The pet craze continues to grow (1 in ) Japan. There are many dog owners, in particular (2 among ) women living alone or senior citizens (3 with ) grown children. Many treat their dogs not as pets, but as a member (4 of ) the family. As a result, businesses have appeared that are providing the same kind of services (5 for ) dogs as those offered to people.
日本ではペットブームが続いています。主に一人暮らしの女性や、子育てを終えたシ ニア世代の夫婦を中心に、犬を飼人がたくさんいます。犬はペットではなく家族の一員だと考える人も多いです。そのため、人間と同じようなサービスを犬向けに展開するビジネスがあらわれています。


Hotels where you can stay (6 with ) your dog, pet-sitters who look after your dog when you are not at home, special New Year’s dishes (7 for ) dogs, Christmas cakes for dogs and the like are not uncommon. Recently there are even kindergartens where puppies are taken care (8 of ) and trained.
犬と一緒に宿泊ができるホテルや、旅行中に留守番をしている犬の世話をしてくれるペットシッターなどのサービスの他、犬用のおせち料理やクリスマスケーキといった食べ物はもう珍しくありません。最近では、子犬を預かって世話をしたりしつけを行幼稚園もあります。


“Dogs’ Academy ”Pappyna Kindergarten is (9 in ) Koto City, Tokyo. Its director, Yoko Horikishi, says, “When I had my first pet dog, I did not encourage him to be sociable so he became very cautious (10 of ) people who were not members of the family and of places (11 outside ) the house. Regretting this, I decided to help dogs experience the joy of the outside world and the kindness (12 of ) other people.”
「犬の学園」パッピーナようちえんは東京都江東区にあります。社長の堀越葉子さんは話します。「初めて飼った愛犬けんに社会性を養わせなかったので、家族以外の人や自宅以外の場所を異常に警戒するようになってしまいました。その後悔から、犬に人間の世界が楽しいところであり、人はやさしいということを体験させたいと考えました」。


Since dogs are pack animals , raising them (13 with ) other dogs contributes to making them emotionally stable and to nurturing their social skills. The kindergarten gives advice (14 to ) owners about how to handle their pets. “Dogs bark and bite because they are nervous. You can prevent these problem behaviors (15 by ) teaching them that they do not need to be cautious. Many people these days strike their dogs when training them and this sadly means that dogs come to think (16 of ) people’s hands as weapons,” says Horikoshi.
犬はもともと群れで行動する動物なので、仲間と育てるほうが情緒の安定に役立ちますし、社会性を養うことができます。飼い主には接し方を指導します。「犬は警戒するからほえたりかんだりします。警戒する必要はないのだと教えることで問題行動を予防します。たたいて教えるという人が多いのが現状ですが、人の手を武器と思っている犬は不幸です」と堀越さんは話します。


Services that provide care to old dogs are also (17 on ) the rise. Products are sold (18 for ) elderly dogs, such as wheelchairs, harnesses, and beds that prevent bedsores. In addition, there are old dogs’ homes. “Tsukuba Wanwan Land” in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture is a canine theme park. (19 About ) ten years ago, a home for old dogs that have retired (20 from ) the park was established. In 2014, the “Himawari” (sunflower) home for old dogs opened (21 to ) the general public there.
一方、年をとった犬をケアするサービスも増えつつあります。老犬のための車いすやハーネス、床ずれ防止ベッドなどの介護用品が販売されていますし、老犬ホームもあります。茨城県つくば市にある「つくばわんわんランド」は犬のテーマパークです。10年ほど前からパークをリタイアした犬のための老犬ホームを併設していましたが、2014年には一般向けの老犬ホーム施設「ひまわり」をつくりました。


Some people caring for old dogs are worn (22 out ) because their dog wanders off or barks in the middle (23 of ) the night. However, leaving their dog to be cared (24 for ) in an old dogs’ home allows them to regain their composure. Many dog owners feel relieved when they see how well their pets are cared for. “When we hear them say, ‘It’s a big help. Thank you,’ we really feel that we are doing something worthwhile,” says staff member Haruko Matsushita.
老犬を介護する人の中には、徘徊や夜鳴きといった行動に疲れている人もいます。しかしホームに預けることによって気持ちに余裕が生まれます。愛犬が大切に世話されている様子を見て安心する飼い主は少なくありません。「飼い主の方から『助かります、ありがとう』という言葉をいただくと、役に立っているのだなと実感します」と職員の松下晴子さんは言います。


