ministry proper; home office; head office; this ministry; this department
business trip; official trip
table; desk; counter for tables, desks, etc.; offering table before an altar (sometimes used in tea ceremony); tabletop incense burner
(security) guard; caretaker; janitor; doorkeeper; gatekeeper
Kutani ware (style of Japanese porcelain)
below eye level; about eight-tenths full
to lift up; to hold up; to give; to offer; to devote; to sacrifice
retrogression; degeneration; deterioration
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing; reward
discipline; training; teaching manners
celebrated personage; big-wig; person in a high position
deed; act; work; performance
white clothes; white robe; white gown (worn by doctors, chemists, etc.); commoner without rank (in ancient China); layperson
unprecedented; never happened before; first time in history
light; bright; bright (colour); cheerful; bright; bright (future, prospects, etc.); rosy
gait; walk; stride; trace (e.g. of route taken by hunted criminal); track; trail
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
to order; to send away for; to have (something) sent to one; to pull (something) closer
with a clack; with a thud; unexpectedly (meeting someone); suddenly (ending); abruptly (coming to a halt)
time; meter; beat; the moment (of doing); the instant
womanly; ladylike; feminine
so much; so often; oh, yes!; that's it; that's right; quite
knowing only too well; being fully aware of
to talk (someone) down; to argue down; to silence; to put (someone) in their place; to corner in an argument; to get the better of
quarrel; dispute; argument
chivalrous spirit; chivalry
to take advantage of; to follow blindly; to multiply
kindness; favor; favour; goodwill; affection; liking (for someone)
disposition; temperament; temper; nature
to take on; to undertake; to take over; to inherit; to guarantee; to vouch for
breaking off a relationship; permanent breach of friendship; rupture
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
position; situation; viewpoint; standpoint; point of view
neighboring prefectures; nearby prefectures
paying back a favour; repayment (of an obligation, kindness, etc.)