stealing a march on; getting a head start; secretly acting before others; solo raid on an enemy's camp (for glory)
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989 animated film)
reconciliation of interests; settlement of interests
to have an ulterior motive; to have an axe to grind
government (public policy) focusing on the construction of public (community) buildings
(corporate) bankruptcy; insolvency; commercial failure; failed business
shuttlecock; shuttle service (e.g. bus); shuttle (weaving); space shuttle
amazing trick; amazing skill
Chinese "star" constellation (one of the 28 mansions); Singapore
to do without being seen (by); to do behind (someone's) back; to do without the knowledge of (e.g. one's parents)
kremlin; citadel in Russian town; Great Kremlin Palace (Moscow); Kremlin; Russian government; (former) Soviet government
whistling arrow used to signal the start of battle; start (e.g. of a movement); beginning; dawn
one-coin (i.e. able to be paid for with only one coin, esp. a 500-yen coin, sometimes a 100-yen coin); costing 500 yen; costing 100 yen
to recover a cost; to recover an expense; to get a return on one's investment; to get one's money's worth
daily allowance; daily wages
foreign-made car; imported car; paddle wheel
public (facilities, service, etc.); communal
fitness club; gym; health spa
to work hard; to sweat; to wash off one's sweat
hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa); Japanese cypress
lower tier; lower step; lower column; low position (of a sword in kendo, etc.)
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
bargaining ability; bargaining power; ability to negotiate
cool; chilly; feeling nice and cold
news; word; tidings; omen
to hammer out the details; to work out details
countermeasure; counter-measure
economic world; financial circles; business community
bolt from the blue; great surprise
before or since; neither before nor after; no other time in one's life; stressing a particular moment or event as being unique or most extreme
to run (of liquid); to spread; to blur; to blot; to ooze; to well up (of tears, etc.)
attached; belonging (to); included; enclosed; affiliated; annexed