decline; degeneration; decay; waning; ebbing
protection; safeguard; shugo (Kamakura or Muromachi period military governor)
founder; originator; pioneer
indeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very
sinking; foundering; getting dead drunk; having too much fun (esp. in a red-light district, etc.) and missing work or neglecting one's duties; staying in one place for a long time
exorbitant; outrageous; ridiculous; absurd; excessive; inordinate
to play a leading role; to play a central part
original; unique; distinctive; independent; one's own; personal
handful; small amount; small number
opposite; opposition; versus; vs.; to (e.g. "winning a game five to three"); equal footing
conclusion; execution (of a contract); entering (into treaty); fastening (as in a joint)
bluntly (refusing, etc.); flatly; out of hand; completely
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
you must be kidding; hey, come on!; surely not!
to have time free; to have time to spare
going and returning (e.g. work, school); both ways
four times; four colour process printing (color); CMYK printing
management; administration; operation; running (business); conducting
members; member; constituent
singularity; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; specificity
the way one works; one's working manner
luggage; baggage; burden; payload (of a packet, cell, etc.)
transport; transportation; conveyance; carriage
picking; collecting; harvesting
field; sphere; realm; division; branch
the right person in the right place
to achieve results; to be successful (in a venture, etc.)
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
influence; clout; leverage
opening a new shop; opening a shop (for the day)
signboard; sign; draw; attraction; reputation (of a shop); name
knot; tying; bundle; lumping; conclusion; ending
each and all; every single one; everybody
victim; injured party; sufferer
prejudice; bias; distorted view
title (e.g. Doctor, Professor, Lord); job title; position (in a company); degree; status; rank
ill feeling; ill will; animosity; bad impression