government-paid secretary
(monetary) present to a person in distress; condolence money; gift of money in token of one's sympathy; solatium
former president of a company
to backfire; to have a harmful result
substitution; replacement; shifting; change
libel; defamation; slander; character assassination
to go first; to take the lead; to lead the way
to creep up; to crawl up; to overcome (a bad situation); to rise (after a setback)
choosing between two things; two choices
giving; provision; furnishing
according to plan; as planned; on target
extinguishing a fire; (Edo-period) fireman
to knock down; to beat up (till unable to stand)
fabrication; put-up job; trumped-up story; frame-up; hoax
spotlight; public eye; public's attention; goldfish bowl
irrefutable evidence; smoking gun; solid evidence; incontestable proof; dead giveaway
to dig up; to expose; to disclose
the Eastern Capital (now Tokyo); Yedo; Edo
reason for being; raison d'être
preparation; arrangements; provision; getting ready; laying out (e.g. a meal)
illegitimate child; secret love child
convenience; accommodation; advantage; benefit; expediency
to die; to draw one's last breath; to breathe one's last
expresses displeasure or disapproval; just from (doing); simply by
reason for living; something one lives for; purpose in life; raison d'être
setting off (on a trip); departure
lively; energetic; vigorously (jumping, flopping, etc.); piercing (e.g. sound); penetrating
to make a mistake; to mess up; to make an error; to err
(corporate) bankruptcy; insolvency; commercial failure; failed business
completely; thoroughly; horribly; without exception; until there's no untouched (undamaged) part
scandal; deplorable event
to begin to appear; to begin to come in
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
bribe; sweetener; douceur
bad influence; negative influence