to boost; to force up; to push up
in the end; at the end of the day
to get involved (with); to begin (with); to have a hand (in)
life story; personal narrative; story of one's life
to muster (e.g. courage); to gather; to collect; to pluck up
arousal; excitation; awakening; evocation
to brace one's core (e.g. when carrying something heavy); to bear down; to exert oneself; to push oneself; to pay generously (for); to splurge (on)
critical moment; do-or-die situation; critical juncture
to learn; to acquire knowledge; to carry; to wear (clothes, etc.); to put on
to be confusing; to be different from what one is used to
unintentionally; inadvertently; calmly; casually; nonchalantly; innocently
helmet (of a warrior); headpiece
uncertain; doubtful; unreliable; unsteady; unclear; vague
to defy accepted norms; to go off the rails; to be eccentric
to throw a punch at; to swing at; to strike out at; to raise a hand against
to boil down sake, mirin, etc. to reduce the alcohol content
improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
left side; left-hand side
extremely fast; in a flash; too quick for the eye to catch
exquisite skill; wonderful performance
audience seating; (spectator) stands; auditorium; stadium
uniform; equal; even; common; ordinary; usual
clotted blood; gore; sticky clots of blood
directivity; directionality; intentionality
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
cesspool; sink; manure sink
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
worldly-minded person; materialist; uncultured person; philistine; vulgar person; snob
agreement; rule; arrangement; decision
to crush to death; to press to death; to squeeze to death; to suppress (a laugh, one's anger, etc.); to stifle; to subdue (one's voice)
protagonist; main character; hero; head (of a household); proprietor (of a store)
single combat; duel; one-on-one fight
suspicious-looking; fishy
champion of justice; knight in shining armor; crime avenger; hero; super hero
taking part on the spur of the moment; participating without registering beforehand; last-minute entrant; specking on flower petals
growth; development; stretching (one's body, e.g. when waking up); (ability to) spread (of paint, cream, etc.); elongation; extension
adapting oneself to the requirements of the moment; playing by ear; ad hoc approach
interest (in something); enthusiasm
refinement; narrowing-down
reverberation; swelling (of a hymn); lingering memory; aftertaste; suggestiveness (of a book, poem, etc.)
highlight (scene); high point; climax; show-off scene (of an actor in a play)
bōjutsu (art of using a stick as a weapon)
imitation; counterfeit; fake; sham; ersatz (object)