brake; drag; skid; restraint; curtailment; self-imposed limit
declining birth rates; decrease in the number of children
one's heart's desire; one's dearest wish
confession; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
fusuma; Japanese sliding screen
fresh wound; fresh bruise
to sell well; to sell out; to be worldly and understanding; to be sensible; to be sorted out; to be put in order
to go too far; to go past; to go to extremes; to overdo it
to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
to withstand; to be able to endure
emotional strength; force of will
happy tears; tears of joy
to grow hot (e.g. water); to boil; to get excited (at); to erupt (in applause, cheering, etc.); to ferment; to melt (of metal)
overcoat; exceeding; going over; exaggerated; over the top; over par
trouble; difficulties; dispute; confusion; disorder; mess
lukewarm; tepid; half-hearted; vague; lenient; mild
prime minister (as the head of a cabinet government); premier
to be satisfied (with an explanation, apology, etc.); to be happy
to hide; to conceal; to lower volume (of a sound or one's voice) so as not to be heard; to become quiet and inconspicuous
to smell; to smell of; to have a smell
to cajole; to deceive; to seduce
aphrodisiac; love potion; philter
seal; to seal (e.g. a letter); to affix a seal; to seal up
to cense; to burn incense
to perfume clothes by burning incense
temperature; body temperature (human, animal)
to burst into flames; to fire (of a gun); to fan a fire with one's breath
main course (of a river); mainstream; main current (e.g. of thought)
reason; reasoning power; (one's) sense
breaking off; snapping off
bamboo sheath; bamboo peel
hard-liners; diehards; (young) man with traditionally masculine interests; tough boy; hard news; reporter who covers political and economic affairs
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
to spoil; to break; to go bad; to go wrong; to fail
unhappiness; sad fate; misfortune