so-so; passable; now, now; my, my
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
prize money; monetary award; reward
yen (Japanese monetary unit); circle
(emotional) tension; anxiety; (highness of) spirits; (good) mood; tension; tensile strength
to compete with; to vie for
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
introduction; bringing in; leading in; installation
planning; project; plan; design
to be unusual (of a person or of a thing); to be uncommon; to be peculiar; to be crazy; to be eccentric; to be different
type; pattern; model; epitome; exemplar; archetype
equal division (of profits, prize money, etc.); equal split
working without pay; free service; work for nothing
to praise highly; to sing the praises of; to applaud; to acclaim; to admire
average (normal, ordinary) year; every year; annually
student in a higher grade; upperclassman
cash; ready money; money on hand; mercenary; self-interested; calculating
to kindle; to build a fire; to instigate; to stir up; to incite
willingness (e.g. to do something); eagerness; motivation; inspiration; determination; high aspirations
small tool; gadget; (stage) properties; prop; prop master
crown; diadem; bottle cap
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
to be satisfied (with an explanation, apology, etc.); to be happy
heh-heh; hee-hee; ha ha; (arch.) female genitals; (arch.) vagina; (arch.) vulva
candidate (for an election)
even though; despite; when
competition rate; success rate; ratio of successful (applicants) to total applicants
under-shoulder swing-down; technique of grasping the arm of the opponent, the moment he comes forward, while stepping out of line and pushing down on the shoulder blade with the other hand, thus pulling him down; dodging; parrying (questions); disappointment; letdown
candidacy; standing as a candidate; bidding (to host an event, e.g. the Olympics)
talkativeness; garrulity; loquacity
no!; no no!; no, not at all
perquisite; perk; side benefit; emoluments
is not; am not; are not; isn't it?
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
kiss scene; kissing scene
sharp increase; sudden rise
to sob; to be choked with tears
library (usu. single-room); small library
children's story; fairy tale
and so on; and so forth; et cetera; comment; criticism