cold; frigid; bracing; dignified
stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded
to exclude (someone); to shun; to ignore; to leave out; to ostracize
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
to sigh; to breathe a sigh
(political) power; authority; influence
fully; luxuriantly; fluffy; plump; soft and full
big hit; smash hit; popular item (e.g. movie, music)
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
eco bag; reusable shopping bag
beautiful legs; great legs
new product; new line (of products)
throwing in; inserting; investment; commitment (of funds, personnel, etc.); launching (a product into the market); introduction
though; even if; whether ... or ...
merger (of companies, towns, etc.); combination; union; amalgamation; consolidation; coalition
to go upstream; to go back (in time, to origin); to date back to; to trace back to
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
leader; authority; mainstay
Democratic Liberal Party (1948-1950)
being enrolled (at a school); being registered; being a member (of a team, organization, etc.)
regulation; (traffic) policing; control; restriction
global maximum; greatest value
Golden Week (early-May holiday season in Japan)
O-Bon; Obon; Bon Festival; tray
to claim lives; to cause deaths; to result in fatalities
several; various; divergent; conflicting; different; diverse
agreement; coincidence; correspondence; conformity
to put on airs; to assume importance
House of Representatives and House of Councillors; both houses of the Diet
four times; four colour process printing (color); CMYK printing
Great Leap Forward (failed attempt to industrialize China and increase agricultural production, from 1958-1960); significant breakthrough; great strides
ruling party; government party; party in power; government
sudden; lightning; immediate; shocking
secession from a political party
one's original family name; maiden name
disappearance; running away; going missing; absconding
missing (of a person); lost; unaccounted for; whereabouts unknown
starting point; point of departure
prominent; leading; foremost; distinguished