nakiri knife; vegetable knife; cutting vegetables
arbitrary decision; taking for granted
hard-nosed; strong-willed; determined; unyielding; stubborn; resolute
corporate headquarters; (company) group
capital tie-up; capital alliance; alliance with capital involvement
a new product joining a group of other products
one's song repertoire; songs one can sing
living in obscurity; lying low; remaining unnoticed
order from the company president
unfashionable; uncouth; unrefined; unpolished; unsophisticated
good offices; auspices; sponsorship; village official (during the Edo period)
megalomania; delusions of grandeur
kneading; gloss; paste (e.g. bean paste, mustard paste); parading of portable shrines and floats at festivals
taking part (in planning); participation
to sit in a row; to be present (and lined up)
entry (into a library, museum, etc.); entering
office worker; salaried worker; white-collar worker
in session; in progress; under way; open
to win the prize; to win the ring
ministries and government offices; the authorities
Harbour Ward (e.g. in Tokyo)
Japan time; Japan Standard Time; JST
yeah, yeah; whatever; yes; sure; hello; giddy-up
Liao (dynasty, 916-1125 CE); Khitan Empire
circumference; girth; tour; pilgrimage; circulation (e.g. of blood)
great teacher; great master; great author; great doctor
large family; extended family
president's office; director's office
cord; strap; thong; string (of a musical instrument, bow, etc.)
payment in advance; advance payment; prepayment
cheap lodging or flophouse, especially in a skid row area or slum
traditional ordering of the Japanese syllabary; fundamentals; the ABCs of ...
no matter what; whatever you say; in the end
beautiful woman; pretty girl; high-quality goods; special article
to come back; to bloom a second time
popular figure; person in demand; favorite; favourite