public utilities; public enterprise; public service
New Year's sake; spiced sake
privacy of communications
telecommunications carrier; PTT
(former) Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (now Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
industrialization; industrialisation; commercialization
private regulations; bylaws; internal rules; tradition
shortage of capital; lack of funds; cash flow problem
the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 (the epicenter was located on Awaji island)
stereotype; preconceived idea; preconceived notion
communication technology; communications technology
just friends; no romantic interest; (lit.) no pulse
letterpress printing; moveable type printing
entrepreneur; person who starts a new business
table tennis table; ping-pong table
to that extent; to that degree; that much; that many
on business; for business; business purpose
(at) the beginning of the New Year; early in the New Year
company name; corporate name
to supplant; to supersede; to replace; to take the place of
favorite child; favourite child; darling; favorite; star
to give one's first cry (of a newborn baby); to be born; to come into being; to be formed
to run out of; to dry up; to be depleted; to hit the bottom; to bottom out
observance (of laws, rules, etc.); adherence; obeying; following; abiding by; compliance
big corporation; major firm; leading company
make no progress; remain unsettled
business person; operator; carrier (telecommunications, transport, etc.)
on the least pretext; at the drop of a hat
first cry of a newborn baby
pioneer; trailblazer; leader; groundbreaker; pathfinder; forerunner
direct sunlight; direct rays of the sun
setting sail; putting out to sea; starting anew; embarking on something new
fundraising; financing; cash flow
starting up (e.g. business, computer)
well-known only to those in the know; be well-known but to the few; highly regarded by a select few
prime location (for offices, housing, etc.); best district (in town); excellent piece of land