upright; honest; faithful; conscientious; sincere
shabby; dull; cheap; lackluster; uninspiring; depressing
to dig up; to expose; to disclose
finally; in the end; after all that; eventually; on top of all that
at the time; in those days; then
finding fault (with); being picky
to be forced to do or experience something (against one's will); to be forced to do something because one has no other choice
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
to straighten oneself; to straighten one's clothes and one's posture; to adopt a more serious attitude
even if; even though; wow
to dig up; to turn up; to tear up; to rake up (e.g. old scandal); to dig over
establishment; founding; incorporation (of a business)
Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo (long-running series of Japanese comedy movies)
perfectly round; perfectly circular
current; urgent; to confront (an issue); to face (up to something); for the meantime; at present
well connected; well known; having a large, diverse circle of acquaintances
to become widely known; to become well-known; to spread (of a rumor, reputation, etc.)
(starting) from nothing; from scratch
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
regular; standard; regular player (on a team); regular guest (on a TV show); regular (gasoline)
feeling of tragic heroism; feeling of grim resolve; sense of determination
to spin; to make yarn; to spin (a tale); to assemble (e.g. words); to put together
to take (someone) to task; to tell off severely; to give a good talking-to; to scold
bright; cheerful; in high spirits; clear (sky); cloudless; sunny
in that respect; on that point; in that regard
moment to quit; way to quit
reputation; (public) estimation; rumour; rumor; fame; notoriety
traditional cap worn by Shinto clergy and courtiers; crown; diadem; top kanji radical; first verse of a haikai, etc.; best; peerless
rearing; training; nurture; cultivation; promotion
attentively; with great attention to detail (e.g. when teaching); patiently
to step back; to move back; to withdraw (from the presence of a superior); to leave; to resign; to retire
pouring one's energy into; focusing one's efforts on; concentrating on; committing oneself to
vocational school; technical school
coach; coaching; training
to shake off; to throw off
to use someone's (argument, attack) against them; to use (an attack) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a negative situation)
to probe someone's real intentions; to sound someone out; to try to fathom someone's thoughts
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
studying for a test (esp. school or university entrance examinations)
to be postponed; to be deferred; to be delayed