remote region; frontier (district); border(land)
back; backing; going backwards; background; backdrop; backhand; backer
fort; fortress; stronghold; fortification
koku; traditional unit of volume, approx. 180.4 litres; measure of a Japanese-style boat's loading capacity (approx. 278.26 liters)
progress; pace; carriage; step; stage
to contract; to undertake; to take over; to take responsibility for
coolie; laborer; labourer; carrier
to vitalize (e.g. an industry); to invigorate; to energize; to establish (e.g. a company); to build up; to set up
right in the midst of; right at the height of
to deliver; to forward; to send; to report; to notify; to file notice (to the authorities)
recklessness; daredevilry; rashness; (arch.) long-lasting
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind
country; territory; domain; realm
cornerstone; main point; requirement; need; necessary; required
trouble; hardship; difficulty; anxiety; worry; concern
to brave a danger; to take a risk
to favor; to favour; to show favor to; to show favour to; to be partial to; to be a regular customer of
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
to become known; to come to light; to be known; to be understood; to clearly not amount to much; to be insignificant
leader; authority; mainstay
military affairs; military service
reigning; controlling; dictating
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
to displease; to offend; to hurt (a person's) feelings
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
adventure; venture; venture which is unlikely to succeed; risky attempt; danger
defense of one's country; defence of one's country
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
territorial relationship; regional bond
union; unity; bundling; binding; (arch.) putting on (clothes, armour, etc.)
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
producing (people) in great numbers; appearing one after the other
notice; attention; observation
(establish) friendly (cordial) relations (with, between); (form) friendship (e.g. with a nation)
coincident with; while; simultaneously
balance of power (in a relationship); power dynamic