brilliant achievement; spectacular feat; splendid accomplishment; remarkable deed
obligation chocolate; chocolate given by women to male colleagues, etc. out of obligation on Valentine's day
air of luxury; high class feel
a gap develops; a significant difference emerges
McDonald's (fast food restaurant); Mac (personal computer); Macintosh
soon; before long; shortly; close (by); near; nearby
private; exclusive; secret
Kansai; region consisting of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and surrounding prefectures; Kansai; south-western half of Japan (during the feudal era)
eggs; egg; (hen's) egg; (an expert) in the making; beginning; origin
at a young age; while still young
national paper; paper with a national circulation
proceeding to the capital (Tokyo)
another company; other company
ardent; passionate; vehement
obscure; vague; ambiguous
to like too much; to like to excess; to adore
reservation system; appointment system; (on) a subscription basis
divide into four pieces; one fourth
suddenly and in a loud voice (e.g. sobbing)
millions; several million; a few million
management; administration; operation; running (business); conducting
handy; convenient; suitable; reasonable; moderate
to knit; to plait; to braid; to compile (anthology, dictionary, etc.); to edit
thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts
arrival of goods; goods received
dilettante; person of fantastic taste
to feel right; to sit well with one; to be happy about; to suit to a T; to fit well together
once-in-a-lifetime encounter (hence should be cherished as such)
repaying a debt after achieving success; promise to repay a debt after achieving success
to translate; to interpret
tedious; lengthy; overlong; long-winded
far away in the distance; in the far distance
end; final; end of life; death; never; not at all