peace; tranquility; tranquillity; Heian period (794-1185)
gradually; slowly but steadily
(practical) business; business practice; business affairs; (actual) work
plenipotentiary powers; full authority; plenipotentiary; delegate with full powers
(wheeled) vehicle; car; (railroad) car; (railway) carriage; rolling stock
main purpose; chief aim; focus; main point; gist; essence
to make up the number; to have a complete set of
(it) goes without saying; needn't be said; that should rather be left unsaid
noshi; long thin strip of dried abalone in folded patterned paper, attached to a gift
to get tired of (doing); to lose interest in
speaking by proxy; speaking for (someone else); payment by proxy; compensation by proxy; acting for (someone else); carrying out (on someone's behalf)
strain; deformation; warp; harmful effects; strain; stress
identical; same; one and the same; fair; equal treatment; without discrimination
to use; to make use of; to utilize; to utilise
according to; due to; by (means of); because of; via; on the basis of
(among) one's friends; (within) one's circle
great person; distinguished person; outstanding figure; giant; person of high caliber
to overhear; to hear (secondhand); to hear on the grapevine; to know by hearsay
strongest ever; most powerful in history
birth; lineage; identity; background; provenance; origin
to explain carefully and slowly; to explain politely in simple terms; to spoon-feed
with a start; in a fright; alarmedly
to resonate emotionally (with one); to strike a chord; to be gut-wrenching
materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
a cut above; one step above
sounds good; sure thing; no problem
suburb; residential area on the outskirt of a city; commuter belt
dots; spots; bit by bit; little by little; here and there; scattered
to be believed to; to be expected to; to be feared to; to be poised to; to be considered to; to be likely to
woman; lady; adult female
without (making) any mistakes; flawlessly; accurately
curse; spell; malediction
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
treatment; conduct (towards another); behavior; stage performance; movements (of an actor); acting gestures
to grow thickly; to be in full leaf; to be rampant; to luxuriate; to be luxurious
shady; underhanded; questionable