skewer; spit; skewering; impalement; running through (e.g. with spear)
hard to see; indistinct; obscure; illegible
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
most recent work (e.g. book, film, etc.); latest work; latest offering
baby girl; primary schoolgirl
following (a precedent, former policy, etc.); continuing with; sticking to; observing
tip-off (to the authorities); information (on); anonymous report
occasional; infrequent; rare
whirlwind tour; one-day trip
calling out to someone with love or good will; phone call to a loved one; fervent request; heartfelt appeal
to act as a go-between (for); to mediate; to arrange; to entertain (guests); to treat; to receive
to trouble; to bother; to annoy
employment (long term); hire
change again and again; seesaw back and forth; being in a state of flux; backtracking repeatedly
used to indicate respect for the listener (or reader)
ageing; aging; senile deterioration
maintenance; conservatism; conservativeness; conservation
questionnaire; survey; poll
(private) investigation company; research agency
rank; ranking order; hierarchy
village; hamlet; countryside; country
to vitalize (e.g. an industry); to invigorate; to energize; to establish (e.g. a company); to build up; to set up
self-government; autonomy; local (governmental) autonomy
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
union; alliance; combination; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
autonomy; right of self-government
attention; giving one's attention; focusing
newspaper reporter; print journalist
to become famous overnight; to burst into fame
permanent residence; denizenship
lovable; sweet; charming; pitiful; pathetic; touching
six of one, half a dozen of the other; scant difference
interview (with a doctor); history taking
to be touching; to be moving
unique; peerless; invaluable; priceless
nausea; sickness in the stomach