There are also services that take care of dogs (25 in ) their own home when the owner is out and cookery classes (26 for ) people who give their dogs homemade meals. It is expected that services (27 for ) dogs that have become family members will continue to increase.
その他、外出時も自宅の愛犬を見守るサービス、犬のために料理を手作りする人のための料理教室もあります。家族として迎え入れた犬を大切にするサービスは今後も増えていくでしょう。
​

​Doctor: What brought you in today?
Patient: I've just been feeling terrible. I'm very busy. I'm taking tonics and things. It used to come and go, but now stays put. I can imagine everything. It all started nine months ago.
Doctor: When did you get to the stage when it was not getting any better?
Patient: A month ago. When I was on vacation, I felt fine. When I got back, I felt groggy again. It comes and it goes.
Doctor: How do you feel when it is bad?
Patient: I sleep badly. I imagine everything under the sun.
Doctor: Well, what specifically do you think of?
Patient: I think of cancer. The pain doesn't stay still. It moves from top to bottom.
Doctor: Do you have pain when you are worrying?
Patient: Yes.
Doctor: Do you have it at night?
Patient: Yes, I wake up with it and can't sleep again.
Doctor: What else have you noticed?
Patient: I've lost a few pounds.
Doctor: How's your appetite?
Patient: Quite good usually, but yesterday I couldn't eat a thing. When I feel really low, I can't eat anything. People at work have noticed I'm not well.
Doctor: You are 59 and a commercial artist. Have you any worries?
Patient: No. The boss at times is a bit grumpy, but...
Doctor: Are you usually cheerful?
Patient: Yes
Doctor: Have you felt low before?
Patient: Yes. I came here. I had palpitations.
Doctor: Has anything started this off?
Patient: No.
Doctor: What about your urine? Do you get up in the night?
Patient: I get up once.
Doctor: And your bowels?
Patient: All right.
Doctor: Do you smoke?
Patient: 15 cigarettes a day.
Doctor: Drink?
Patient: No.
Doctor: Have you had any serious illness in the past?
Patient: Appendicitis when I was 15.
Doctor: Do you suffer from headaches?
Patient: No, not normally.
Doctor: Are you married?
Patient: Yes.
Doctor: Has your wife noticed any changes?
Patient: I'm depressed and tearful. Nervousness runs in the family. I've two brothers and three sisters all with nerves.

Ballet and yoga classes are perennially popular (1 with ) women. Recently, more men have become interested (2 in ) taking lessons, too. Dance Studio taftaf, Ibaraki City, Osaka, holds ballet lessons (3 for ) men. Bearing (4 in ) mind that some men might be resistant to wearing tights, lessons are done (5 in ) casual clothing such as T-shirts and suteteko (calf-length undershorts).
習い事の中でもバレエやヨガは、女性に根強い人気があります。最近では、男性も興味を示して習う人が増えてきました。大阪府茨木市にあるダンススタジオ、タフタフには、男性向けのバレエレッスンがあります。タイツ姿には抵抗があるという男性の声から、Tシャツにステテコと気軽な服装です。


Active dancer Nanae Mimata has been the instructor (6 since ) 2013. In the first half of the lesson, students perform calisthenics (7 with ) a Thera-Band – a rubber band used for physical rehabilitation – applied (8 to ) the feet. In the later half, they learn basic ballet forms (9 by ) following the teacher’s movements. These include graceful movements (10 like ) balancing on one foot, stretching their arms (11 to ) the side, or drawing circles above their heads. Swing jazz is typically played (12 during ) the lesson.
2013年から、現役ダンサーの三股ナナエさんが指導しています。レッスン前半は、セラバンドと呼ばれるリハビリ用のゴムを足にかけた柔軟運動などを行います。後半は講師の動きに合わせてバレエの基本的な形を習います。片足を上げてバランスを取り、手を真横に伸ばしたり、頭の上で丸く円を描いたりといった優雅な動きです。レッスン中はスイングジャズが流れているのが特徴です。


