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
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
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
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
modern Japanese; current written style
prejudice; bias; warped view; jealousy; inferiority complex
fork; junction; parting of the ways; turning point
Chinese classical writing; Chinese classics; writing composed entirely of kanji
The Tale of Genji (Heian period classic)
ferocious; fierce; truculent; savage
(in the) same boat; (sharing a) common destiny
name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era name
stupid girl; stupid woman