biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
leader; authority; mainstay
member of an assembly; member of the Diet; member of parliament; member of Congress
rearing from infancy; training from an early age (e.g. an apprentice); teaching from an early stage (e.g. a subordinate)
postbox; mailbox; post; position; post (e.g. goalpost); post- (e.g. post-Cold War)
to occupy; to hold; to account for; to make up; to take up
forcefulness of speech; influential voice
cabinet (of a government); ministry
to exert (influence); to exercise; to cause (e.g. damage); to do (e.g. harm); to bring about (e.g. benefits); to extend
great (quantity, amount, etc.); huge; enormous; serious
Japan Defense Agency (became Ministry of Defense in January 2007)
management; administration; operation
running about; making every effort; being busily engaged (in something); good offices
to break down due to overwork; to try so hard that the situation gets worse
deputy secretary (government); deputy director
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
dagger; stiletto; confidant; right-hand man
to carry on one's shoulder; to shoulder; to bear; to bear (burden, responsibility, etc.); to take upon oneself
some; few; somewhat; to a certain extent; (arch.) many; (arch.) a lot
Minister for Foreign Affairs
(political) policy position; line of policy; party line
the other day; some time ago; recently
change (of personnel); reshuffle (e.g. of a cabinet); shake-up; dismissal (e.g. of a minister); replacement
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
prime minister (as the head of a cabinet government); premier; leading; overseeing; leader
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
to belong to; to come under; to be affiliated with; to be subject to
(time of) emergency; (in) event of emergency; (in) case of emergency
Minister of Health and Welfare
demand; firm request; requisition; requirement; desire
party-internal; within the party
(any) particular; special; material; perceptible; noticeable
slim; slender; lithe; smoothly; without resistance; without trouble
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
coming and going; traffic; road; street; association; socializing
visiting ill or distressed people; writing get-well letters; get-well gifts; get-well letters; expression of sympathy; expression of concern