beat; palpitation; pulsation; throbbing
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
specialization; specialty; speciality; expertise
technical skill; ability; capacity
national defence; national defense
to put to use; to make use of; to turn to account
introduction; presentation; referral; listing
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to step firmly; to harden by treading
to examine someone's expression
to stare in wonder; to be amazed
to fall (over, down); to collapse; to be destroyed (in a collapse); to collapse; to be confined to bed (with an illness); to come down with; to die
taking no notice; ignoring; not even looking at
dumbfounded; in mute amazement
every person; each one; everybody
speciality; specialty; subject of study; expert; area of expertise
handicraft; work; construction; maneuvering; manoeuvering
cut; cutting; haircut; shuffle (cards); shuffling; scene
uneven; irregular; non-uniform; unsorted; odd; miscellaneous
age-appropriate (esp. of clothing, hairstyles)
childish; child-like; innocent; naive
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen
to come together; to merge; to fit; to match; to be profitable; to be equitable
to think of; to hit upon; to come into one's mind; to remember; to recall
to thrust before; to thrust at
cool; indifferent; apathetic; cold; cold-hearted; heartless
worst-ever; history's worst
genius; prodigy; natural gift
beyond; across; the other side; the distance
tradition; legend; folklore
bloodthirsty killer; cold-blooded murderer; homicidal maniac
still; yet; more; still more; as ...; like ...
again; once more; a second time
unfortunately; sorry, but ...
rainy sky; sky as it looks when it is about to rain; threatening sky
minivan; people-mover; 6-8 seat automobile with sliding door or doors
inside a car (train, bus, etc.)