utilization rate; capacity factor; utilization factor; coefficient of use
public opinion; popular voice; public sentiment; consensus
prayer for school success
suffrage; the right to vote
(eligible) voter; elector; holder of a right; rightsholder; bigwig; person with political clout
disparity between values of votes in different constituencies; measure of malapportionment of electorates
vote for a losing candidate; wasted vote
candidate (for an election)
all you can drink; bottomless cup
commonplace; ordinary; typical; ubiquitous; run-of-the-mill; mundane
spotlight; public eye; public's attention; goldfish bowl
weeding out; elimination (e.g. of unneeded employees); culling; selection (e.g. natural selection)
Swords and Firearms Control Law (1958)
legal guardians' association; parents' association (at a school); parent-teacher's meeting
indigestion; dyspepsia; incomprehensibility; inability to understand
what time; (lit.) which hour
entrance examination for selected candidates (who have been recommended to the university)
previous engagement; prior contract
launching; launch; end (of a theatrical run, etc.); closing party (e.g. a theater show); cast party
troubled face; worried expression
to have orderly plans; to be systematic
news coverage; collecting data (e.g. for an article); covering (something for media); interview
to happen suddenly; to take place unexpectedly
tatami room; tatami mat room; formal Japanese room; dinner party in a tatami room (esp. when a geisha or maiko attends)
brave woman; heroine; lady of character; Amazon
island in the southern sea (esp. Shikoku)
mixing of public and private affairs; mixing business with personal affairs; mixing work and private matters
appetizer; starter; hors d'oeuvre
urgent; pressing; immediate; urgently; promptly; at once
journal; magazine; periodical
bona fide third party; bona fide third person
stew; food cooked in a pot
dressing up; wearing fancy clothes
New Year's Day; New Year's morning; morning of New Year's Day