close investigation; careful examination; scrutiny
to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations); to affect; to take a toll; to strike home
doing things at one's own pace (e.g. slower than others); doing things one's own way (esp. in an inconsiderate manner)
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically
triple feature (e.g. movie)
national (e.g. hero, pastime, consensus); relevant to all citizens; popular on a national level
actor; actress; player; performer
unsatisfying; disappointing; abrupt; not enough; too quick; too short
abundant; ample; plentiful; lustrous; glossy
very important person; super star; super big shot
to be possible (in terms of time, money, etc.); to be able (to do); to fit (schedule, budget)
suspension; stoppage; discontinuance; interruption
bitter experience; misery; distress; grief; sad thoughts; hardship
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
to trample; to crush underfoot
regular; usual; favourite; favorite; preferred; accustomed
customer; client; client company; business connection; trade partner
entertainment (of guests; esp. in the corporate world); treating (to food and drinks); wining and dining
fierce look; frightening look; tough look; aggressive attitude; coercive attitude; taking a hard line
vocal message; speech; statement; prologue at the start of a kabuki performance
to brew (sake, etc.); to cause; to bring on; to bring about
sake made without added alcohol or sugar
top-quality sake brewed from rice grains milled to 50% of weight or less
to wet oneself; to be miserly; to be stingy
tofu skin; dried beancurd; delicacy made from the skin of gently boiled soybean milk
horse mackerel (Carangidae spp., esp. the Japanese horse mackerel, Trachurus japonicus); jack mackerel; pompano; scad
to be slippery; to be slimy
shiokara; paste made from salted fermented seafood (squid, fish entrails, etc.)
item; article; dish; course; finest item
to rise; to swell; to be promoted
change (personnel); transfer; reshuffle
lateness; tardiness; arriving late
absence from work without permission