My 'word of the year 2009' is 'shiwakenin'.
They sort many business.
I think that Renpou is the most famous person.
This word was used very well.
I heard this word on TV and newses in the newspaper.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Reading diary5
Date： 5 January 2010
Name and URL：
Population drops for 3rd year
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T100102001583.htm
Text:
Japan's population fell by 75,000 in 2009, decreasing for the third straight year and dropping at the fastest rate since the end of World War II.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's annual population estimate, the pace of decrease accelerated in 2009 as the 1,144,000 deaths--an increase of 2,000 from 2008--outpaced the 1,069,000 births--a drop of 22,000.
The population decline grew by 24,000 from that of the previous year.
The nation's population fell in 2005 for the first time since the war. Although the population increased slightly in 2006, it has fallen each year since 2007.
The total fertility rate--the average number of children expected to be born to each woman over her lifetime--is forecast to hover around last year's figure of 1.37.
"The rate of population decline likely will increase in the future," a ministry official said.
'New adults' fall to record low
A record low 1.27 million people were recognized as "new adults" on Jan. 1 as they had turned 20 in 2009, according to figures released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
The figure has hit a record low for three consecutive years and has dipped below 1.3 million for the first time since the government began compiling such figures in 1968.
Of the 1.27 million people, 20,000 were born in the 64th year of the Showa era (1926-1989) and 1.25 million were born on Jan. 8, 1989, or later that year, which was the first year in the Heisei era (1989).
Of the new adults, 650,000 were men and 620,000 were women. The total fell by 60,000 compared with the previous year.
The largest number of "new adults" was 2.46 million recorded in 1970, a figure inflated by the first baby-boom generation born in 1949 reaching adult age.
This was nearly double the latest number of "new adults."
10.34 million born in Year of the Tiger
Meanwhile, 10.34 million Japanese, or 8.1. percent of the population, have been born in the Year of the Tiger, this year's Chinese zodiac symbol.
Of them, 5.05 million are men and 5.3 million are women.
The largest proportion of 2.01 million were born when the Year of the Tiger rolled around in 1950.
Summary:
日本の2009年の人口減少数は75000人で、3年連続で人口は減少しており、下降速度は戦後最速です。
国の人口は戦後以来、2005年に初めて減少した。しかし2006年にわずかに増加し、2007年から毎年減少している。
合計特殊出生率は、昨年の1.37あたりをさまようと予想されています。
人口の減少率は将来増加する、と厚生労働省は述べた。
What I find interesting:
人口の減少は日本の深刻な問題の1つなので
戦後最速で人口が減少しているのは大きな問題だと思う。
今後、少子高齢化に歯止めをかけるためにも合計特殊出生率が上がることが1番の課題だと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
wlfare 福祉
estimate 見積もり
accelerated 加速の
decline 衰退、減少
slightly わずかに
lifetime 生涯
forecast 予想、見通し
consecutive 連続的な
Name and URL：
Population drops for 3rd year
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T100102001583.htm
Text:
Japan's population fell by 75,000 in 2009, decreasing for the third straight year and dropping at the fastest rate since the end of World War II.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's annual population estimate, the pace of decrease accelerated in 2009 as the 1,144,000 deaths--an increase of 2,000 from 2008--outpaced the 1,069,000 births--a drop of 22,000.
The population decline grew by 24,000 from that of the previous year.
The nation's population fell in 2005 for the first time since the war. Although the population increased slightly in 2006, it has fallen each year since 2007.
The total fertility rate--the average number of children expected to be born to each woman over her lifetime--is forecast to hover around last year's figure of 1.37.
"The rate of population decline likely will increase in the future," a ministry official said.
'New adults' fall to record low
A record low 1.27 million people were recognized as "new adults" on Jan. 1 as they had turned 20 in 2009, according to figures released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
The figure has hit a record low for three consecutive years and has dipped below 1.3 million for the first time since the government began compiling such figures in 1968.
Of the 1.27 million people, 20,000 were born in the 64th year of the Showa era (1926-1989) and 1.25 million were born on Jan. 8, 1989, or later that year, which was the first year in the Heisei era (1989).
Of the new adults, 650,000 were men and 620,000 were women. The total fell by 60,000 compared with the previous year.
