(political) power; authority; influence
popularity; public favor; condition (e.g. market); tone; character
losing easily; being trounced; being beaten hands down
(a) little; somewhat; somehow
easy; simple; simple (way of thinking, etc.); simple-minded; soft; lax
to be noisy; to be astir; to be abuzz; to be in commotion; to be aflutter; to be unsettled
knowing no bounds; showing no signs of stopping or slowing down
heated (e.g. debate); passionate
riding; ride; spread (of paints); -seater (e.g. two-seater); (getting into the) mood; (entering into the) spirit
to be softened; to calm down
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
to strain (e.g. one's nerves); to be on edge; to be tense (of an atmosphere); to cover completely (e.g. with tiles, ice, etc.); to spread over; to become covered (in)
exactly; precisely; closely; tightly; properly; without fail
modulation (of voice); variation; variety; liveliness (e.g. of writing style)
true feelings; real intention; one's heart; one's right mind; one's senses; one's conscience
to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
despite; in spite of; not worrying about; without fear of
to fish; to angle; to catch; to lure in; to tempt; to attract
moderate; proper; just right
to let the tension out of one's shoulders; to relax; to not take oneself too seriously
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
occasion; time; circumstances; (in) case (of); when
to be conceivable that; to be thinkable that
general framework; broad outline; rough idea; generally; broadly; in broad terms
plans; arrangement; schedule; program; programme; expectation
environment; surroundings; circumstances
most suitable; optimum; optimal; best
assistant; helper; assistant (to a professor); research assistant
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
to lay aside; to set aside
picking; collecting; harvesting; extraction
to wait on someone hand and foot; to take personal care of someone
coming to Sendai; arrival in Sendai; visit to Sendai
even a little; any at all; if only a little; no matter how little
good bargain; (a) find; godsend; (a) steal
compulsion; coercion; forcing (to do); enforcement
shortcut; taking a shortcut; (keyboard) shortcut; short-cut hairstyle for women
outskirts; environs (of a city); surrounding area; surroundings