National Personnel Authority
shackles; fetters; irons; bonds (e.g. family); ties; binding relationship
ripple (on water); wavelets; ripple (e.g. of uneasiness); unrest; disturbance
swaying; swinging; rocking; shaking; wavering; flickering
happy tears; tears of joy
agreement; affirmative; aye; yes; OK
cool breeze; refreshing breeze
construction; establishment
accounts section; accounting section
to cut open; to clear (land); to cut (a path, road, etc.); to carve out (a new career, future, etc.); to open up (a new field)
waka; classic Japanese poem, esp. a tanka, often 31 morae
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
assistant; adjunct; lieutenant
bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy
rapid economic growth (esp. that of Japan in the post-WWII period)
public corporation; public housing
shopping basket; market basket
older employee who does not have much actual work
romanticist; romantic; dreamer
between-meal snack; mid-afternoon (around 3 o'clock) snack; afternoon refreshment; afternoon tea
(electric) torch; flashlight
afternoon refreshment; afternoon tea
moisture; humidity; dampness
retainer; attendant; escort
tobacco; cigarette; cigaret; tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum)
total fire ban; no source of ignition permitted; no open flame; flammables!
destination; whereabouts; future; prospects
thunderous roar; roaring sound
pulverization; pulverisation; smashing; demolishing
to be coming; to be popular; to be fashionable; to be angry; to have blown one's lid
reaching the shore; docking a boat
to talk of one's dreams (esp. unrealistic, far-fetched ones); to dream out loud
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it,...; I mean
aluminium can; aluminum can
to work (someone) hard; to push (someone) around