treating a metal surface to make it look worn and aged; antique finish
to withdraw from (a deal); to wash one's hands of; to lead by the hand
blunt; to the point; direct; outspoken; frank
to give something weight; to give something dignity
sale; selling; selling point; gimmick; seller; vendor
enrolled student; registered student
(stage) appearance; performance; participation (e.g. in a tournament)
producing (people) in great numbers; appearing one after the other
income; receipts; revenue
star attraction; draw card; crowd puller
hard-to-get-into university; elite university; highly-selective university
success; passing (e.g. exam); eligibility
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
newly arrived; newly joined; newly entered; newcomer
advertising material; promotional material; propaganda material
water sports (esp. swimming and diving); swimming competition
meeting; assembly; party; society; association; club
winning a prize or place (in a contest)
admission based on recommendation; enrolment by recommendation (enrollment)
arrival in Japan; coming to Japan; visit to Japan
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
one's family register; one's domicile; nationality; membership (club, party, etc.)
to change; to swap; to change the object of one's interest or focus; to spend or take time; to infect; to permeate something with the smell or colour of something; to move on to the next or different stage of (a plan, etc.)
tangent point; point of contact; contact (electrical, etc.); point of agreement; common ground
(emotional) backbone; support; backbone (of a network)
tedious; boring; being fed up with
willingly; voluntarily; on one's own accord
viewing optimistically; thinking optimistically; taking an optimistic view; looking on the bright side
to feel giddy; to totter; to be unfixed (emotions, beliefs, etc.); to waver; to wander aimlessly; to loiter
just as one thought; as usual; sure enough
to lean on; to recline on; to rely on; to depend on
to worry about (someone's welfare or comfort); to feel anxious about; to have apprehensions of
dirty-looking; filthy; disgusting; squalid
to grow senile; to be childish with age; to be mentally slow; to be befuddled; to play stupid; to say something stupid (oft. on purpose; esp. as part of a comedic routine)
numbness; going to sleep (of a limb); pins and needles
to crush (with one's hands); to kill a proposal; to shelve; to table (remove from consideration)