it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that...
stalled session of the Diet (Japanese Parliament)
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
during; for the duration of
traffic restrictions; traffic control
clause; article; stipulations
resolution; vote; decision
sharpness; cutting ability; quickness (of wit); incisiveness; peppiness (of a ball)
(in a) long time; long time (ago); while (ago); long ago; long while (ago); (in a) long while
activity (esp. energetic); great efforts; conspicuous service; to flourish; to participate actively; to play an active role
to gain traction; to develop momentum; to get a boost; to pick up steam
to approach; to draw near
the matter you have been talking about
difficult voyage; hard flight; rough going; rough passage; running into trouble
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
in truth; in actuality; at heart; the truth; the real story
certain; sure; doubtless; I have no doubt; You can depend on it; It's a safe bet
to arrive (at one's destination); to reach; to come to a head; to reach a conclusion; to culminate (in)
betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
name; given name; first name
taking over (e.g. store or family's headship); subrogation; substitution of one person for another (usu. a creditor)
retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation; command (from superior to inferior, government to private sector, etc.); order; descent from heaven
by all rights; legally speaking; properly speaking
custom; general rule; convention; usually; generally; as a rule
in the ministry; in the department
service; duty; business; Buddhist religious services
to be preeminent; to be outstanding
wind and waves; strife; discord; dissension
(Oh) dear!; (Oh) dear me!; Good gracious
extravagant; absurd; unbelievable; enormous; tremendous; extraordinary
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
several years; a few years
that road (path, street, way, etc.); that line (of business); that profession; love affairs; romance
treatment; reception; service; working conditions; salary; pay
most; highest; maximum; best; wonderful; finest
severance payment; retirement money (usu. lump-sum); redundancy payment
to raise; to raise up; to wake; to wake up; to cause; to bring about; to start
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)