characteristic; traditional; peculiar; inherent; native; eigen-
continuation; persisting; lasting; sustaining; enduring
it is no exaggeration to say; it is not too much to say
my; one's own; I ...; one ...
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
to catch up (with); to draw level; to pull even; to be compensated; to make up for one's losses
somewhere (very vague); someplace (very vague)
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
misfortune; adverse fortune; hapless fate; checkered (life, career, etc.); varied; eventful
convenient; handy; useful
tool; implement; means; furniture
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
incontinence; soiling oneself; wetting one's pants; discharge (e.g. of contaminants); effluence
to polish up (on); to refine; to hone; to polish (by rubbing)
adult (esp. person 20 years old or over); grownup; becoming an adult; coming of age; growing up (to be a man, woman)
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
to learn; to acquire knowledge; to carry; to wear (clothes, etc.); to put on
light novel; young-adult illustrated fiction
first words said (e.g. when meeting someone); first thing out of one's mouth; first speech; inaugural address
without; unacceptable; not alright; unsatisfactory
indiscriminately; blindly; at random; indiscriminate; random; excessive
to say something is all right; to give the all-clear (e.g. to do something)
to deem acceptable; to approve of; to value; to consider a good thing
to compete with; to argue with; to quarrel
to get tired; to tire; to become worn out (of a well-used object); (arch.) to starve
to stare at each other; to lock eyes with
circle; "correct"; "good"; *; _; period
worldwide; global; international; world-famous; world-class
udo (plant related to ginseng, used in medicine and cooking) (Aralia cordata)
reprimand; rebuke; reproach; scolding
negligent; careless; slipshod; slovenly; reckless; irresponsible
Inaba (former province located in the east of present-day Tottori Prefecture)
bad reputation; disgrace; unpopularity
to jump at; to be attracted by
unexpectedly; surprisingly; unexpected; unanticipated; unforeseen