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36

3/27/2016

Popularity of Torii in a Natural Setting
自然の中で際立つ鳥居が人気

Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine (1 in ) Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture is a popular destination (2 with ) overseas travelers. It came out top on Trip Advisor’s list of “Tourist Destinations in Japan 2015.” To get there you take the train (3 from ) JR Kyoto Station and travel two stops (4 to ) Inari Station. Here there is a huge red torii (gate to a shrine) that stands (5 at ) the top of Omotesando Avenue (the main approach). After visitors pass (6 under ) the second torii, they encounter a roumon (two-story) gate which is said to have been built (7 by ) Hideyoshi Toyotomi – the general who unified Japan.
京都府京都市にある伏見稲荷大社は、海外からの旅行客に人気の場所です。「トリップアドバイザー」による「外国人に人気の日本観光スポット2015」で1位になりました。JR 京都駅から電車で2駅目の稲荷駅で降りると、巨大な赤い鳥居があり、表参道につながります。2つ目の鳥居をくぐると、日本を統一した武将、豊臣秀吉が建てたという楼門が現れます。

On entering the gate, visitors encounter the main shrine dedicated (8 to ) the deity “Oinari-san.” One of the peculiarities (9 of ) this shrine is its symbolic white fox. The fox is thought to be a messenger (10 for ) the gods and is said to protect rice crops. This place is the head temple (11 for ) all the Inari Shrines located around the country. Its main object of worship is Mt. Inari, which is located (12 behind ) the shrine. 中へ入ると本殿がありますが、「お稲荷さん」と呼ばれる神様が祭られています。シンボルとなっている白い狐の像があるのが特徴です。狐は神様のお使いとされ、稲を守るといわれています。ここは、全国各地にある稲荷神社の総本宮で、背後に広がる稲荷山全体が信仰の対象となっています。

The tightly-packed torii built in rows (13 along ) the approach to Mt. Inari are called Senbon-torii, and are particularly popular (14 with ) visitors. Passing (15 through ) these is like entering a tunnel which forks right and left midway becoming two passages that run parallel. Construction of the torii began (16 in ) the Edo era, thanks to offerings made (17 by ) pilgrims. The senbon torii spread (18 over ) the entire Mt. Inari area. 稲荷山へ続く参道にすき間なく建てられた鳥居は千本鳥居と呼ばれており、特に人気です。トンネルに入るように進むと、途中から左右二本に分かれ並行した鳥居になります。江戸時代から参拝者の奉納で建てられ始めました。鳥居は稲荷山全体に約1万基あります。

After passing (19 through ) the Senbontorii, visitors come upon the Omokaruishi stone lanterns. Here it’s possible to try lifting a round stone (20 on ) the top; if it is light your wish will be granted and if it feels heavy, it will be difficult. On a holiday this area fills up (21 with ) supplicants. 千本鳥居を抜けると、おもかる石と呼ばれる石灯篭があります。灯篭の先端にある丸い石を持ち上げることができ、軽く感じれば願いが叶い、重ければ叶いにくいといわれています。休日になると願掛けをする人たちでにぎわいます。

At the shrine it is customary to write your wishes down (22 on ) a wooden board called an ema, which you then leave as an offering. Ema (23 at ) Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine are unique in that they are made (24 in ) the shape of a fox face. Many people add a nose and a mouth (25 by ) themselves. After being depicted (26 in ) popular comic books, Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine has been visited (27 by ) many manga fans. 神社では絵馬と呼ばれる木の板に願いごとを書て、奉納する風習があります。伏見稲荷大社の絵馬はユニークな狐の顔の形をしています。多くの人が自分の好きなように鼻や口を描き足します。伏見稲荷大社を舞台にした人気まんががあることから、ファンも多く訪れます。

At 233 meters (28 above ) sea level, Mt. Inari is also a popular spot (29 for ) hiking. Because the torii lead all the way up (30 to ) the summit, it’s impossible to get lost. When standing (31 at ) the top of the mountain after walking (32 up ) the stone steps, visitors come (33 upon ) a view of south Kyoto. It takes approximately two hours to go there and back. There is a teahouse (34 along ) the way. 海抜233メートルの稲荷山は、ハイキングコースとしても親しまれています。山頂まで鳥居が続いているので、迷うことがありません。石段の階段を上って頂上へ立つと、京都市の南部が一望できます。往復約2時間で歩くことができ、途中で休憩できる茶屋もあります。

The route (35 from ) Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine to Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station is called Urasando Avenue (back approach). Restaurants, souvenir shops, and street stalls line this street. Fox face-shaped senbei are popular souvenirs. (36 In ) addition, a kind of sushi called Oinari-san is sold in honor (37 of ) the fox god. 伏見稲荷大社から京阪伏見稲荷駅までの道は、裏参道と呼ばれ、飲食店や土産物屋、露店が立ち並んでいます。狐の顔の形をしたおせんべいが、お土産人気です。また神様と同じように、お稲荷さんと呼ばれる寿司も販売されています。

