bombshell announcement (declaration)
tightrope walking; high-wire act; funambulism; treading a tightrope; walking on thin ice; pulling a risky balancing act
to get into a fight; to take up the gauntlet; to accept a challenge
undecorated fabric of any color but black; kimono made of such fabric
ridiculously expensive; stupidly expensive
to make light of; to hold lightly; to overwhelm (e.g. opponent)
compulsory; unavoidable; necessary
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; IUCN
to learn the ropes; to get the knack
computerization; computerisation
Jambudvipa; continent of the terrestrial world
one pole (esp. used for fishing poles); one rod
to be flurried; to be confused; to lose one's head
Red Data Book (of endangered species)
10^52 (or 10^56); innumerable
constructing and selling a ready-built house
Kumano Kodo (ancient pilgrimage routes)
armchair; chair with arm rests; senior staff
to lie on one's stomach; to sleep while lying on one's stomach; to crawl on the ground; to sprawl
to whip; to lash; to give the rod; to spur on; to encourage
an order of magnitude higher; off by a digit; in a different league; unbelievable; incomparable; unimaginable
to disappear; to vanish; to bolt; to go into hiding
poppy seed; pinhead-like; small as ants
to call again; to call someone back
to waste; to treat shabbily; to treat frivolously; to handle roughly; to treat without respect
horse laugh; guffaw; wild laughter
ancient Japanese martial arts
disregard for human rights