background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
closing credits (of a film, TV show, etc.); end credits
deferment (e.g. of savings); leaving (something) as it stands; unredeemed; unredeemable; irredeemable
something extra; something on top; and then some; icing on the cake
concentration (of efforts, forces, etc.); gathering together; regimentation; marshalling; mobilization
preparedness for death; do-or-die spirit
preventing (someone) from leaving; confinement; keeping indoors; being stranded; grounding
resignation; acceptance; consolation
to lean against; to lean on; to recline on; to lie heavy (on the stomach); to be uneasily digested
appropriate; suitable; proper; fitting
method of cooking; way of cooking; cooking technique; recipe
passing mark; qualifying marks (score)
cookware; cooking utensil
sushi; range of dishes made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables, egg, etc.
curry (esp. Japanese curry); rice and curry
not necessarily so; is not always true; there is no guarantee that ...; there is no telling
simulation; simulation (of a foul); diving; flopping
command; direction; supervision; conducting (an orchestra, choir, etc.)
various countries; various regions; various provinces
to challenge (esp. in a lawsuit); to take on an opponent (in negotiations, contest, etc.)
seat; location (of a gathering, etc.); place; position; post
to mow down; to cut down; to knock down; to defeat; to beat
surrounding environment; ambient surrounding; one's surroundings
Manchu-Han Imperial Feast; three-day feast of Chinese delicacies held during the Qing dynasty
having one's choice; (ability to) pick and choose
one plate (of food); one dish; one helping
eating everything (on one's plate, etc.)
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
to be boiled; to be cooked
strawberry (esp. the garden strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa); 15,000 yen
general public; the masses
difficult to imagine; quite unlikely to; very doubtful; would not expect
subject; theme; homework; assignment; problem (that needs solving); task
to lean (to one side); to incline; to be unbalanced (e.g. diet); to be unduly weighted towards; to be partial; to be biased
to prove successful; to take hold; to amount to something
ascent; uphill; upward slope; (gradual) upturn; increase
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion
foreign country; another country; another province; strange land; alien land
middle stage; middle phase; middle game; midfield (in soccer)