P-wave (e.g. of earthquake); primary wave
S-wave (e.g. of earthquake); secondary wave
academic meritocracy; education-conscious society; society that places (excessive) emphasis on academic records
do not pursue those who leave you
transverse wave; beam sea
red gate (esp. at Tokyo University)
student taking (university) entrance exams while still enrolled in school; student who passed their university entrance exams on the first try
passing university entrance exams in the last year of high school (instead of failing then taking gap year(s))
fundamental academic skills; expected basic knowledge (of a subject)
underline; side line (equivalent to underlining in vertically written text)
acorn barnacle (Balanomorpha spp.)
strike while the iron is hot
national network broadcast; nation-wide broadcast
vertical axis; vertical line; vertical shaft; spindle; connection between past and present
mock exam; practice exam; practice test
to provide momentum; to give a boost to; to encourage; to spur; to stimulate
magnanimity; tolerance; large eyes
welfare; public welfare; social welfare; (former) Ministry of Health and Welfare
spirit of self-reliance; feeling of independence
rhyming game; play on words; pun
rubbish; trash; garbage; refuse
question sheet; question paper
sentence structure; grammatical construction
humiliation; shame; loss of face
ray of light; ray of hope; promising talent
student waiting for another chance to enter university after having failed the yearly entrance examination
modern Japanese; current written style
prejudice; bias; warped view; jealousy; inferiority complex
fork; junction; parting of the ways; turning point