to be at wits' end; to be greatly perplexed; to be troubled
hard problem; person hard to please; hard nut to crack
enemy territory; hostile place
as soon as possible; ASAP; even a little early
adversary; opposition; hostile forces
ringleader; mastermind; leader (of a plot)
(one's) identity; background; upbringing; (one's) character
establishing; proving; ascertaining; identifying; confirming
(personal) background check
(not) so; (not) particularly; (not) very; (not) that much
being extremely busy; being swamped with work
crossing without meeting (e.g. letters in the post, people on the road); going astray; difference of opinion; misunderstanding; estrangement
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
control; bringing under control; settling (a matter); putting in order
to be too busy; to be occupied; to concentrate on single-mindedly
busying oneself about (something); being on the move; bestirring oneself; on the go; taking an active interest
convenience; accommodation; advantage; benefit; expediency
rampancy; prevalence; domination
intelligence gathering; information gathering
familiarity with the land; locality or terrain (usually associated with knowing or feeling the locality)
to cross one's mind; to occur to one
memory; sense; experience
beneficial; profitable; useful; helpful; instructive
therefore; for that reason; such being the case
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
in accordance with; according to
acquaintance; appreciative friend
to be found; to be discovered
to take home; to carry home; to bring back home; to take out (e.g. food)
meanwhile; in the meantime; by the same token; in contrast
absence; disregard; indifference
duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff); liability; onus
to borrow; to have a loan; to rent; to hire
to become tense; to become serious; to become sober; sobering; bracing
to accompany; to go with; to go together
circumference; girth; tour; pilgrimage; circulation (e.g. of blood)
decisive action; going through with; daring to do; carrying out
to come together; to join; to get married; to become a married couple
Ginza (shopping district in Tokyo); (Edo period) silver mint
shopping; purchased goods
kabuki; Japanese classical drama
entertainment hall (for rakugo, manzai, magic, music, etc.); vaudeville theater (theatre); music hall
to make merry; to frolic; to be in high spirits
stirring; rousing oneself