participant; entrant; player; competitor
optional; voluntary; arbitrary; arbitrary
festival; feast; carnival; matsuri
in advance; beforehand; previously; ahead of time
fixed idea; idée fixe; stereotype; prejudice
concentration; diligence; asceticism; zeal in one's quest for enlightenment; adherence to a vegetarian diet
surplus; remainder; residue; margin; balance
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
labour shortage; labor shortage; shortage of workers; shortage of hands
eight; eight years of age; two o'clock (old time system)
Gamblea innovans (species of deciduous tree); extremely spicy form of chili pepper; variety of high-quality green tea
Hakata (old but still commonly used name for Fukuoka)
greed; avarice; covetousness; greedy person
to hang over; to cover; to fall upon someone (responsibility, burden, pressure, etc.)
to be cured; to be healed; to cure; to heal; to rule
leading part; leading actor; leading actress
for a change; for variety's sake
Tochigi (city, prefecture)
to brew (sake, etc.); to cause; to bring on; to bring about
freezing temperature; chilling temperature
three years; third school year (e.g. of high school)
gold prize; gold award; gold medal; first-place prize
winning a prize; receiving an award; being awarded
government; administration; ministry
ukiyo-e; ukiyoe; Edo-period woodblock print
testing; experiment; test; examination; exam; trial
perfect; complete; thorough; leaving nothing to be desired; more than satisfactory
set; suit; uniform collection; entirely; all; every one
(common) soldier; rank and file; army; troops; warfare; strategy
to torment; to pain; to inflict (physical) pain; to harass; to cause (emotional) pain; to afflict
to retaliate; to return a blow; to strike back (at); to retort
insurrection; mutiny; rebellion; revolt; uprising
decapitation; decapitated head
support; participation; assistance; complicity; conspiracy
to extend; to stretch out; to attend; to participate in; to enrol; to enroll
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat; trying but being utterly beaten; being completely rejected when professing one's love
to be onto a good thing; to make money without working; to line one's pockets
retribution; retributive justice; karma; just deserts; poetic justice; reward and punishment for one's past behavior
as it is bound to (happen); following the natural course; though possible as it may be
merger; joining into one; amalgamation; melding; merging; annexation
to exploit; to extort; to squeeze (someone); to squeeze (e.g. oil, juice); to wring out; to press out
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off