hot topic; talk of the town
useless; worthless; silly; trivial
absent-mindedly; idly; vacantly; doing nothing
to intensify; to be excited; to fly into a rage; to dash against; to encourage
business world; business circles; (the) industry
mountain; hill; mine; (mountain) forest; heap; pile; protruding or high part of an object
noisy; boisterous; turbulent (era, etc.); troubled
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
bashful; shameful; ashamed
burly; strong; indomitable; indefatigable; robust (vitality, appetite, economic growth, etc.); strong
exposing; unmasking; laying bare
exceedingly; extremely; decisively
to fall (on); to rain down; to shower down; to befall; to happen (to)
ancient times; prehistoric times; the distant past; a very long time ago
hot spring; onsen; hot spring resort; hot spring spa
volcanic belt; volcanic zone
several hundred; hundreds (of)
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
eruption; volcanic eruption
misgovernment; misrule; bad government
to become overgrown; to grow thick; to spread; to run rampant; to thrive
devastating; catastrophic; crushing
to speak ambiguously; to be vague; to equivocate; to prevaricate
which reminds me ...; come to think of it ...; now that you mention it ...; on that subject ...; so, if you say ...
the four cardinal directions; north, east, south and west; all around; here and there; four sides (of a square)
for some reason or other; somehow; whatsitsname; what-you-call-it; and so on; and you know the rest
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it; that sort of (thing mentioned immediately prior)
yes; sure; gotcha; sycophantically; servilely; fawningly
to happen to hear; to overhear
foot (of a mountain or hill); bottom; base
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
opposite side; other side
taking refuge; finding shelter; evacuation; escape; seeking safe haven
deep blue; bright blue; ghastly pale; pallid; white as a sheet
human intellect; knowledge
preparation; provision; defenses; guard; military formation; troop arrangement
stocking up (in case of emergency); stockpile; reserves; storing; laying in (supplies)