chiffon cake; sponge cake
in the early period (of something); at the beginning
planning; scheming; maneuvering; manoeuvring
local downpour; severe rain fall
overwhelming strength; extremely strong person; powerhouse; very strong player; very strong team
destined; predestined; fated; fateful
Japan's best; number one in Japan
judo practitioner; judoka
majestic figure; imposing figure; impressive appearance; magnificent appearance
(not even) an inch; (not even) a little bit; (lit.) one millimeter
first game; first round (of tennis, etc.)
Japanese scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis); Yesso scallop
counter for the ichi-ni-san counting system (usu. directly preceding the item being counted); noun read using its on-yomi; counter for articles; indicates possessive (esp. in place names)
homosexuality; homosexual love
Confessions of a Mask (1949 novel by Yukio Mishima)
transmigration; reincarnation; metempsychosis
The Sea of Fertility (tetralogy by Mishima)
buzzword; vogue word; popular phrase
careful selection; careful screening; hand-picking
Mie prefecture (Kinki area)
Ise (former province located in the major part of present-day Mie Prefecture and parts of Aichi and Gifu prefectures); Ise (city)
politics; government; peace; (arch.) medical treatment; (arch.) cure
adopted daughter; foster daughter
Japanese scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis); Yesso scallop
imperious; proud; heavy (nasal breathing)
to feel oneself indebted to
glove (esp. sports); globe
half a point (esp. in go)
to conquer (e.g. an enemy); to defeat; to overcome (a difficulty); to out-hit
boldly; bravely; resolutely; determinedly