Vocabulary

seabed probe; probe of the ocean floor; submarine prospecting

business confidence; business sentiment; corporate sentiment

letting out blood prior to cooking; draining blood from meat, fish, etc.

diagnostic examination; exploration

recession-induced

upturn; increment phase; rise period

downturn; decrement phase

red-light district (marked by a red line on police maps)

red-light district

legal competency; criminal responsibility; ability to fulfil one's responsibilities; full accountability

state of drunkenness; (in a) fuddle

very improbable; vanishingly unlikely; only with a miracle

Green Party; The Greens

biggest shareholder; largest stockholder

Fiscal Investment and Loan Program; FILP

acid-test ratio; quick ratio; cash-to-current-liabilities ratio

capital requirements; demand for funds; credit needs

add-on; addition

ticket good for multiple performances (e.g. a whole day, including matinee and evening performances); season ticket; through ticket

preschool; not yet enrolled in school

next; next person

to display one's real ability; to show one's real ability; to show one's stuff; to show oneself at one's best; to really shine; to come into one's own

excursion ticket

usher

morning studies; studying before school

morning studies; studying before school

three-leaf clover

to make someone understand their fate; to reason with; to persuade; to deliver an imperial edict (which cannot be refused)

tightening of regulations

Akutagawa Prize (literary award)

romantic film; love movie

exchange-traded fund

work experience; practical study in the real world

farm income

peace accord; peace agreement

three-part joke, where the first two parts are similar and mundane, while the third is the punchline (e.g. How do you get to my place? Go down to the corner, turn left, and get lost.); rule of three (in comedy writing)

work-in-progress; working state

to go bar-hopping; to go on a pub crawl

pub crawl; barhopping

information session; briefing; explanatory meeting