plan; scheme; intention; project; design
maneuvering behind the scenes; backroom deals; dodgy dealings
smoothly; easily; readily
having no idea; having no clue
if possible; preferably; if circumstances allow
guess; speculation; supposition
internal maneuvering; secret maneuvering (within an organization); reconciling the various views within an organization before airing something in public
highish; somewhat high; on the high side; somewhat expensive; comparatively expensive; on the expensive side
dialogue; conversation; talk; discussion; communication
hostile; adversarial; antagonistic
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
to soften; to calm down; to be eased; to be mitigated; to subside; to abate
after all; in the end; when all's said and done; for the time being; at present
to grow up; to become an adult
audience (with a person of high standing); diameter of a tree trunk at eye level
overcoat; greatcoat; cloak; wrap; mantle
fusuma; Japanese sliding screen
Obon; Bon Festival; Buddhist festival for honouring the spirits of one's ancestors, held in mid-August or in some regions, mid-July; tray
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
quickly; briefly; rashly; carelessly; (flowing) in trickles
one's youth; early life; one's early days; one's early years
news (from someone); letter; contact; (someone's) whereabouts; (someone's) movements
to stop; to cease; to come to an end; to cut off
withering; shrivelling; shrinking; contraction; atrophy
celebrity; famous person; public figure; big name
smiling; beaming; radiant; bright; cheerful
(your) business; (your) concern; (customer's) order; official business (of the government, Imperial Court, etc.); arrest; capture
messy; confused; chaotic; in a nagging manner; (complaining) about various things
fixed number; certain number; given number; definite number
confusion; mixing; merger
contemplation; meditation
to sniff out; to get wind of
remaining unchanged (from the old state of things); none the better for the change (if at all)
face; honour; meld; lineup (of players participating in a mahjong game); attendees (e.g. at a meeting); members
(means of) enduring; tiding over; pulling through; food offered to attendants of a funeral
innovative; liberal; reformist; progressive
sense of impending crisis; sense of danger
cooperation; conciliation; harmony; coordination
with; by; because of; on account of; on (a day, date); at (a time); adds emphasis to preceding word
(not) at all; (not) in the least; (none) whatsoever
pulverization; pulverisation; reducing to pieces; crushing; smashing