coming out (as gay, etc.)
heat haze; shimmer of hot air
smooth (skin, etc.); sleek; velvety; silky
while fumbling one's words; with a stutter
to get down to business; to cut to the chase; to get straight to the point; to move on to the main subject
town; city; municipal; urban
air of luxury; high class feel
commandant; commanding officer; general
university town; college town
educational institution; school; academy; campus
hostel; dormitory; (arch.) bureau (government department beneath a ministry under the ritsuryo system); (arch.) tea-ceremony room; (arch.) villa
excavation; exhumation; discovery (e.g. new talent)
scene; sight; scenario; setting
secret intention; ulterior motive; kanji "heart" radical at bottom
consideration; inquiry; enquiry; investigation; study
rate; ratio; comparatively; contrary to expectations
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
exaggerated; overblown; pretentious
high-rise building; tower block; skyscraper
to enter; to trespass; to interfere; to meddle; to pry into
magnificent; grand; majestic; splendid
precipice; cliff; flat head
literal translation; direct translation
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
from the viewpoint of; according to
construction; establishment
few decades; many decades; several decades
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
dealing with; coping with
energy; vigour; vigor; liveliness; spirit; life
shopping district; shopping street; downtown
bustling; busy; crowded; lively (party, voices, etc.); loud; noisy
... being the case; (precisely) because ...; as might be expected from ...
cart (esp. a food cart); stall; festival float; portable shrine dedicated to a god and shaped like a house; stage prop fashioned after a large building; framework (of a house, etc.)
guard; protector; defensive armament; personal armor (armour)
vivid; brightly colored; brilliant; radiant