thorns (thorny plants) / hardships, difficulties

curve

a musical arrangement

arrange music

the surface of the board / (board games) position: the configuration of pieces on the board and what this implies

constituency - (a district represented by an elected official; the voters of such a district)

drugstore (no prescription required: over-the-counter medicines only) / pharmacy (prescription required)

authority (persons in command; specifically, government) / this or our 局 (kyoku, “office”) – post office (郵便局), broadcasting station (放送局), etc.

(electronics) diode (rectifier tube)

extreme