blockade; lockdown; sealing off (an area); freezing (funds)
weak ending; tapering; anticlimax; tame ending
to catch sight of; to come into view; to happen to see
strict (e.g. security); heavy (e.g. guard); showy; pretentious; impressive; imposing
to taste; to eat; to drink; to speak (of); to refer (to); to say
beautiful; lovely; heartwarming; beautiful
arbor facing a spring (arbour)
same; similar; (just) like; equal
before oneself; in front of one; a bit before reaching (a location); this side (of a location); one's standpoint; one's appearance; skill
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
to exchange glances; to correspond; to counterbalance
double room; room shared by two people; shared room
monitoring; watching; observation; surveillance; guarding; supervision
indicates reason or excuse; indicates dissatisfaction; indicates desire to be pampered or indulged
secrecy; highly classified information
to steal; to plagiarize; to steal (a technique, idea, etc.); to do stealthily; to do during scant time; to steal a base
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
to comb out; to brush; to untangle; to unravel
envoy; ambassador; delegate; emissary; mission
institution; establishment; facility; home (for elderly, orphans, etc.)
reception hall (esp. for visiting state dignitaries); guest house; State Guest House (esp. Akasaka palace, also guest house in Kyoto)
(United States of) America; United States; US; America (land mass); the Americas
president (of a nation); big man; boss; buddy
Imperial Hotel (in Tokyo)
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
a lot; lots; enough; sufficient; enough; too many
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
matter of life or death; life-and-death problem
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen
(wearing only) a pair of underpants
flesh; meat; flesh (of a fruit); pulp; the physical body (as opposed to the spirit); flesh; thickness
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
example; simile; metaphor; allegory