shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
to be imminent; to loom; to be approaching; to be impending
to push; to press; to apply pressure from above; to press down; to stamp (i.e. a passport); to apply a seal; to affix (e.g. gold leaf)
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
force; vigor; influence; authority; impetus; momentum
to lose; to miss (a change, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
scattering (in all directions)
such (about the actions of the listener, or about ideas expressed or understood by the listener); like that; that sort of
stake all (on something); play for all or nothing; throwing all into a task
domination; rule; direction; management; control (e.g. over one's emotions); determining (e.g. one's fate)
improvisation; improvised; impromptu; extempore
fault; weakness; flaw; crux (of a matter); difficult point; point of contention
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
astonished; shocked; amazed; astounded; aghast
painful; sore; cringy; embarrassing; exceeding
hating to lose; unyielding; unbending; competitive; sore loser; determined
laughing oneself into convulsions; splitting one's sides laughing; rolling with laughter
outer canthus; outer corner of the eye
six; six years of age; six o'clock (old time system)
unexpected; unforeseen; inconceivable
which (of three or more); well; now; c'mon
not at all inferior to; rival or surpass; compare favorably (with)
masterpiece; best work; amusing blunder; funny mistake; boner
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
remnant; residue; remaining; left-over
fellow; mutual; companion; comrade
four; four years of age; ten o'clock (old time system); Burakumin; cross grips
paying one's own expenses; going into business for oneself; working independently; person who earns their own living
happiness; blessedness; luck; luckily; fortunately
unity; consolidation; uniformity; unification; compatible
divergence; alienation; deviation; estrangement; separation; detachment
diversion; putting something to another use
(not) at all; completely; utterly; very; extremely
to roll around laughing; to fold up; to hold one's sides with laughter
stifled (laughter); simmering
to stifle a laugh; to hold back a laugh
counterattack; counteroffensive; counterblow
shock (psychological); crisis (esp. financial); event that rattles the markets; shock (physical, mechanical); shock (e.g. due to lack of blood flow); trauma
to regain one's footing; to get back on one's feet; to recover; (of the market) to improve
one; 1; best; first; foremost; beginning; start
the country; countryside; outskirts; suburbs; presence; being in attendance
the Snake (sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac); the Serpent; hour of the Snake (around 10am, 9-11am, or 10am-12 noon); south-southeast; fourth month of the lunar calendar
head (of a household, etc.); leader; owner; proprietor; subject (of a rumour, etc.); doer (of a deed); guardian spirit (e.g. long-resident beast, usu. with mystical powers)
yours sincerely; respectfully yours