to quieten down; to fall silent; to cease activities; to become inactive; to lie low
to be sacrificed; to fall victim to; to fall prey to
particularly; especially; in particular; expressly
(sense of) reality; realness; realism; authenticity; viability
former years; formerly; a few years ago
conclusion; resolution; gathering and bundling; convergence; focusing (e.g. light); convergence
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
channel (e.g. between two land masses); strait
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryo system)
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit
countermeasure; counter-measure
to draw (conclusion); to deduce; to derive
marriage proposal; marriage talks
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
deep (colour); dark; strong (flavour, smell, etc.); thick (consistency); dense; strong (possibility, etc.)
to cast a shadow; to appear; to loom (of a threat, etc.); to manifest (of symptoms, etc.)
at first; at the outset; to begin with; as a first step
various foreign countries; several foreign countries
to join hands; to join forces; to work in cooperation; to link up; to partner with
market (for goods, services, etc.); outlet (for selling); opening
bad influence; negative influence
ringleader; mastermind; leader (of a plot)
going public (with a matter); becoming public knowledge; recourse to litigation; taking (a matter) to court
indefinite; hazy; vague; unsettled; undecided
chill; the shivers; shivering fit; cold; coldness; cold air
event; affair; incident; case; plot; trouble
to bury; to inter; to entomb; to cover up; to hush up; to shelve
poisoning; kill by poison
failed attempt (at a crime, suicide, etc.)
careful; thorough; meticulous; scrupulous
at once; immediately; right away; directly (face, lead to, etc.); automatically (mean, result in, etc.)
advice (to a superior); counsel; proposal; suggestion; recommendation
consideration; examination; investigation; study; scrutiny; discussion
to sit up straight; to straighten one's posture; to straighten up
composition; formation; organization; organisation; compilation
(air or sea) route; course; line; run
plot; intrigue; scheme; conspiracy; agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act