protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
overestimation; overvaluing
whole life; a lifetime; all through life; (the only, the greatest, etc.) of one's life
bachelorhood; single; unmarried; celibate
because of; on account of; regarding; per; apiece
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
machine; mechanism; instrument; appliance; apparatus
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
town; block; downtown; main street; street; road
source of worry; source of distress
to move (house); to change residence
at any cost; at any price; at any expense
(non-documentary) television series; TV drama; teledrama; drama; dramatic incident; spectacle
highlight (scene); high point; climax; show-off scene (of an actor in a play)
numeral; figure; digit; numeric character
without hesitation; with great optimism; (pushing or pulling) strongly; (drinking) heavily
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
member of the Lower House
to accompany; to go hand in hand with; to be consequent upon; to be accompanied by; to bring with; to take with
ward; borough; city (in Tokyo); district (e.g. electoral); section; zone (e.g. postal)
special election; by-election
Japanese laurel; spotted laurel; Aucuba japonica; live tree
last week; the week before
self-government; autonomy; local (governmental) autonomy
party (political); person who is fond of; fan of
member of an assembly; member of the Diet; member of parliament; member of Congress
candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (to host an event, e.g. the Olympics)
running (for election); coming forward as a candidate; going on horseback; going in person; (arch.) letting out a horse; (arch.) taking out a horse
interview; audience; meeting; (viewing) party
doubt; misgivings; distrust; suspicion
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
to be (animate); to be; to be ..ing; to (have the audacity to) do
report (of news); reporting; news; information; (media) coverage
other (place, thing, person); the rest; outside; beyond; nothing except; nothing but
was it?; I think it was ...; if I've got it right; (I, we) used to ...; I remember ...; it was ...
in the first place; to begin with; after all; anyway; beginning; start