competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
severe; harsh; hard; cruel; rigorous
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
(arch.) the art of war; (arch.) martial arts; military force; the sword; valor; bravery
to ask; to inquire; to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to care about; to regard as important
result; consequence; coming to fruition; bearing fruit; as a result; consequently
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
school tradition; school customs; school spirit
to turn inside out; to turn the other way; to turn (something) over
examination; quiz; test; tryout; rehearsal (in filming)
marks; points; score; number of items; number of articles
club activities; extracurricular activities
to be absent; to take a day off; to rest; to have a break; to go to bed; to (lie down to) sleep
without penalty; acquittal; impunity
binding; regulation; limit; binding period (e.g. phone or broadband contract); minimum contract term
few; a little; scarce; insufficient; seldom
taking an examination (esp. school and university entrance)
goal; target; aim; mark; sign; landmark
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
front-facing; forward-looking; positive; constructive
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
complete; whole; perfect; safe
trouble; bother; trouble; difficulty; care; attention
intently; single-mindedly; devotedly; solely; earnestly; with all one's heart
cram school; private tutoring school; juku
at that time; in those days
to surpass; to outstrip; to excel
social; societal; societary
influence; clout; leverage
to raise; to rear; to train; to teach; to promote the growth of; to nurture
desperate; frantic; excited; worked up; heated; eager
(within) the (Tokyo) metropolitan area
cram school; private tutoring school
setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
another school; other schools
to be mixed; to be blended with; to associate with; to mingle with; to join
to a surprising degree; to a remarkable extent; surprisingly; astonishingly; amazingly; alarmingly
nausea; sickness in the stomach
to well up (of tears, anger, joy, etc.); to surge up (within oneself); to rise; to feel nauseated; to feel sick
side (of something, or taking someone's side); part; (watch) case
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?