oneself; oneself; for oneself; personally
obsolescence; becoming obsolete (of a product, etc.)
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
stale; hackneyed; cliched
considerably; greatly; a lot
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
change; transformation; innovation; Reformation
contention; competition; rivalry; quarrel
assuming that ...; supposing that ...
assumption; supposition; hypothesis
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
progress; advance; improvement; development
just like that; in the twinkling of an eye; in the blink of an eye; (lit.) in the time it takes to say "ah!"
to pass (a car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to outdistance
indeed; really; truly; very much
reading comprehension; ability to read and understand
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
explanation; commentary; exposition; elucidation
saucer; person (group, institution, etc.) to take over a position or matter; receptacle (e.g. of funds); receiver
rather; sooner; preferably
pupil; student; schoolchild
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
occupation; profession; job; vocation; trade; calling
plain; simple; reserved (behaviour, attitude, etc.); modest; quite; a (little) bit
absolutely essential; indispensable; vital; critical
to prove successful; to take hold; to amount to something
Japanese person; Japanese people
command of English; proficiency in English; knowledge of English
insufficiency; deficiency; shortage; dissatisfaction; discontent; complaint
foreign country; other country; another province; strange land; alien land
crossing swords; competing against; contending with; fighting against
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); (arch.) province (of Japan)
to carry on one's shoulder; to shoulder; to bear; to bear (burden, responsibility, etc.); to take upon oneself
appropriate; adequate; suitable; fitting; worthy
to raise; to rear; to train; to teach; to promote the growth of; to nurture
the present; present time; as of; present tense; this world; this life
which can exist solely due to the presence of; whose existence is determined entirely by; which owes everything to