decision; settlement; definition
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
democracy; popular sovereignty; Democratic Party (esp. DPJ)
company; association; regional Chinese god of the earth (or a village built in its honour); counter for companies, shrines, etc.
to be prepared to flee; to become restless; to become agitated
heinous criminal; vicious criminal
rising rapidly (e.g. prices, popularity); soaring; skyrocketing; going through the roof
announcement; publication; presenting; statement; communique; making known
brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded
planned; scheduled; systematic
to be conspicuous; to stand out
(within) the (Tokyo) metropolitan area
these days; nowadays; now; at present; recently; lately
evil; wickedness; (role of) the villain (in theatre, etc.); the bad guy
atmospheric current; air current; airflow
to spread (out); to extend; to stretch; to reach to; to get around; to fill (e.g. a space)
(not) anyone; (not) a single person; no one; nobody
to contract (a disease); to suffer from
sign; indication; omen; symptom
second day of the month; two days
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question; to interrogate; to grill (someone about a matter); to question in detail
sponsors of rikishi or their stables
to cross over (e.g. mountain); to go across; to get over (e.g. hardship); to pass time (e.g. a winter); to surpass; to be better than; to move house
slight bow (as a greeting or sign of gratitude); nod; salutation; consideration; thoughtfulness
soliloquy; monologue; speaking to oneself
ascetic; pilgrim; devotee
sitting upright (properly)
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
heavy (feeling, etc.); gloomy (weather, etc.); oppressive (atmosphere, etc.); stifling; strained
tragedy; tragic drama; tragic play; tragedy; calamity; disaster
to bear; to carry on one's back; to take responsibility for; to accept a duty; to receive (wound); to incur (damage)
to compare; to make a comparison; to compete; to vie
cast-off skin (snake, insect, etc.); husk; empty shell; exuvia; exuviae
short trip; brief journey; excursion
daytime; noon; broad daylight
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about