China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
something or other; one thing or another; this or that
priority; preference; preferential right; right of way
oil; petroleum; kerosene; paraffin
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
doubt; question; suspicion; dubiousness
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
the modern era; present day
just because; even if; even though
advantageous; favourable; better; profitable; lucrative; gainful
technical prowess; technical ability; technical finesse; technological prowess; technological capabilities
to squash; to crush; to flatten
example; illustration; precedent
too many to count; too numerous to mention
action; operation; effect; function
the Japanese; Japanese side; Japanese delegation; Japanese representatives
elucidation; explication; explaining; unravelling; clarification; understanding
if one is unlucky; if one is careless
physical law; laws of physics
electronic engineering; electronics
(large) compilation; culmination (of hard work)
bad; poor; inferior; delinquent; hoodlum; hooligan
carapace; shell; 1st in rank; grade A; instep; back of hand
maneuver (usu. of military force); manoeuvre; mobile; nimble; agile
engineer; technical expert; technician; craftsperson
power; might; authority; influence
charge; rush; dash; assault; attack
nonexistent; nil; none; nothing (at all); bugger-all
plan; policy; means; fifth principle of the Eight Principles of Yong; right upward flick