The largest number of "new adults" was 2.46 million recorded in 1970, a figure inflated by the first baby-boom generation born in 1949 reaching adult age.
This was nearly double the latest number of "new adults."
10.34 million born in Year of the Tiger
Meanwhile, 10.34 million Japanese, or 8.1. percent of the population, have been born in the Year of the Tiger, this year's Chinese zodiac symbol.
Of them, 5.05 million are men and 5.3 million are women.
The largest proportion of 2.01 million were born when the Year of the Tiger rolled around in 1950.
Summary:
日本の2009年の人口減少数は75000人で、3年連続で人口は減少しており、下降速度は戦後最速です。
国の人口は戦後以来、2005年に初めて減少した。しかし2006年にわずかに増加し、2007年から毎年減少している。
合計特殊出生率は、昨年の1.37あたりをさまようと予想されています。
人口の減少率は将来増加する、と厚生労働省は述べた。
What I find interesting:
人口の減少は日本の深刻な問題の1つなので
戦後最速で人口が減少しているのは大きな問題だと思う。
今後、少子高齢化に歯止めをかけるためにも合計特殊出生率が上がることが1番の課題だと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
wlfare 福祉
estimate 見積もり
accelerated 加速の
decline 衰退、減少
slightly わずかに
lifetime 生涯
forecast 予想、見通し
consecutive 連続的な
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Homework
International adoption is a recent trend for celebrities.
Angelina Jolie, Meg Ryan, Ewan McGregor, and now pop star Madonna have gone about the adoption procedure, though she has not been granted to do so legally in Malawi where she adopted an orphan. Generally, the Malawi's laws does not allow foreigners to adopt orphans unless adoptive parents live in Malawi for 18 monthsbefore adopting, but she took the orphan to her home in London withoutfollowing the law. And now, the debate on international adoption bycelebrities has been heating up in the U.S. Why is there so muchcontroversy on her adoption?
It is simply because Madonna received aspecial treatment by the Malawi government. Well, it is actually difficult tojudge whether she is doing right or wrong.
However, this is true that theorphan has now got a future. No one could not care for him, but anorphanage in Marawi.
I am sure he will be taken care of in her home.
I think that is simply a good thing for the child.
Angelina Jolie, Meg Ryan, Ewan McGregor, and now pop star Madonna have gone about the adoption procedure, though she has not been granted to do so legally in Malawi where she adopted an orphan. Generally, the Malawi's laws does not allow foreigners to adopt orphans unless adoptive parents live in Malawi for 18 monthsbefore adopting, but she took the orphan to her home in London withoutfollowing the law. And now, the debate on international adoption bycelebrities has been heating up in the U.S. Why is there so muchcontroversy on her adoption?
It is simply because Madonna received aspecial treatment by the Malawi government. Well, it is actually difficult tojudge whether she is doing right or wrong.
However, this is true that theorphan has now got a future. No one could not care for him, but anorphanage in Marawi.
I am sure he will be taken care of in her home.
I think that is simply a good thing for the child.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Reading diary 4
Date： 11 November 2009
Name and URL：
Fishermen rescued after 4 days
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091029TDY02310.htm
Text:
Three men were rescued from an air pocket inside an overturned fishing boat on Wednesday, four days after their craft went missing.
Members of the Japan Coast Guard's 3rd regional headquarters discovered the overturned hull of the 19-ton Kofuku Maru No. 1 floating approximately 55 kilometers north-northeast of Hachijojima island in the Izu Islands chain.
According to the headquarters, the men rescued were Moriyoshi Utsunomiya, 57; Masao Hayakawa, 38; and Takamitsu Nyubara, 33. All three were deckhands on the Kofuku Maru and members of a total crew of eight.
They were said to be conscious and able to carry on conversations.
The fishing boat was spotted Wednesday by a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane.
The Izu patrol vessel arrived at the scene just before noon, and at approximately 12:50 p.m., rescue divers brought out the three men, who were in an air pocket inside the overturned boat.
