punishment by Buddha; divine retribution
wiles; sinister design; trick; conspiracy; intrigue
right on the heels of yesterday, then today ...; soon after something, and yet now ...
labour shortage; labor shortage; shortage of workers; shortage of hands
no matter how you put it; whatever the circumstances may be; say what you like; no matter how you look at it
changing the world; turning the tide; torpedo modified as a suicide weapon (used in WWII)
because of; owing to; due to
no matter for; without regard to; whatever the ...
member; participant; attendee; lineup (sport)
to gather up into one's arms; to lift; to carry
metal fittings; metal fixtures
solid; firm; stout; burly; strong; sturdy
to tailor; to make (clothing); to train; to bring up; to make it seem like; to pass off
kakishibu; astringent persimmon juice used as a dye or to to treat wood, paper, etc.
extremely; exceptionally; extraordinarily; terribly; super
jingling; jangling; clinking; lasciviously; coquettishly
thick (paper, cloth, etc.); heavy
weight restriction; weight limit
chance; stroke of luck; (curious) turn of events
to be coming; to be popular; to be fashionable; to be angry; to have blown one's lid
faint hopes; dim prospects; little hope; unlikely (to be successful)
arriving at the present; present-day; to arrive at the present day
laying (a railroad, pipes, naval mines, etc.); construction
precipice; cliff; flat head
wind-swept; exposed to the wind
nether region; between the legs; groin; crotch
last spurt; final spurt; home stretch
last ray of hope; only hope