)
all over; filled in; complete; total; clichéd; hackneyed; plaintext
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
flawless; absolute perfection
in (e.g. secret); with (e.g. success)
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
impediment; burden; encumbrance; hindrance; drag
resemblance; similarity; likeness; analogy
collar; lapel; neckband; nape of the neck; scruff of the neck
reason; reasoning power; (one's) sense
to charge; to lunge; to flare up (at someone); to turn on (someone); to collide with; to bump into
to accompany; to follow; to keep up with
to threaten; to make threats
shivering (with cold); trembling (with fear); shuddering
to give off sparks; to spark; to have a heated argument; to fight fiercely
superficial; half-hearted; shallow