What I find interesting:
乗っていた漁船が横転してしまってから４日間も、船から出ることができずに救助を待たなければいけないのは、とても辛いことだと思います。
でも、偶然エアポケットがあったおかげで奇跡的に３人とも助かって本当によかったと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
air pocket エアポケット
overturned 予備交渉、打診
craft 船舶
Coast 海岸
regional 地方の
headquarter 本部
Name and URL：
Fishermen rescued after 4 days
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091029TDY02310.htm
Text:
Three men were rescued from an air pocket inside an overturned fishing boat on Wednesday, four days after their craft went missing.
Members of the Japan Coast Guard's 3rd regional headquarters discovered the overturned hull of the 19-ton Kofuku Maru No. 1 floating approximately 55 kilometers north-northeast of Hachijojima island in the Izu Islands chain.
According to the headquarters, the men rescued were Moriyoshi Utsunomiya, 57; Masao Hayakawa, 38; and Takamitsu Nyubara, 33. All three were deckhands on the Kofuku Maru and members of a total crew of eight.
They were said to be conscious and able to carry on conversations.
The fishing boat was spotted Wednesday by a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane.
The Izu patrol vessel arrived at the scene just before noon, and at approximately 12:50 p.m., rescue divers brought out the three men, who were in an air pocket inside the overturned boat.
Summary:
水曜日に、３人の男性が横転した漁船の中のエアポケットから救出されました。彼らが行方不明になってから4日後のことです。
本部によると、救出された男性は57歳のうつのみやもりよしさん、38歳の、はやかわまさおさん、33歳にゅうばらたかみつさんです。3人は全員幸福丸の甲板員で、合計８人の乗組員のメンバーです。
漁船は水曜日に発見されました。
What I find interesting:
乗っていた漁船が横転してしまってから４日間も、船から出ることができずに救助を待たなければいけないのは、とても辛いことだと思います。
でも、偶然エアポケットがあったおかげで奇跡的に３人とも助かって本当によかったと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
air pocket エアポケット
overturned 予備交渉、打診
craft 船舶
Coast 海岸
regional 地方の
headquarter 本部
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Homework
My ideal school uses music to develop young students.
Teachers teach way of playing musical instrument, for example, piano and violin to students.
I think students can help each other and they learn some important things.
Teachers teach way of playing musical instrument, for example, piano and violin to students.
I think students can help each other and they learn some important things.
Reading diary 3
Date：28 October 2009
Name and URL：Shoso-in Forum 2009 held ahead of exhibition
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091010TDY02310.htm
Text:
OSAKA--About 1,300 people attended the Shoso-in Forum 2009 Osaka on Friday, prior to the 61st Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures.
"Customs and designs that originated in areas encompassing China, the South Seas and west Asia can be seen in Shitan Mokuga So no Biwa, a red sandalwood biwa lute decorated with marquetry that will be on display at the exhibition," Fuminori Sugaya, director of the Kashihara Archaeological Institute, Nara Prefecture, said in his keynote speech at NHK Osaka Hall in Chuo Ward, Osaka.
Following a special concert by musicians including Jia Peng Fang, a Chinese erhu player, three panelists--Tetsuo Owada, a professor emeritus at Shizuoka University; Fusae Kawazoe, a professor at Tokyo Gakugei University; and Atsushi Nishiyama, head of Nara National Museum's curatorial department--discussed how Shoso-in treasures have been appreciated in each era from the Nara period (710-784) to the present.
The annual exhibition will be held from Oct. 24 through Nov. 12 at the Nara National Museum.
Summary:
金曜日の大阪の正倉院フォーラム2009に約1300人の人々が参加しました。正倉院フォーラム2009は第61回正倉院展を前に開催されました。
中国や南洋、西アジアを取り巻く地域から始まった習慣やデザインを紫檀木画槽琵琶から見ることができる、と奈良県の橿原考古学研究所長である菅谷ふみのりさんは彼のNHKのスピーチで言いました。
静岡大学名誉教授の小和田てつおさんと東京学芸大学の教授の川添ふさえさんと奈良国立博物館の学芸部長である西山あつしさんは正倉院の財宝は奈良時代のそれぞれの時代でどのように認識されていたかを討論しました。
第一回は10月24日から11月12日まで、奈良国立博物館で開かれる予定です。
What I find interesting:
今回の正倉院フォーラム2009のおかげで、第61回正倉院展への関心がますます高まったのではないかと思います。
正倉院については小学校や中学校などで習ったけれど、
中国や南洋や西アジアを取り巻く地域から始まった習慣やデザインを
紫檀木画槽琵琶から見られることなどは、知りませんでいた。
これを機に、正倉院についてもっとよく知ることができたらいいなと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
prior （時間、順序が）前の
annual 年１回の、年次の
exhibition 展覧会
encompass ～を取り巻く
sandalwood ビャクダン
marquetry 象眼、寄木
Name and URL：Shoso-in Forum 2009 held ahead of exhibition
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091010TDY02310.htm
Text:
OSAKA--About 1,300 people attended the Shoso-in Forum 2009 Osaka on Friday, prior to the 61st Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures.
