in preparation; (shop) not yet open for business
barrier; checkpoint; gateway; hurdle; obstacle; trial
thick fog (of suspicion); black veil of secrecy; covered-up crime, unethical act, etc.
in good health; healthy; skilled; proficient; master; expert
imperial lands; lands blessed by the emperor's reign
comical (story, song); comic; the comedy business (rakugo, manzai, etc.); something laughable
fault; weakness; flaw; crux (of a matter); difficult point; point of contention
making an attempt; trial run
to increase; to add to; to augment
territory; domain; field; area; domain; region
thousands; several thousand
to crowd together in a confined space; to gather and make a commotion
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
spurt of blood (from one's victim)
to wash; to cleanse; to inquire into; to investigate; to purify (one's heart); to lave (e.g. shore)
shithead; bastard; fucking; bloody; damned
to outwit; to outmanoeuvre; to steal a march on; to get the jump on; to anticipate; to forestall
hateful; detestable; abominable; amazing; fantastic; admirable
rival; competitor; competition
to come to nothing; to go down the drain; to go up in smoke
folding; bending; wrapping; packing; folding (in poker)
to suit one's skin (of cosmetics); to agree with one's skin; to be compatible; to get along well; to be to one's liking
den of vice; rogue's den; brothel; red-light district; cluttered room
what kind of thing; anything (else); nothing (but)
to replace; to convert; to exchange; to interchange; to substitute (person, staff member, player, etc.)
with a whoosh; with a swish; with a whirl; whizzing by
imposing stance; daunting pose
relocation of the capital; transfer of the capital
to be discouraged; to shrink from
to come face to face (with)
twelve o'clock; noon; midnight
continuous; nonstop; consecutive; removing partitions (to create an open space); joining separate rooms into one
weariness; boredom; tedium; tiresomeness
to have come; to be here; to be popular; to be fashionable; to be angry; to have blown one's lid
to fly; to race away; to vanish; to disappear; to rush over; to hurry over
to lead; to spearhead (a group); to command (troops)
dependence (on alcohol, drugs, etc.)
sticking to (an opinion, theory, belief, etc.); clinging to; adherence; persistence; insistence
putting off (doing); postponement; delaying
naturally; in due course; by itself; of its own accord
flickering; flashing on and off; glaringly (bright); painfully (bright); prickling (pain)