nail; spike; tack; rivet; brad; (pachinko) pin
grain thief; sharpened tube for testing rice in bags; sashimi (sliced raw fish); stabbing; piercing
close; intimate; on good terms
to drive away; to clear; to scatter; to disperse
incorporation; conversion to a corporation; privatization (of a previously public body)
employment (long term); hire
coffee shop; tearoom; coffee lounge; coffeehouse; cafe
someone who is suddenly quiet and meek; (lit.) borrowed cat
complimentary copy of a book
furious facial expression
interesting (personality, turn of phrase, etc.); pleasantly different; tasteful; attractive; charming
horse; horse racing; promoted bishop
this week's issue (e.g. magazine)
(two-page) spread; two pages opposite each other
laconic; of few words; reticent; quiet
to tear off; to pluck off; to take forcibly
unspecified large number (of people)
(our) magazine; periodical; journal
the extraordinary; the unusual; the unexpected
to compete (with each other); to contend for; to vie for; to rival
science fiction; sci-fi; SF
inexcusable; unpardonable; can't be allowed to pass (without comment)
to disappear into; to slip into; to be lost in; to be mixed up with
cover (of a book, magazine, etc.); binding; appearing on the cover of a magazine
figure eight; figure of eight; shape of "hachi", the kanji for eight
surname; family name; last name
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
occasionally; once in a while; seldom; casually; unexpectedly; accidentally
moving about; stirring about
no chance of; no way that; certainly not; will never happen
lying on one's belly; crawling on one's belly; belly crawl
for oneself; for one's own sake; on one's own account
several weeks; a few weeks
leopardess; female leopard
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict