Vocabulary

cheap wines and unpalatable dishes (a modest (self-deprecating) way of offering a meal to a guest)

involuntary admission (to a mental hospital); involuntary commitment

administration by close advisers; kitchen cabinet

prompt decision and prompt execution; make swift decisions and take quick actions

counting on the abacus

diplomatic negotiations at the dinner table; diplomatic bargaining

arrogant and presumptuous; haughty arrogance; intolerable insolence

profit-and-loss arithmetic; calculating profit and loss; mercenary point of view

question of maintenance or abolition (of an institution, organization, etc.)

fundamental; primary; most important

moon worship

backward-looking philosophy (ideology); conservatism

conservative (regressive) policy

a drop in the ocean (bucket)

foreign relations; international relations; external relations; diplomacy

large building and lofty tower; splendid (magnificent, palatial) structure

heinous; treacherous; atrocious; diabolic; fiendish; inhuman

heinous; treacherous; atrocious; diabolic; fiendish; inhuman

slowdown strategy; go-slow tactics (of workers in a labor dispute)

confrontational attitude (stance, posture)

infringing on the power of the sovereign

attain divine enlightenment; perceive absolute truth; experience spiritual awakening

mass (labor) negotiation; mass bargaining session; public negotiation

(adopting) a popular line; (taking) a populist line

Not to be taken out; Reference Only

promulgation of an Imperial rescript

feelings toward other people; sensitivity to other people's feelings; feelings one gives to other people through interpersonal relationships

royal treatment; entertain someone extravagantly

shout with a loud voice; fulminate; vociferate

conformism; following the crowd; swimming with the tide; me-tooism

restoring the declining fortunes; recovering from the discouraging situation; reversing the downward trend

opponent; adversary; the competition; the other side; one's enemy

bold and clever; daring and ingenious; audacious and masterly

bold and unrestrained; daring and unfettered

street (soapbox) oratory; stump oratory

a non-samurai being granted the privilege of wearing a sword (during the Edo period)

attitude and demeanor

the area (of Japan) where typhoons frequently pass; the typhoon Ginza

equal relationship; (being on an) equal footing

austerity budget; belt-tightening budget