Masutomi Koga, who began taking this class a year ago, says, “It is fun because, instead (13 of ) the usual piano pieces, we use jaunty music.” Hiroshi Sakurai, who has been taking lessons (14 since ) the course began, says, “I started in order to improve my back strain and didn’t take it very seriously. It’s so tough that I break out ( 15 in ) a cold sweat and this changed my attitude towards ballet. If I don’t go (16 to ) class these days, my physical condition deteriorates.”
レッスンを始めて1年の古閑斗福さんは、「通常使われるピアノ曲ではなく、軽快な音楽なので楽しいです」。開講時から続けている桜井啓さんは、「ぎっくり腰を改善したくて、冗談半分で始めました。油汗は出るし、きついしで、バレエの印象が変わりま した。今ではレッスンを休むと体の調子が悪くなります」と話します。


“Riverside Yoga” is periodically held (17 along ) the Okawa River in Chuo City, Osaka. Because of the sense (18 of ) freedom you get from practicing outdoors, not only women but also men participate. Takashi Juzu, representative and instructor (19 of ) Seikatsu Yoga Kenkyuujo, says that the company has been running lessons (20 for ) men since its foundation in 2011. “There are many men who wish to try yoga but are reluctant to do it (21 with ) women present. When they become accustomed to it, some men transfer to classes that have women (22 in ) them.”
大阪市中央区の大川沿いでは定期的に「リバーサイドヨガ」が行われています。屋外の開放感もあって、女性だけでなく男性も多く参加しています。生活ヨガ研究所の代表であり講師の珠数孝さんは、設立した2011年から男性専用の教室を開いています。「ヨガを始めたくても、女性がいると抵抗感を持つ人がたくさんいます。慣れて平気になると、女性と一緒のレッスンに移る人もいます」。


Hideyuki Sunada and Tetsuya Higashikawa wear T-shirts emblazoned (23 with ) the words: “Old Geezer Yoga.” Sunada, who has been doing yoga (24 for ) eight years, says, “There are discoveries to be made when taking a good look (25 at ) yourself. I found out that I had been putting too much pressure (26 on ) myself.” Higashikawa, who has been doing yoga (27 for ) four years, says, “By learning how to relax (28 through ) exhaling, changes have occurred in my body and heart.” (29 Along ) with their classmates, the two men actively encourage men (30 over ) the age of 40 to take up yoga.
「おっさんヨガ」とプリントされたおそろいのTシャツを着た砂田秀之さんと東川哲也さんは話します。「自分と向き合うので発見があります。今までは肩に力が入っていたと気付きました」とヨガ歴8年の砂田さん。ヨガ歴4年の東川さんは、「息を吐いてリラックスすることを覚えて、体と心に変化が出てきました」と言います。二人は仲間たちと40代以上の男性へのヨガ普及活動を行っています。


“I think there are not many places where working men can attain mental equilibrium. I want these busy men to experience the benefits (31 of ) yoga,” says Juzu. ( 32 In ) the future, rather than going out drinking, perhaps more and more middle-aged men will be able to refresh both mind and body (33 through ) taking such classes.
「働く男性が心を整える場が、あまりないように思います。忙しい男性こそヨガで元気になってもらいたいですね」と、珠数さんは話します。酒場でリフレッシュではなく、習い事で心身を癒やす中高年男性が、これからも増えるかもしれません。

Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): The adulterous affairs (1 of ) celebrities or members of Parliament often appear (2 in ) the news. How do the Japanese view adultery?
留学生（以下、留）：芸能人や国会議員の不倫がよく報道されます 。日本人は不倫に対して どのような見方をしているのですか。


Teacher (hereinafter T): There was a news story (3 about ) a female TV personality with a clean image – who had appeared (4 in ) many TV commercials – having an affair (5 with ) a vocalist in a band.
先生（以下、先）：清潔感のあるイメージでたくさんのテレビコマーシャル に出ていた女性タレントがあるバンドボーカルと不倫をしていたというニュースがありました。


Although the weekly magazine that reported (6 on ) this affair printed 20% more copies than usual, all of these sold out. So you might say that Japanese people are concerned (7 about ) adultery among the famous.
それを報道した週刊誌は2割増刷しましたが、売り切れました。日本人は有名人の不倫に関心があるといえるでしょう。


In 2014 the news that France’s President Hollande was secretly meeting (8 with ) an actress, despite already having a partner, caused quite a stir, even (9 in ) Japan.
2014年にフランスのオランド大統領が、パートナーがいながら女優と密会したというニュースは日本でも話題になりました。
A survey (10 by ) a French company revealed that 77% of French people felt that this was a private matter that just happened to concern the president. The Japanese were surprised (11 by ) the tolerance of the French.
フランスの民間世論調査ではこれは個人的なことであり、たまたま大統領だっただけとする人が77％でした。日本人はフランス人の寛大さに驚きました。


