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27

1/26/2016

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“People with Irezumi or Tattoos Are Refused Entry to Bathhouses” 
「入れ墨・タトゥーの方の入浴施設への入場はお断りします」
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 The number (1 of ) foreign visitors to Japan in 2015 was the highest ever, at approximately 20 million.
2015年の訪日外国人は約2,000万人で過去最高となりました。

(2 Besides) Japanese food and shopping, one of the most popular attractions for tourists are onsen (hot spring baths).
観光客の目当ての一つは、和食、買物と並んで温泉です。

However, in the entrances to many Japanese onsen there are signs that read, “People (3 with ) irezumi or tattoos are not allowed to take a bath.”
しかし日本の多くの入浴施設の入口には、入れ墨やタトゥーを入れた人の入浴禁止の立て札があります。

(4 In ) Japan, people associate irezumi (traditional Japanese tattoos) with gangsters, and are even apt to view those who have tattoos (5 for ) fashion reasons as being antisocial.
日本では入れ墨は暴力団員が入れているイメージがあり、ファッションで入れた人も反社会的と見られがちです。

In 2010 a defendant, who had entered a facility ignoring a “tattoos prohibited” sign, was sentenced (6 to ) seven months’ imprisonment.
2010年には「入れ墨お断り」の看板を無視して施設に入った被告に懲役7カ月の刑が言い渡されました。

In addition, back in 2002 during NHK’s “Kouhaku Utagassen,” there was quite a ruckus when singer Namie Amuro – who was then (7 at ) the height of her popularity – sang in a sleeveless dress that exposed the tattoos (8 on ) her arms.
さらに、それにさかのぼること2002年のNHK紅白歌合戦では、当時人気絶頂で腕にタトゥーを入れた安室奈美恵がノースリーブで歌い大きな騒ぎとなりました。

After a flood of protests (9 from ) viewers, starting from the following year, artists were banned from displaying tattoos.
視聴者から抗議が殺到し、翌年からは出演者のタトゥーの露出が禁止されました。

(10 On ) the other hand, Japanese people have become more familiar with tattoos (11 through) period TV dramas such as “Toyama no Kinsan.”
その一方で、「遠山の金さん」などのテレビ時代劇で入れ墨は日本人になじみのあるものです。

Kinsan masquerades as a friendly tattooed local, but is (12 in ) fact a magistrate there to unmask villains.
金さんは入れ墨をした気のよい町人を装っていますが、実は悪の正体をあばく奉行です。

In recent years, tattoos are popular (13 among ) the young as a fashion statement, and stickers that resemble real tattoos are also (14 on ) sale.
近年はファッションとしてタトゥーが若者の間で広がりつつあり、タトゥーを入れているように見えるシールも販売されています。

Generally, in Japan irezumi refers to tattooed images that have a deep cultural significance, while tattoos are done (15 in ) the Western-style.
一般的に日本では、入れ墨は文化に深く根づいたものを、タトゥーは西洋風なものを指します。

(16 In ) the run-up to the hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, more and more facilities are reassessing their attitudes towards irezumi and tattoos.
東京オリンピック・パラリンピック開催を見すえて、入れ墨やタトゥーを見直す施設が増えつつあります。

According to a survey carried out (17 by ) the Japan Tourism Agency in June, 2015, 56% of facilities replied that they “would not allow tattoos,” 31% “would allow tattoos,” and 13% “would allow them (18 with ) conditions,” like hiding them with a plaster.
観光庁が2015年6月に実施した調査では、タトゥーを断る施設は56%、受け入れは31%、シールで隠すなどの条件付きでの受け入れは13%でした。 
This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine
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26

1/18/2016

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Who is Worshiped at Shrines? 神社には誰が祭られているのか 


Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): Most Japanese seem to visit a shrine or temple (1 in ) the New Year. Are the Japanese that religious?
留学生(以下、留):正月にはほとんどの日本人が神社やお寺に初詣に出かけるようですが、日本人はそんなに信心深いのですか。


Teacher (hereinafter T): Though people usher (2 in ) the New Year by making wishes at a shrine or temple, (3 for ) the majority this is a New Year’s event, rather than something religious.
先生(以下、先):新年を迎えるにあたり神社やお寺に願い事をしますが、大多数の人にとっては宗教上というより、新年のイベントです


