provincial city; provincial town; suburban city; regional towns and cities
declaration; proclamation; announcement
slowly (but steadily); gradually; irritatedly; impatiently; scorchingly (of the sun); sizzling (i.e. sound of frying in oil); sound of a warning bell, alarm clock, etc.
please; I beg you; for mercy's sake
sadistic desires; sadistic feelings
trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
supple; flexible; elastic; graceful; elegant; refined
to bend; to warp; to yield; to be supple (e.g. bamboo, body); to be flexible; to be pliant
prey (i.e. of a predator); kill; victim (of a crime, a hoax, etc.)
inside (a region, area, etc.); within the range (of); within the sphere (of influence, etc.)
until something reaches the very limit; until the very last minute; up to the breaking point
deer (esp. the sika deer, Cervus nippon); cervid
condition; figure; appearance; voice
by the way; incidentally; sometimes; occasionally; precisely (at that time); exactly
accomplice; conspirator; cohort
vocabulary; lexicon; lexis; terminology
to writhe (in pain); to be in agony; to be anguished; to be agonized; to be troubled
from one's side; from the side (of something); from someone unconnected; from someone uninvolved
to be open (to traffic); to lead (to); to flow (of a liquid, current, etc.); to pass (through); to be conveyed (of an intention, meaning, etc.); to be understood (by); to be well versed (in)
last moment; eleventh hour; platform made of dirt used to perform executions (decapitations) in the Edo period
to be nearing death; to be dying
cruel; merciless; atrocious; pitiful; tragic; horrible
desire; wish; request; entreaty; prayer; (written) application
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering
if that is the case; if it becomes so; when it becomes so
trouble; bother; trouble; difficulty; care; attention
arms; weapons (of war); armor; armour
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
to be traced (of a criminal); to be tracked; (arch.) to have a (male) lover
article; goods; fine thing; fellow; (arch.) prostitute; (arch.) price
looking for (a suitable thing or person); searching for; hunting out; picking out; shopping around for; searching (a place)
meek; quiet; docile; mysterious; marvelous; marvellous
slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
will to fight; fighting spirit; morale
conclusion; decision; judgement; affirmative
(confronting a problem, etc.) head-on; directly; outright; (lit.) from the front
simple honesty; tactless frankness
marked; pronounced; showing a strong tendency (towards)
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force