drop (e.g. of water); drip
monologue; soliloquy; talking to oneself
to manipulate (someone); to make (someone) dance to one's tune; to lead astray; to make (someone) dance; to let dance
medium; mediocrity; average
falling far short (of); being far behind; being far inferior (to); being no match (for)
the number of people; many people; a large number of people; (counted as an) adult
nocturnality; nocturnal habits
leader of a crime syndicate's henchmen; young leading subordinate in yakuza group
large build; large pattern
shallows; shoal; rapids; current; position; place
sword; blade; single stroke
fashion; way; school (of thought); class; rank; current (electrical, water, etc.)
possessing full mastery of an art (e.g. Judo); initiation into the secrets (e.g. of an art); full mastership
to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
character (esp. kanji); letter; handwriting; penmanship; the ... word (e.g. "the L word" = "love")
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
secret feud; wordless pantomime performed in the dark (in kabuki)
borderline between life and death; verge of death; deadline (boundary around a prison which prisoners were not allowed to cross)
counter for small animals; counter for rolls of cloth (two han in size); (arch.) counter for horses; roll of cloth
to carve; to engrave; to sculpt; to tattoo
boss (esp. yakuza); foreman
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages
soon; in a moment; nearby; close; direct; spot transaction
ability; capability; skill
permutation; lining up in order; linear arrangement
rank; place (e.g. first place); decimal place; counter for ghosts
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
among (other things); especially; particularly; inter alia; above all (else)
next term; next period; next version; next release
most likely contender; prime candidate; top prospect; leading candidate
by both oneself and others
liver; innards; courage; spirit; crux; essential point
favorite sword; cherished sword
tiger's tail; gooseneck loosestrife (species of flowering plant, Lysimachia clethroides); Asplenium incisum (species of spleenwort)
same; similar; (just) like; equal
variety; kind; type; counter for kinds, species, etc.