FS: I understand that temples are Buddhist, but who is worshiped (4 at ) a shrine?
留:お寺は仏教とわかりますが、神社は誰を祭っているのですか。


T: Shrines are Shinto buildings where deities are worshipped; these range (5 from ) the Sun god to the spirits of impressive natural features such as mountains, rivers, rocks, and forests, to animals, and even great human beings – anything that inspires awe or a sense (6 of ) mystery in human beings.
先:神社は神道の建物で、神様が祭られています。太陽から、人間にとって恐れ多い、あるいは神秘的に感じられる山、川、岩、森などの大自然さらに動物、また偉大な人物さえ含まれています。


The population of Japan is (7 about ) 130 million, and it is said that over 90 million people visit temples or shrines.
日本の人口は約1億3千万人ですが、9千万人以上が参拝するといわれています。


FS: Are there any Shinto shrines (8 in ) Tokyo where humans are honored?
留:人間が神とされる神社は東京にもあるのですか。


T: Of course. The most famous (9 of ) these is the Meiji Shrine near Harajuku Station. With more than three million visitors in the New Year (10 each ) year, it is the most popular shrine in Japan
先:もちろんあります。一番有名なのは原宿駅近くにある明治神宮です。初詣の参拝者は毎年300万人以上で、日本最多です。


Worshiped here is the Emperor Meiji – the symbol of the Meiji Restoration that led Japan (11 to ) modernize. Togo Shrine is also located nearby
ここに祭られているのは、日本を近代化へ導いた明治維新の象徴となった明治天皇です。近くには東郷神社もあります。


There Admiral Togo is deified. Admiral Heihachiro Togo surprised the world (12 by ) defeating the Russian Baltic fleet – at that time the world’s most powerful naval force – (13 at ) the Sea of Japan Naval Battle.
そこには東郷提督が祭られています。東郷平八郎提督は当時、世界屈指の海軍といわれたロシアのバルチック艦隊を日本海海戦で破り、世界を驚かせました。


He was revered (14 as ) a hero just like British admiral Horatio Nelson – who defeated the allied forces of France and Spain (15 at ) the Battle of Trafalgar.
トラファルガー海戦でフランス・スペインの連合軍を破ったイギリスのホレーショ・ネルソン提督のように英雄として崇められました。


FS: Are there any other such shrines (16 in ) Tokyo?
留:東京には他にそのような神社はありますか。


T: The Nogi Shrine is located (17 in ) Akasaka. Commander NOGI Maresuke – who like Togo led Japan (18 to ) victory in the Russo-Japan war – is honored here.
先:赤坂には乃木神社があります。東郷と同じく日露戦争で日本を勝利に導いた乃木希典司令官が祭られています。


The battle of 203-Meter Heights (19 on ) a hill above Port Arthur – Russia’s most strategically important military base – was fierce.
ロシアの最大の軍事拠点、旅順港を見下ろす二百三高地の戦いは壮絶でした。


He impressed the people of the world (20 by ) not disgracing his vanquished foe Russian General Anatoly Stoessel in accordance with the bushido code (21 of ) honor.
敗者となったロシアのステッセル将軍を辱めることなく、武士道精神でもてなし世界の人々を感動させました。


By killing himself and his wife (22 after ) the death of the Emperor Meiji, he is also known (23 for ) being a loyal retainer.
明治天皇の死後、妻と共に命を絶った忠臣としても知られます。


FS: Every time ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine, it sparks an international controversy. Who is honored there?
留:閣僚が参拝するたびに国際的な論争になる靖国神社は誰を祭っているのですか。


T: This shrine was built to enshrine dead soldiers (24 from ) the Boshin War and other wars that took place (25 during ) the Meiji Restoration, later however, those who died defending the nation were also included.
先:明治維新に至る過程で戊辰戦争などの戦死者を祭るためにつくられましたが、その後は国を守るために亡くなった人も加えられました。


Soldiers who died (26 in ) the Second World War were also prayed for. It was considered to be an honor to be enshrined here, even though the government used this to boost public support ( 27 for ) the war effort.
第二次世界大戦で亡くなった兵士も祭られました。靖国神社に祭られることは栄誉とされましたが、政府が戦意高揚のために利用した側面もあります。


As Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and others who were condemned as class A war criminals (28 at ) the Tokyo Trial were also enshrined later on, China and Korea – countries that had suffered in the war – raised their objections (29 to ) this.
後に東京裁判でA 級戦犯とされた東条英機総理大臣なども祭られたことから、被害国である中国、韓国から批判が起こりました。


(30 On ) the other hand, there are members of congress and other people who say that visiting the shrine is an internal issue and a question (31 of ) personal choice, and that it is only natural that the nation and its citizens display respect (32 for ) those who died for their country.
一方で、参拝は国内問題であると共に個人の問題とし、国のために亡くなった人に国家や国民が敬意を表するのは当然だと主張する議員や人もいます。


Putting this (33 into ) context is the Japanese view of life and death; that the dead cannot be blamed (34 after ) they pass away.
この背景には、死んでしまえばそれ以上は問わない日本人の死生観があります。


In any case, you might say that the New Year’s visit to a shrine or temple is an important event that reflects Japanese polytheistic religious beliefs.
いずれにしても、初詣は日本人の多神教の宗教観を反映している一大行事といえるでしょう。 
This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine
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25

1/10/2016

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How Will the Introduction of the “My Number” System Affect Privacy? 
マイナンバー制度の導入でプライバシーはどうなるのか?
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The “My Number” National ID system is scheduled to be introduced in Japan (1 in ) January, 2016.
2016年1月にマイナンバー制度が日本に導入されます。


The Japanese government is anticipating three outcomes.
政府は3つの効果を期待しています。


Firstly, it will become easier not only to gauge the income (2 of ) individuals and corporations, and the payments they receive (3 for ) administrative services, but also to prevent the unfair evasion of taxes and illegal receipt (4 of ) benefits.
1つめは、個人や法人の所得や行政サービスの受給状況を把握しやすくなり、負担を不当に免れることや給付金を不正に受けることを防止する。


Secondly, (5 by ) reducing the amount of paperwork and so forth, administrative procedures will be simplified and individuals will be able to verify personal data stored (6 by ) administrative organizations in addition to receiving service information
2つめは、添付書類の削減など行政手続きが簡素化され、行政機関が持つ自身の情報を確認したり、サービスの情報を受け取ったりできる。


Thirdly, administrative organizations and local municipalities will be able to greatly reduce the amount of time and work spent (7 on ) verification, transcription, inputting and so on.
3つめは、行政機関や地方公共団体が照合、転記、入力などに要している時間や労力が大幅に削減できる。


To comply (8 with ) the introduction of the system, those who work (9 at ) a company or use the services of financial institutions will be required to give their personal and family “my number.”
導入に伴い、企業で働く人や金融機関を利用している人は本人や家族のマイナンバーを提示する必要があります。


A “my number” will also be allocated (10 to ) long staying non-Japanese and permanent residents.
マイナンバーは中長期在留外国人や永住者にも振り当てられます。


Corporations, (11 including ) non-Japanese owned companies, will also receive numbers, and up-to-date information about them (name, address and corporate number) will be published (12 on ) the government’s website.
外国人が経営する会社も含め法人にも番号がつけられ、最新の会社情報(名称、所在地、法人番号)が政府のウェブサイトに公表されます。


Many developed countries have introduced similar ID systems.
同じようなI Dシステムは多くの先進国で導入されています。


However, crimes related (13 to ) privacy violations, personal information leaks, and identity fraud have occurred.
しかし、プライバシーの侵害や情報の流出、なりすまし犯罪が起きています。


Bearing this (14 in ) mind, the government has stated that the usage of “my number” will be limited (15 to ) social welfare, tax, and anti-disaster procedures; records pertaining to personal income and health will not be stored.
それをふまえ、マイナンバーの使用は社会保障、税金、災害対策の手続きのみに限定され、所得や病気の履歴は記録されないとしています。


From 2017 an accessible system (16 of ) data storage will be launched that will allow individuals to verify when, who, and for what purpose their own data – this includes access (17 to ) “my number” – was accessed.
2017年からは情報の記録を開示するシステムが始まり、マイナンバーを含む自分の情報をいつ、誰が、なぜアクセスしたかを確認できるようになる予定です。


However, worried that the amalgamation (18 of ) all this information may mean future privacy violations, citizens are anxiously watching to see how the situation will develop.
しかし、国民は将来にすべての情報が一元化され、プライバシーが侵害されるのではとの不安を抱え推移を見守っています。 
This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine
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