"Customs and designs that originated in areas encompassing China, the South Seas and west Asia can be seen in Shitan Mokuga So no Biwa, a red sandalwood biwa lute decorated with marquetry that will be on display at the exhibition," Fuminori Sugaya, director of the Kashihara Archaeological Institute, Nara Prefecture, said in his keynote speech at NHK Osaka Hall in Chuo Ward, Osaka.
Following a special concert by musicians including Jia Peng Fang, a Chinese erhu player, three panelists--Tetsuo Owada, a professor emeritus at Shizuoka University; Fusae Kawazoe, a professor at Tokyo Gakugei University; and Atsushi Nishiyama, head of Nara National Museum's curatorial department--discussed how Shoso-in treasures have been appreciated in each era from the Nara period (710-784) to the present.
The annual exhibition will be held from Oct. 24 through Nov. 12 at the Nara National Museum.
Summary:
金曜日の大阪の正倉院フォーラム2009に約1300人の人々が参加しました。正倉院フォーラム2009は第61回正倉院展を前に開催されました。
中国や南洋、西アジアを取り巻く地域から始まった習慣やデザインを紫檀木画槽琵琶から見ることができる、と奈良県の橿原考古学研究所長である菅谷ふみのりさんは彼のNHKのスピーチで言いました。
静岡大学名誉教授の小和田てつおさんと東京学芸大学の教授の川添ふさえさんと奈良国立博物館の学芸部長である西山あつしさんは正倉院の財宝は奈良時代のそれぞれの時代でどのように認識されていたかを討論しました。
第一回は10月24日から11月12日まで、奈良国立博物館で開かれる予定です。
What I find interesting:
今回の正倉院フォーラム2009のおかげで、第61回正倉院展への関心がますます高まったのではないかと思います。
正倉院については小学校や中学校などで習ったけれど、
中国や南洋や西アジアを取り巻く地域から始まった習慣やデザインを
紫檀木画槽琵琶から見られることなどは、知りませんでいた。
これを機に、正倉院についてもっとよく知ることができたらいいなと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
prior （時間、順序が）前の
annual 年１回の、年次の
exhibition 展覧会
encompass ～を取り巻く
sandalwood ビャクダン
marquetry 象眼、寄木
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
HOMEWORK
Free School, Sudbury school and home-based learning exist in Japan.
Steiner schools are pedagogy based upon the educational philosophy of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Learning is interdisciplinary, integrating practical, artistic, and conceptual elements.
Charter schools are elementary or secondary schools in the United States that receive public money but have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.
Home-based learning is a way to advance our career and education. Students are not in school due to school closure.
Steiner schools are pedagogy based upon the educational philosophy of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Learning is interdisciplinary, integrating practical, artistic, and conceptual elements.
Charter schools are elementary or secondary schools in the United States that receive public money but have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.
Home-based learning is a way to advance our career and education. Students are not in school due to school closure.
