to have one's attention caught (by); to be distracted (by); to be preoccupied (with); to be captivated (by); to be absorbed (in)
to raise one's voice; to shout
one round; one tour; one circuit; one patrol
theme; topic; subject matter; motif; project; slogan
Kasumigaseki; district of Tokyo where most of Japan's government ministry offices are located; government ministries (of Japan); Japanese government bureaucracy
work-to-rule; go-slow strike; slowdown; being idle; slackening; being truant
Osaka Metropolis Plan; proposed change of Osaka Prefecture from an urban prefecture to a metropolitan prefecture (like Tokyo) which would result in the abolition of Osaka City
to tear off; to rip off; to peel off
central government agencies; central bureaucracy
Shizuoka (city, prefecture)
to tear off; to peel off; to rip off; to strip off; to skin; to flay
cannot be avoided (of a problem, etc.); unavoidable; inevitable
merger (of companies, towns, etc.); combination; union; amalgamation; consolidation; coalition
tentative plan; draft plan
(radio, TV) license fee; licence fee
crucial; critical; vital; core
deterioration (in quality, performance, etc.); degradation; worsening; (visible) aging; becoming unattractive (due to aging)
reorganization; reorganisation; reshuffle
competitiveness; competitive edge; competitive power
the northeastern (unlucky) direction; person or thing to be avoided; (lit.) the demon's gate; weak point; Achilles' heel
very easy; piece of cake; child's play; before breakfast
engine; agency; organisation; system; facility
Ministry of Finance (1869-2001); Ministry of the Treasury (under the ritsuryō system)
barely; narrowly; only just; with difficulty
to play a role; to serve a function; to play a part
panty-less; wearing no underwear
shabu-shabu; hot pot dish where thinly sliced meat is boiled quickly and then dipped in sauce
soapland; brothel where one can bathe with prostitutes
defeating an argument; winning an argument; refutation; confutation
poisonous; venomous; hateful; detestable; gaudy; garish
war criminal; person responsible for a team's defeat
underpants; pants; briefs; trousers (esp. women's); jodhpurs; breeches
viewing as a problem; problematizing
protection; defence; support; safeguarding; championship; vindication
the good old days; halcyon days
to yearn (for); to miss; to feel nostalgic (for); to recall fondly
rapid growth (of an economy, company, etc.)
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; MLIT
wherein; therein; thereinto; among which
to chip (off); to shave off; to sharpen; to dampen (one's enthusiasm, interest, etc.); to reduce
society; company; the public; the world