switching over to; migration; transition
wartime regime; war footing
to take great pains; to make every effort; to rack one's brains; to be concerned; to worry
Karafuto (Japanese name for Sakhalin)
Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875); Russo-Japanese treaty in which Japan exchanged Sakhalin for the Kuril Islands
reclamation (e.g. wasteland); cultivation; development; pioneering; opening up (e.g. new market); breaking new ground
independent state; independent nation
denial; negation; repudiation; disapproval
unlawful; illegal; unreasonable; outrageous; unjust
armed group; armed insurgents
splendid; nice; sufficient; fine (in the sense of "I'm fine"); well enough; OK
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less
strong arm; stout arm; ability to carry out a difficult job; capable person
confusion; bustle; turmoil; to rush around; to act frantically
calm; quiet; gentle; moderate; reasonable; amicable
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russia)
person who has rendered distinguished service
foundation stone; cornerstone
honouring (publicly); honoring; making someone's good deeds or achievements well-known
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
original; primitive; primary; fundamental; raw
grandstand play; grandstanding; showboating; showing off
to glare at; to scowl at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully; to estimate; to guess
difficult to be (in a place); not feeling like staying
later on; subsequently; by and by; after a while
selection (esp. from many people for an important job position); exceptional promotion
to do together; to share; to participate in
to care for (the sick); to nurse; to attend (someone's deathbed)
personal; individual; private
collection of books; (personal) library
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
root; source; origin; foundation; basis; essence
destruction (esp. of evidence); spoliation; suppression; hiding; concealment
(former) Eastern Bloc countries