self-deprecation; self-derision; self-mockery; laughing at oneself
diligent application (to work or study); cultivating one's character by studying hard; mutual encouragement (to improve); working hard together; friendly rivalry
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
whereabouts; place; location; place where one belongs; where one fits in; place where one can be oneself
to expand; to swell (out); to get big; to become inflated
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue
from here; from this place
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
head office; main office; main shrine; this company; this shrine
Bonin white-eye (Apalopteron familiare)
row of cherry trees (lining a street)
every year; yearly; annually
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
full bloom (esp. of cherry blossom); full blossom
cherry tree; cherry blossom; fake buyer; paid audience; hired applauder; horse meat
people; men and women; each person; everybody
now that you say that; now that you mention it
to bloom; to flower; to blossom; to open
deep regret; great disappointment
deplorable; regrettable; disappointing; vexing; unfortunate
to perceive; to sense; to understand; to comprehend; to attain enlightenment
(stare or glare with) scornful eyes; reproachful eyes; disgusted eyes
to taper to a point; to become pointed; to become sharp; to look displeased; to look sour; to be on edge
previous time; last time; previous installment; previous instalment; previous session
to shorten; to narrow; to close; to shrink
close; intimate; on good terms
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
cherry blossom (colour, color)
even though; despite; when
to like; to be pleased with; to be delighted with; to take a liking to; to suit one's fancy
consideration; concern; fear; worry; solicitude
the aforementioned; the said; (man, incident, etc.) in question; the usual
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that...
increasing the number of staff; hiring more people
securing; obtaining; ensuring; belay; belaying
unprofitable department; loss-making division; loss-making segment
cut; reduction; curtailment
whole; entirety; whatever (is the matter)