tedious; lengthy; overlong; long-winded
to turn one's head; to look over one's shoulder; to turn around; to think back (on); to reminisce; to look back (on)
to live in hiding; to live as a recluse
government; administration
in name only; figurehead; (only) by name
manipulation of information; spin
secret; secrecy; mystery; secret (e.g. to success); esoteric teachings
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; MEXT
National Diet Library; Library of Congress
Imperial Household Agency
government office; agency; board
Metropolitan Police Department (esp. Tokyo)
well-informed person; thinking person; intelligent person
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
to impose (a tax, fine, etc.); to levy; to assign (a task, duty, etc.); to give; to set
supernatural things; unnatural phenomena; spirits and demons
society; public; community; social studies
indication; denotation; designation; instructions; directions
sympathy; compassion; pity
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
to become used to seeing; to be familiar with
weir; bonds; fetters; ties of obligation
to feel sorry (for, that); to regret (that); to feel pity; to sympathize
portrait; likeness; picture
to give a glance (at); to take one look at
with a start; in surprise; suddenly (realize, remember, etc.); all of a sudden; puffing (air); with a puff
to catch one's breath; to gulp; to have one's breath taken away; to gasp
I fear that it's likely that; with all due respect
highly virtuous monk; monk; Buddhist solitary; Buddhist missionary; saint (i.e. a virtuous person); (arch.) emperor; master
mark; sign; symbol; emblem; badge; crest
primordial; fundamental; basic; primitive
to go around; to return; to surround; to concern (usu. of disputes)
carved seal; engraved stamp; to engrave (a seal); to carve; to make an impression (with a seal)
to close one's eyes partly; to squint; to smile with one's whole face; to look fondly at
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind
archeological excavation (archaeological)
to occur to; to remind of; to come to mind
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
to hint at; to intimate; to suggest; to allude to; to imply