In Japan, adultery is not punishable (12 by ) law, but famous people are socially disgraced when their affairs are given widespread coverage (13 in ) the media.
日本では不倫は法的に処罰されませんが、有名人はメディアで大きく報道され、社会的に恥をさらすことになります。


In 1989 it was leaked (14 to ) the media that an ex-geisha had been the lover of Japan’s Prime Minister UNO Sosuke.
1989年に元芸者が宇野宗佑総理大臣の愛人だったとメディアにリークしました。


It created a big fuss and he had to resign (15 from ) his post as prime minister only two months after assuming office.
大騒ぎとなり、宇野総理は就任後2カ月余りでやめざるを得なくなりました。


FS: Wasn’t there also the adultery case (16 of ) the member of the House of Representatives who had declared that he would set an example by taking paternity leave (17 despite ) the fact that in Japan it’s not common for men to take childcare leave?
留：男性が育児休暇をとりにくい日本で、率先して産休をとると表明した衆議院議員の不倫もありましたね。


T: It was widely reported (18 in ) the media that he committed adultery just before his wife – also a member (19 of ) the House of Representatives – was about to deliver their baby and, as a result, he had to resign.
先：同じ議員である妻が出産する間際に不倫していたことがメディアで大きく報道され、結局辞職しました。


FS: Is adultery punishable conventionally (20 by ) law anywhere in the world?
留：不倫に対して世界では一般的に法的な処罰があるのですか。


T: In some Islamic countries stoning is still practiced as a punishment and (21 in ) some Asian countries adulterers are punished as criminals.
先：イスラム圏では石打ちの刑が今も行われている国があり、アジアでは犯罪者として処罰する国もあります。


(22 In ) Japan about 1,000 years ago, husbands and wives did not live together, and it was common for a husband to make visits (23 to ) his wife’s house. It is said that relations between men and women were more relaxed.
日本では、千年ほど前は夫と妻は同居せず、妻の家に夫が通うのが主流でした。男女関係はおおらかだったようです。


In the 18th century, it was made legal (24 for ) men to punish their wives and the person their wives had committed adultery with.
18世紀には不倫した妻とその相手を処罰することが合法化されていました。


Later, adultery became a serious crime, with men being put (25 into ) jail after being paraded through the city streets and women being sentenced (26 to ) death.
その後、不倫は大犯罪となり、男は市内を引き回された後に牢屋に入れられ、女は死罪となりました。


F: How are things nowadays?
留：現代はどうなのですか。


T: When the TV drama “Kinyoubi no Tsumatachi e” (To Wives on Fridays) was broadcast (27 in ) 1983, because of its popularity, the term “furin” (adultery) became widespread.
先：1983年にテレビドラマ「金曜日の妻たちへ」が放映されて話題になり、不倫という言葉が広がりました。


In 1997 “Shitsurakuen” (Paradise Lost), a novel written (28 by ) Junichi Watanabe that explored the theme of adultery, became a bestseller and was selected for the grand prize (29 of ) the New Expressions and Buzzwords Competition.
1997年には不倫をテーマにした渡辺淳一の小説「失楽園」がベストセラーとなり、流行語大賞にもなりました。


(30 In ) 2014 the TV drama “Hirugao” (Day Face), starring UETO Aya, caused quite a stir.
2014年には上戸彩主演のテレビドラマ「昼顔」も、話題になりました。


FS: What comments do people who have committed adultery make (31 to ) the public?
留：不倫をした人は大衆にどのようなコメントをしているのですか。


T: (32 In ) the past an actor remarked that “adultery is part of our culture,” and a president (33 of ) a film company commented that, “I did not make an actress my lover. I only made my lover an actress.”
先：かつて、ある俳優は「不倫は文化」と発言しました。また、ある映画会社の社長は｢私は女優を愛人にしたのではない。愛人を女優にしただけだ｣と述べました。


Now that the Internet is so well developed, famous people who’ve had affairs have to take the only partially serious condemnation (34 of ) the general public and adopt a pose of deep regret.
インターネットが発達した現代、不倫した有名人は面白半分の大衆から痛烈な批難を受けて、ひたすら謝るポーズを取っ。 ​