This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine

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35

3/23/2016

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Foreign Workers Are Increasing in Japan
日本で働く外国人は増えている

Students graduate (1 in ) March in Japan, and new employees begin to work (2 in ) April, when the fiscal year starts.
日本では学校を卒業するのは3月で、新入社員は新年度の始まりである4月から働き始めます。

This February the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry carried (3 out ) a survey of foreign students and former foreign students (4 about ) working environments
今年2月、経済産業省は留学生と元留学生に対して、労働環境に関するアンケートを実施しました。

Eighty-three percent responded that Japan was an attractive place to live in, while only 22% replied that it was an attractive place (5 for ) work.
83%が日本は住むのに魅力的と回答したのに対し、働くことに魅力的と答えた人は22%のみでした。

It has been pointed (6 out ) that foreign students find it hard to adapt (7 to ) the unconventional customs of Japanese companies, including cleaning the workplace, radio gymnastic exercises, long working hours, and the difficulty (8 of ) taking paid holidays.
職場のそうじ、ラジオ体操、長時間労働、有給休暇の取りにくさなど、日本企業の独特な習慣が留学生に合っていないと指摘されます。

(9 On ) the other hand, 70% of university and post-grad graduates wish to work (10 in ) Japan.
そうはいっても、大学学部・修士の卒業生のうち、7割が日本での就職を希望しています。

However, only about 40% of the students actually obtained a job; this is because 80% of foreign students want to work (11 for ) a big company, and are not interested (12 in ) medium or small sized companies.
しかし留学生の8割が大企業への就職を希望し、中小企業には目が向いていない実情があり、実際に就職する学生は4割程度です。

However, medium (13 to ) small sized companies account for 99% of offices and for 70% of total employees. (14 In ) addition, approximately 60% of these companies aim to employ foreign staff.
しかし、中小企業の事業所数は全体の99%で、従業員数では7割を占めます。そして約6割の企業がグローバルな人材を採用したい意向を示しています。

If foreign students changed their attitude (15 towards ) medium and small sized companies, it is probable that the ratio (16 of ) respondents viewing Japan as an attractive place to work would increase.
留学生の中小企業への見方が変われば、日本で働くことに魅力的と答える割合は増える可能性があります。

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, (17 at ) the end of October 2015, there were about 910,000 foreign workers (18 in ) Japan, a record high.
厚生労働省によると2015年10月末時点の日本にいる外国人労働者数は約91万人で、過去最高を更新しました。

Approximately 150,000 offices employ foreigners, which is 11.1% higher (19 than ) last year.
外国人を雇用する事業所数は約15万カ所で、前年より11.1％増加しました。

In terms of nationality, China comes top (20 with ) about 320,000 people (35.5% of total foreign workers), followed (21 by ) Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brazil.
国籍別では、中国が約32万人（外国人労働者全体の35.5％）で最も多く、ベトナム、フィリピン、ブラジルと続きます。

The policy (22 of ) the Japanese government is to discourage immigration, while being eager to welcome the highly skilled – as long as they meet certain conditions (23 in ) reference to their profession and income – as well as foreign students who obtain certain qualifications.
日本政府の政策は移民には否定的ですが、職業や年収での一定の条件を満たしている高度人材や、資格を取得した留学生は歓迎しています。

These “specialized and technical sector” workers number about 170,000, which is 13.6% higher (24 than ) last year.
これら「専門的・技術的分野」の労働者数は約17万で、前年より13.6％増加しました。

This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine

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34

3/14/2016

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Popularizing Japanese Tea through Unusual Methods
独自の方法で日本茶を普及

It’s said that Japan’s three major teas are shizuoka tea (1 from ) Shizuoka Prefecture, Uji tea from Kyoto Prefecture, and Sayama tea from Saitama Prefecture. “Obubu Tea Farms” is (2 in ) the uji tea producing town of Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture. President KITA Akihiro was first struck (3 by ) the delicious taste of tea when a friend invited him to work (4 with ) tea in Wazuka about 20 years ago. Kita described it as “the taste of freshly picked leaves; the tea that tea farmers drink.”
静岡県の静岡茶、京都府の宇治茶、埼玉県の狭山茶は三大日本茶といわれています。「おぶぶ茶苑」は宇治茶の産地、京都府和束町にあります。代表の喜多章浩さんは約20年前、友達に誘われて和束でお茶の仕事をしたときに初めてお茶のうまみを知り、衝撃を受けました。「お茶農家の人が飲んでいる、摘んだ茶葉そのままの味です」と喜多さんは表現します。

