first-grade tea (first picking)
at the very beginning of one's speech; the first thing (one) says after opening the mouth
first thing in the morning
leader of a charge; first to arrive
first person (to do); person going first; first place; top position; person in the top position
the (one's) best pupil; the (one's) top disciple
first of all; first thing
the crucial moment; the moment of truth; do-or-die situation; crucial juncture; crucial stage
decisive game; important bout; crucial match
first storm of spring; strong winds during the change from winter to spring
contest decided by a single round (bout); contest decided by a single roll of dice; one-shot game (contest); make-or-break game
final bout of the tournament day
newly recruited wrestlers in the first round of presentation after mae-zumo
first and foremost; most important thing to do first; top priority; (lit.) plot 1, block 1
exerting oneself to the utmost, prepared to die if necessary
exerting oneself to the utmost, prepared to die if necessary
something so difficult that one doesn't know if there's even a 1 in 1000 chance of success
it's always darkest before the dawn; the darkest hour is just before the dawn
giving cries of encouragement at a critical moment
bracing oneself up to action, being inspired by something; getting down to work, putting heart and soul into it; tackling (a job) with gusto