vassal state;  vassal nation;  dependency
 independence;  self-reliance;  independence (e.g. of a nation);  freedom;  separation;  isolation
 gold (Au);  golden (color);  valuable;  of highest value;  money;  gold coin;  Friday
 weapon;  arms;  ordnance;  weapon (something used to gain an advantage);  asset
 very;  much;  greatly;  a lot of
 to cross (legs or arms);  to link (arms);  to put together;  to construct;  to braid;  to plait;  to grapple
 umbrella;  parasol;  something shaped like an umbrella or a conical hat;  shade (of a lamp);  mushroom cap
 to put in;  to let in;  to admit;  to accept;  to accept;  to comply;  to include
 in short;  in brief;  to sum up;  ultimately;  in the end;  in the long run
 to;  for;  from the standpoint of;  as far as ... is concerned
 boss;  leader;  kingpin;  chief;  head (e.g. of a crime syndicate)
 muscle;  tendon;  vein;  artery;  fiber;  fibre;  line
 favour;  favor;  obligation;  debt of gratitude
 emerging market;  emerging nation;  emergent nation;  developing country;  developing nation
 country;  territory;  domain;  realm
 to dry up completely;  to become stale
 study;  research;  investigation
 mostly;  nearly;  practically;  well-nigh;  almost invariably;  all but
 to be too much for one;  to find unmanageable;  to be beyond one's control;  to not know what to do with
 outside;  exterior;  the open (air);  other place;  somewhere else
 to rise (of a building, mountain, etc.);  to tower;  to soar
 darkness;  the dark;  bewilderment;  despair;  hidden place;  secrecy
 lighting up;  illumination;  floodlighting
 spots;  speckles;  mottles;  speckled;  spotted
 effect;  result;  worth;  Kai (former province located in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture)
 to dig up;  to unearth;  to uncover
 to grow;  to spring up;  to sprout;  to cut (teeth)
 to tower over the surroundings
 dozens;  scores of;  decades
 spire;  steeple;  pinnacle;  minaret
 relatively;  comparatively
 entrance;  entry;  gate;  approach;  mouth
 island;  one's territory (e.g. of a sex worker, organized crime gang);  one's turf
 to overwhelm (e.g. an opponent);  to overpower;  to overwhelm (someone with emotion);  to move;  to intimidate;  to frighten