long-distance relay race; stagecoach; post horse
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
splendid; nice; sufficient; satisfactory; not needing (any more of something); (already) having enough
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter; nothing to worry about
festival merrymaking; revelry
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
unanimity; unanimous consent; unanimous agreement
recommendation; referral; endorsement
flowery words; rhetorical flourishes
tedious; lengthy; wordy; long-winded
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
not worth mentioning; nothing special; nothing in particular; no notable ...
through (e.g. an intermediary, a medium); via; over (e.g. a network); across; by way of; by means of
chief; main; principal; important
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming
a few years ago; some years back
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
huge; vast; enormous; swelling; expansion
writing (a book); book; (literary) work; writings
duty; obligation; responsibility
(not) at all; (not) in the least; (none) whatsoever
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
honorific title; honorific term of address
all over Japan; throughout Japan
all over the country; throughout the land; every nook and cranny of a country; far and wide; (in) every port and harbor
technical term; terminology; jargon
especially; particularly; surely; clearly; as if; as though
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
to be conceivable that; to be thinkable that
to get (become) acquainted; to get to know; to get (become) intimate with; to become friendly with; to become friends
riches; wealth; resources; lottery
prime location (for offices, housing, etc.); best district (in town); excellent piece of land
often; frequently; lightly (of a movement); easily; simply
(religious) faith; belief; creed
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to dabble in; to know a little bit about; to learn a little of