Reading diary 2
Date：9 October 2009
Name and URL： Medical staff, chronically ill to get priority in flu vaccination http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090905TDY01304.htm
Text:
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Friday unveiled the final draft of its policies on vaccination against the new type of influenza, which would prioritize the inoculation of medical professionals and people likely to develop serious symptoms as a result of catching the flu--a total of 19 million people. According to the final draft, the nation is expected to ultimately need vaccine for 54 million people to fight a possible influenza epidemic. It also lists the order of priority among the 19 million people at high risk. The ministry plans to solicit public opinion about this issue for a week from Monday and then ask a government advisory panel to discuss people's concerns. The ministry's policies are scheduled to be finalized by the end of this month. Vaccinations are likely to begin in late October, the ministry said. Among those with such chronic conditions as asthma and diabetes, top priority would be given to children from 1 year old through preschool. As vaccinations are not likely to help infants develop immunity to viruses, the ministry also will give priority to the parents of infants under the age of 1. This represents an expansion from the ministry's initial plan of giving priority to the parents of children under 6 months of age. According to the ministry, domestic manufacturers will produce enough vaccine for 18 million people by the end of this fiscal year. Shipment of the vaccines likely will start in late October, after which people on the priority list will start receiving inoculations. The remaining need will be met with imported vaccines that will be administered to primary, middle and high school students and the elderly. Foreign-made vaccines are expected to arrive in Japan after late December. People need to receive two doses of vaccine. As it takes about a month after the first vaccination to develop immunity, people inoculated in late October, for example, are unlikely to become immune to the virus until December.
Summary:
厚生労働省は金曜日、新型インフルエンザに対してのワクチン接種の政策について明らかにした。
その政策は、医療のプロやインフルエンザの症状がある人を優先するというものである。
最後の会議で、国家は最終的に5400000人分のインフルエンザのワクチンが必要だと予期した。これもまた1900000人のリスクの高い人が優先される。 ワクチン接種は幼児を救うための発達したウイルスの免疫のようなものではなく、その援助もまた1歳以下の用事の両親が優先されるだろう。
内閣によると、国内の製造業者は1800000人のための十分なワクチンを今年の会計年度までに製造するだろう。
人々は2つのワクチンを接種する必要がある。免疫を強めるために、最初のワクチン接種から約1ヶ月後にまた受けるのである。
What I find interesting: インフルエンザがこれ以上流行しないようにするためにも、一人ひとりが意識的に感染予防をしなければならないと思いました。
医療に携わる人を優先にワクチン接種する政策は、とても効果的でいいと思います。私も、マスクをしたり手洗いうがいをきちんとして、感染を防ぎたいと思います。
ワクチンの生産も、感染の拡大を抑えるためにとても重要だと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry 厚生労働省
unveil 明らかにする
vaccination ワクチン接種
prioritize 優先させる
inoculation 予防接種
symptom 徴候、症状
fiscal year 会計年度(10月1日～9月30日まで)
immunity 免疫
Name and URL： Medical staff, chronically ill to get priority in flu vaccination http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090905TDY01304.htm
Text:
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Friday unveiled the final draft of its policies on vaccination against the new type of influenza, which would prioritize the inoculation of medical professionals and people likely to develop serious symptoms as a result of catching the flu--a total of 19 million people. According to the final draft, the nation is expected to ultimately need vaccine for 54 million people to fight a possible influenza epidemic. It also lists the order of priority among the 19 million people at high risk. The ministry plans to solicit public opinion about this issue for a week from Monday and then ask a government advisory panel to discuss people's concerns. The ministry's policies are scheduled to be finalized by the end of this month. Vaccinations are likely to begin in late October, the ministry said. Among those with such chronic conditions as asthma and diabetes, top priority would be given to children from 1 year old through preschool. As vaccinations are not likely to help infants develop immunity to viruses, the ministry also will give priority to the parents of infants under the age of 1. This represents an expansion from the ministry's initial plan of giving priority to the parents of children under 6 months of age. According to the ministry, domestic manufacturers will produce enough vaccine for 18 million people by the end of this fiscal year. Shipment of the vaccines likely will start in late October, after which people on the priority list will start receiving inoculations. The remaining need will be met with imported vaccines that will be administered to primary, middle and high school students and the elderly. Foreign-made vaccines are expected to arrive in Japan after late December. People need to receive two doses of vaccine. As it takes about a month after the first vaccination to develop immunity, people inoculated in late October, for example, are unlikely to become immune to the virus until December.
