serious; earnest; honest; real; legit
elder brother; big brother; one's senior; one's elder; old ingredients; stale ingredients
going (up) to the capital; going to Tokyo
private; foot soldier; infantryman; underling; low level worker; minor player
to go down in history; to be recorded in the history books
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
country; territory; domain; realm
union; combination; association; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
to go around spreading (news, rumors, etc.); to cry about; to circulate; to broadcast
disappointing (end, result, etc.); sad; miserable; tragic; fleeting; transient
one's first campaign; one's first battle
to smear with blood; to kill
to use up all of one's energy and willpower; to be exhausted (and have no will to go on)
conferring of decorations
allied forces; the Allies (e.g. in WWII)
feats of arms; military exploits; distinguished military service
to collude (with); to conspire (with); to make friends with; to get along well with; to become intimate (with opposite sex); to establish a secret liaison (with)
stoic; stoical; self-disciplined; abstemious; Stoic (philosopher)
enemy camp; enemy line; last 3 rows of the board
(one's) military service record
holiday; vacation; day off; time off; leave; furlough
to get tired; to become exhausted; to become worn out; to become battered (from long use); to get tired of (doing); to get fed up with
next (year, spring, etc.); coming; since (e.g. last month); for (e.g. 20 years)
gathering spot; haunt; rendezvous; meeting place; hang-out
to threaten; to terrify; to frighten
crossing swords; fighting with swords; cutting each other (in fighting)
wooden doll; wooden figure; puppet; blockhead; good-for-nothing
year after year; as the years go by; with each passing year
to fight with swords; to cross swords
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
to ride side by side; to walk side by side; to go together; to join forces; to work together; (lit.) to line up horses' bits
stretching a rope around; roping off; one's turf; domain; territory (of an animal)
division; section; compartment; block; plot; lot
place for relaxation and refreshment
to hit something aimed at (maliciously); to hit a prize (lottery, etc.)
taking on a life of its own (of a rumour, etc.); walking by oneself; taking a walk by oneself; walking unaided; being able to walk without help; standing on one's own feet