Vocabulary

captured pieces; captured stones

artificially flooded salt farm above the high-tide mark

stone with oil-like lustre (luster)

color of rapeseed oil; clear yellow with a red tinge

coating a painting with a layer of transparent oil

second guest of honour (at a tea ceremony); second guest of honor

(university) admission category for recommended candidates

gratin dish

maintenance checkup; maintenance and inspection

onion soup au gratin; French onion soup

macaroni au gratin

potatoes au gratin

debut; first appearance

government agency providing public services; government agency involved in public enterprise

Act on Enforcement of the Act on Labor Relations of Public Enterprise Corporation

National Enterprise Labor Relations Law

Act on Labor Relationship of Specified Independent Administrative Agency, etc. (2002)

state-owned forests and fields

three public corporations (Japan National Railways, Japan Monopoly Corporation, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) and five government enterprises (postal services, mintage, printing, management of state-owned forests/fields, and monopolization of alcohol)

Printing Bureau; Bureau of Printing and Engraving

administrative government agency; policy-making government agency

government agency providing public services; government agency involved in public enterprise

imperial envoy gate; temple gate used by imperial envoy

at the time; in those days; then

shrinking back in fear

theory of heat; thermal science; thermology

polybasic acid

short-chain fatty acid

thioctic acid; lipoic acid

deoxycholic acid

but; however

loss-cutting; cutting one's losses

indicates a confident conclusion

all things are essentially nothingness; all things come from nothingness; originally, there was nothing; Zen reminder to free oneself from attachments

war photographer; combat cameraman

babies' wear; baby clothes

folding umbrella

calamity, good fortune, success and failure

rubber stamp

to throw into; to toss into; to fling into