labour shortage; labor shortage; shortage of workers; shortage of hands
snugly; cosily; compactly
shortsighted; narrow-minded
to be caught; to be captured; to be taken prisoner; to be seized with (fear, etc.); to be a slave to; to stick to
innocent; chaste; naive; pure; unmixed; genuine
Japanese style; light wind; moderate breeze
good old; good old-fashioned
gender; distinction of sex; sex
women's group; women's association
pattern; design; body build; figure; essential qualities; character
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
large; large-sized; large-scale; big
gust (of wind); blast; influence; impact; instigation; agitation
side job; sideline; subsidiary business
head (of organization, organisation); chief; sheikh; emir
special position in the civil service (exempted from application of the Local Public Service Act)
National Personnel Authority
shackles; fetters; irons; bonds (e.g. family); ties; binding relationship
ripple (on water); wavelets; ripple (e.g. of uneasiness); unrest; disturbance
middle; centre; center; midpoint; heart
swaying; swinging; rocking; shaking; wavering; flickering
happy tears; tears of joy
agreement; affirmative; aye; yes; OK
cool breeze; refreshing breeze
engineering works; civil engineering; public works
construction; establishment
accounts section; accounting section
disaster preparedness; prevention of damage resulting from a natural disaster; protection against disaster
expertise; special knowledge; technical knowledge; expert knowledge
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)
study; research; investigation
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
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
rapid economic growth (esp. that of Japan in the post-WWII period)
period; time; opportunity; chance; age; term (e.g. in office); session (e.g. of parliament)
public corporation; public housing
shopping basket; market basket
older employee who does not have much actual work