Vocabulary

close (relationship, connection, etc.); intimate; near

private house

civil affairs; civil case

unrelated; unconnected; irrelevant; indifferent; divorced from; having nothing to do with one

trouble; bother

criterion; standard; yardstick; reference; aim

government official

willow (any tree of genus Salix)

oil field

favorable treatment; favourable treatment; hospitality; warm reception; good treatment; hearty welcome

dwelling; house; residence; address

natural gas

Bank of Japan; BOJ

prayer; wish; vow

fishing; gathering seafood (e.g. clams, seaweed)

unavoidably; necessarily; inevitably

opening; gap

single; simple

opening a new store; opening a new branch

in the style of (esp. literary, artistic, etc. works); reminiscent of

retail price

Tokyo Stock Exchange; TSE

standard; basis; principle

seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity

main section (of a newspaper); central column

to bury (e.g. in the ground)

full house; no vacancy; sold out; standing room only; full (of people); crowded

friend; ally; supporter

smuggling; contraband trade

democratic

safety; security; peace; quiet

distinguished family; famous family; noble family

light; bright; well-lit; well-lighted

to be silent; to say nothing

witnessing; observing; sighting

wild bird

drug; medicine

predominance; superiority; ascendancy; advantage; supremacy

superior; excellent; fine

harmful; hazardous