formal; courteous; ritual; ritualistic
aimless; rambling; desultory; casual
originally; essentially; naturally; in the first place; to begin with
internal medicine, i.e. treatment by medical procedures rather than surgical procedures; department of internal medicine (hospital, etc.)
wholly; solely; entirely; principally; mostly; chiefly
returning from abroad; coming back to one's country (Japan)
going to work (e.g. in the morning); coming to work
(on) one's own; (by) oneself
to begin to do; to cater; to deliver food
to pull oneself together; to collect oneself (after a failure); to regain control (of oneself)
look like; sound like; savor of; smack of
to weave into; to interweave; to be incorporated in; to be factored in
your husband; her husband
breathing; respiration; knack; trick; harmony; balance
intimacy; friendship; friendly relations
up to now; so far; traditional; conventional; usual
to assume an air of importance; to be self-important; to put on airs
bridge building; mediation; go-between; intermediary; (through the) good offices (of someone)
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
to pull into; to draw in; to bring in; to win over
tightly (holding on); firmly; strongly (built); solidly; properly; well
congratulations!; well done!; best wishes!; all the best!
observation; survey; measurement; opinion; prediction; thinking
doctor's visit; house call
graduation; completion (of a course); moving on (from); outgrowing (something); leaving (a group, company, etc.)
fiscal year (usu. April 1 to March 31 in Japan); financial year; academic year; school year; product year
as is; as it is; as things are; like this; this way; at this rate
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
piece of paper; slip of paper; strip of paper; scrap of paper
being a graduate of the same school; person who went to the same school; fellow alumnus
close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
to be scrupulous; to be attentive; to be prudent; to be complete; to be thorough
from the beginning; from the first; all along; of course
obedient; gentle; meek; submissive; docile
endorsement; proof; note on back of the scroll
on the way back; when about to go back
to the utmost; to the best of one's ability