Kita aims to recreate that taste. Most Japanese tea producers select good-quality leaves, blend them to achieve (5 a ) balanced taste and roast them to extract (6 the ) flavor. However, Kita purposely omits (7 these ) processes, selling largely untreated freshly picked tea leaves.
喜多さんはこの味を目標としています。日本茶の多くは茶葉の選別を行い、味を安定させるためにブレンドし、火入れ（茶葉を乾燥させる作業）をして香りを引き出しています。しかし喜多さんはあえてこの工程を省き、摘んだ新鮮な茶葉になるべく手を加えずに販売しています。

Kita takes an original approach because he would like many people to discover the natural taste (8 of ) tea leaves. One example of his unique approach is the ownership (9 of ) the tea farm. You can become a tea farm owner (10 by ) paying an amount equivalent to 50 yen per day. A total of one tsubo’s worth of fresh tea leaves are sent four times a year (11 to ) the owners (a tsubo is about 3.3 square meters). Events, too, are held and these include exclusive opportunities (12 for ) owners to harvest leaves and to find out more about tea.
喜多さんは多くの人にこの茶葉本来の味を知ってほしいと、独自の試みに取り組んでいます。そのひとつが茶畑オーナー制度です。１日50円相当の金額で茶畑のオーナーになることができます。オーナーには年4 回、合計ひと坪（約3.3平方メートル）分の新鮮な茶葉が送られます。お茶をより身近に感じることのできるオーナー限定の茶摘みなどイベントも開催しています。

(13 On ) the other hand, not only Japanese people, but also young people (14 from ) abroad are accepted as interns. This year, applicants (15 from) Lithuania and Germany are learning, among other things, how to produce tea.
その他、日本人だけでなく海外から若い人たちをインターンとして積極的に受け入れています。今年もリトアニアとドイツからの希望者がやってきて、お茶の作り方などを学んでいます。

Since holding its first overseas event (16 in ) the U.S. nine years ago, Obubu Tea Farms has been organizing events (17 in ) foreign countries, such as workshops in which participants prepare matcha themselves and learn the history (18 of ) Japanese tea. Since an intern from Lithuania is currently an employee, because of this connection, overseas events (19 in ) recent years have mostly been held in Europe. Westerners tend to try green tea (20 after ) becoming accustomed to drinking savory varieties like houjicha or genmaicha (tea containing roasted rice). Many buy matcha to use as an ingredient (21 in ) sweets.
おぶぶ茶苑では9年前にアメリカで初めて海外イベントを行って以来、ほぼ毎年参加者が自分で抹茶を点てたり日本茶の歴史を学ぶワークショップなどを外国で行っています。リトアニアからのインターン生が現在社員となっている関係もあり、近年はヨーロッパでのイベントが中心です。欧米人は香ばしいほうじ茶や玄米茶に飲み慣れてから、緑茶を飲んでみる傾向があります。またお菓子作りのための材料として抹茶を購入する人も多いです。

Kita, however, would prefer that his tea is consumed (22 as ) a drink. “I would like it if people drank tea steeped (23 in ) a teapot. Even in Japan, more and more people are buying tea in PET bottles and the custom (24 of ) brewing tea in teapots is disappearing. I’d like more people overseas to drink tea (25 from ) teapots and for this custom to be re-imported so that Japanese people rediscover Japanese tea culture (26 as ) something relevant,” he says.
しかし喜多さんはやはりお茶は飲んでほしいと考えています。「特に急須でいれたお茶を飲んでほしいですね。国内でもペットボトルで購入する人が多く急須で淹れる習慣がなくなりつつあります。海外でお茶を急須で飲む人が増えることで、その習慣が逆輸入され、日本人に改めて日本茶の文化をかっこいいと思ってもらえれば」と話します。

This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine

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33

3/5/2016

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Many Japanese Ask for Directions at Police Boxes
日本人の多くは交番で道を尋ねる

Though English may be displayed (1 on ) street signs in Japan, in most cases the street name is only displayed (2 in ) Japanese. When you lose your way, it’s best to ask a passerby.
日本の道路名の標識には英語も表記されていますが、多くは日本語のみです。道に迷ったときは、通行人に聞きましょう。

In the majority (3 of ) cases people will helpfully tell you where to go. However, since people from different places gather (4 in ) big cities, you will often come across people unfamiliar (5 with ) the area.
たいていは親切に教えてくれるはずです。しかし、都会にはさまざまな地方から人が集まっているので、その人も詳しくないかもしれません。

Since there aren’t many Japanese able to speak English, instructions may be (6 in ) broken English, but they will often take you (7 to ) a point close to your destination.
英語が話せる日本人は限られているので片言英語での案内になるでしょうが、わかるところまで連れて行ってくれることもよくあります。

As there is usually a dedicated police box (8 for ) each area in big cities, many Japanese ask (9 at ) a nearby police box when they have lost their way.
都会には地域と密着した交番があるので、道がわからないとき多くの日本人は近くの交番で尋ねます。

This homework was based on an article in Hiragana Times magazine

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