to laugh; to smile; to sneer; to ridicule; to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
question (e.g. on a test); problem; problem (e.g. societal, political); question; question (i.e. doubt); public discussion
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
to cut down; to slay; to truncate; to round down; to omit; to discard
mistake; error; accident; mishap; improper conduct (e.g. between man and woman); indiscretion
misfortune; bad luck; ill luck; ill fortune
unreasonable; irrational; outrageous; absurd
everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular
immediately; at once; soon; before long; easily; readily
mild; calm; gentle; quiet; congenial; amicable
to get used to; to grow accustomed to; to become skilled in; to become experienced at; to become tame; to become domesticated
to be conspicuous; to stand out
siege; encirclement; envelopment; surrounding; besiegement
Kasumigaseki; district of Tokyo where most of Japan's government ministry offices are located; government ministries (of Japan); Japanese government bureaucracy
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
war potential; military strength; fighting power; ability (to compete); capabilities; valuable asset
reorganization; reorganisation; reshuffle
underwater; behind closed doors; behind the scenes; below the surface
moving forward (e.g. vehicle); onward movement; advance (work, procedure, etc.); advancement; progress (of a disease); disease progression
it seems; I think; I guess; right?; don't you agree?
to say; to utter; to name; to call; to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
cooperation; tie-up; joint business; partnership; alliance; sponsorship
to carry; to transport; to come; to go; to wield (a tool, etc.); to use
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
sorting; arrangement; liquidation; settlement; retrenchment; curtailment
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
April; fourth month in the lunar calendar
establishing; founding; setting up; organizing; establishment
postbox; mailbox; post; position; post (e.g. goalpost); post- (e.g. post-Cold War)
section manager; section chief
aid; help; assistance; assistant; counselor; counsellor
promotion; advancement; rising in rank
several years; a few years
inside; within; while (e.g. one is young); during; among; amongst; in (secret, chaos, poverty, etc.)
to entangle; to entwine; to pick a quarrel; to find fault; to be involved with; to be influenced by
public order; public peace; public security; law and order
taking charge; management
general; universal; ordinary; average; (arch.) the same; (arch.) no different
being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
postwar period; period after Second World War
for the first time; only after ... is it ...; only when ... do you ...; first time; (one's) first