still; even now; to this day
an army; the whole army; the entire force; first team; first-string players; the cool kids
to await; to wait for; to expect
nice to meet you; I'm glad to make your acquaintance; how do you do?
not writing or contacting for a while; neglecting (failing) to write (call, visit, etc.); long silence
the Snake (sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac); the Serpent; hour of the Snake (around 10am, 9-11am, or 10am-12 noon); south-southeast; fourth month of the lunar calendar
how are things with you?; how are you doing?; how are you getting along?; how have you been?; how are you?
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
debut work; one's first work
approximately; about; promise; appointment; shortening; reduction
to publish a book; to put out a book
thanks; gratitude; appreciation; thankfulness
my book; my (humble) work; a little thing of mine
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to have sex with; to make love to; to sit on (eggs); to brood
kind; cordial; hospitable; serious (of an illness)
to say; to tell; to state; to do
base; basis; base (e.g. military); depot; base; base bag
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryō system)
classic (work, esp. book); the classics
The Water Margin (classic of Chinese literature); Outlaws of the Marsh; All Men are Brothers
to take down in notes (meeting minutes, etc.); to apply (concepts, ideas, etc. to specific processes or methods); to drop into something (e.g. a bag); to entice; to lure
big; large; drastic; full-width cloth (approx. 72 cm wide for traditional Japanese clothing; approx. 140 cm wide for Western clothing)
establishment; creation; posing (a problem); options setting; preference settings; configuration
another thing; exception; special case
if; when; when it comes to ...; as for ...; why don't you ...; why not ...
being extremely grateful; being much obliged; being very appreciative; being very happy
book; volume; this; present; main; head; real
maniac (as in rabid sport fan); enthusiast
material (for a story, article, etc.); information; joke; jest; proof; evidence; (magician's) trick
(all) important positions; every strategic point; each key post; (all) important parts; every important point
to weave into; to interweave; to incorporate; to include; to put in
volume (of book); reel (of film); scroll (of books or paintings); roll (paper, etc.)
certainly; without fail; right and wrong; pros and cons
next volume (of a book, comic, etc.)
on and after; from ... onward; since
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming