shabby; dull; cheap; lackluster; uninspiring; depressing
serialization; serialisation; serial story
in form; ceremonial; for form's sake; pro forma
cannot be helped; unavoidable; pointless; useless; hopeless (person); annoying
dead person; (the) deceased; (the) dead; casualties
reader (person); person who reads the cards (in karuta games); composer (of a poem)
logical connection; chain of reasoning; coherence; blood vessel
to be suspicious of; to be doubtful of; to be dubious of
showing no concern at all; being not at all bothered; devil-may-care attitude
unique thing; best on earth
martial arts; military arts; Bushido
meeting; assembly; party; society; association; club
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
(hand-to-hand) fight; grapple; scuffle; struggling (with a problem, task, etc.); grappling; wrestling
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
tournament; knockout tournament (esp. single-elimination); elimination tournament
form (as opposed to substance); format; form; formality; form; mode
(the) whole; as a whole; in general; at large
championship game; finals (of a tournament); deciding round
overall victory; championship; winning the title; (being in) heaven; bliss; perfect contentment
standalone book (i.e. not part of an anthology, series, etc.); (book published as a) single volume; tankōbon; individual volume of a manga series
counter for books; volume
super work; tremendous work; spectacular; blockbuster
first game; first round (e.g. of a tournament)
to win through (e.g. to finals); to advance
combination; assortment; matching (in a contest); pairing; combination
yum cha; eating snacks (esp. dim sum) with tea
decision of a contest; finals
final selection (in a competition, match, etc.)
preliminary contest; qualifying round; trial; preliminary selection; screening (e.g. of applicants); provisional election
to sieve; to sift; to winnow; to screen (candidates)
to win through (e.g. to the next round); to win game after game; to achieve a final victory; to fight to the end and win; to come out on top
to be possible; to be conceivable; to be likely; to be probable
none of your business; not your concern
introduction; bringing in; installation; introduction (to a story, lecture, etc.); introductory part
cell; serge; cel (celluloid); starter motor
compilation (of a text); editing; volume (of a text); completed literary work
sorcerer; genie; human with supernatural powers
on and after; from ... onward; since
regulation; adjustment; control
person with supernatural power; person capable of extrasensory perception
to pick up; to adopt (a proposal); to take up (a topic); to take issue with; to make a problem of; to report (news); to cover