Summary:
厚生労働省は金曜日、新型インフルエンザに対してのワクチン接種の政策について明らかにした。
その政策は、医療のプロやインフルエンザの症状がある人を優先するというものである。
最後の会議で、国家は最終的に5400000人分のインフルエンザのワクチンが必要だと予期した。これもまた1900000人のリスクの高い人が優先される。 ワクチン接種は幼児を救うための発達したウイルスの免疫のようなものではなく、その援助もまた1歳以下の用事の両親が優先されるだろう。
内閣によると、国内の製造業者は1800000人のための十分なワクチンを今年の会計年度までに製造するだろう。
人々は2つのワクチンを接種する必要がある。免疫を強めるために、最初のワクチン接種から約1ヶ月後にまた受けるのである。
What I find interesting: インフルエンザがこれ以上流行しないようにするためにも、一人ひとりが意識的に感染予防をしなければならないと思いました。
医療に携わる人を優先にワクチン接種する政策は、とても効果的でいいと思います。私も、マスクをしたり手洗いうがいをきちんとして、感染を防ぎたいと思います。
ワクチンの生産も、感染の拡大を抑えるためにとても重要だと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry 厚生労働省
unveil 明らかにする
vaccination ワクチン接種
prioritize 優先させる
inoculation 予防接種
symptom 徴候、症状
fiscal year 会計年度(10月1日～9月30日まで)
immunity 免疫
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Homework
・When did Alan Turing drow up the initial design for the Automatic Computing Engine?
He draw up it in 1945.
・What is Turing's biographer's name?
He is Dr Andrew Hodges.
He draw up it in 1945.
・What is Turing's biographer's name?
He is Dr Andrew Hodges.
Reding diary 1
Date：1 October 2009
Name and URL：
'Nation's oldest stone tools found'
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090930TDY01201.htm
Text:
MATSUE--Twenty stone tools believed to be the oldest discovered in the nation have been excavated from a mid-Paleolithic period geological layer, dating back 120,000 years, at an archeological site in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, researchers said Tuesday.
According to a team of experts, led by Prof. Kazuto Matsufuji of Doshisha University, that has researched the Sunabara remains, the tools are tens of thousands years older than any previously discovered.
The existence of stone tools dating back to the early and mid-Paleolithic period in this country was thrown into question in 2000, when a former deputy director of the disbanded Tohoku Paleolithic Institute buried stone tools and later recovered them, claiming they were unearthed from 700,000-year-old archeological remains in Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, and other sites.
Archeologists say the latest discovery could change the way the era is studied.
The tools are between 5.2 centimeters and 1.5 centimeters long and made of quartz or rhyolite. Their surfaces indicate that they were chipped into shape.
The excavation site is located on a slope in a hilly area.
In August, Toshiro Naruse, a professor emeritus of Hyogo University of Teacher Education and a physical geography expert, discovered a knife-shaped stone tool at the site. Naruse asked Matsufuji and other researchers to research the area, leading to 19 other stone tools being discovered there.
The age of the tools was determined by examining the volcanic ash layer just above the layer from which these tools were excavated.
Summary:
研究者たちは火曜日、島根県の出雲で１２万年前の日本最古の２０個の石器が見つかったと発表した。
その石器は5.2ｃｍと1.5ｃｍの長さで、石英または流紋岩でできている。
それらの表面は、石のかけらだということを示している。
発見場所は傾斜のある丘である。
8月に、兵庫教育大学の名誉教授である成瀬敏郎がナイフ型の石器をそこで発見した。成瀬さんは松藤さんや他の研究者たちにそこの研究を頼み、その場所で19個の他の石器が発見された。
What I find interesting:
今から12万年も前の石器を発見することができて、
その上発見された石器がいつの時代のものなのか特定できるなんて、現代の科学技術はすごいと思いました。
これから先、もっと昔の石器が発見されたり、研究が進んで、過去のことがより詳しくわかるようになるといいなと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
mid-Paleolithic period 中期旧石器時代
disband 解散する
bury 埋める
quartz 石英
rhyolite 流紋岩
excavation 発掘
professor emeritus 名誉教授
Name and URL：
'Nation's oldest stone tools found'
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090930TDY01201.htm
Text:
MATSUE--Twenty stone tools believed to be the oldest discovered in the nation have been excavated from a mid-Paleolithic period geological layer, dating back 120,000 years, at an archeological site in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, researchers said Tuesday.
According to a team of experts, led by Prof. Kazuto Matsufuji of Doshisha University, that has researched the Sunabara remains, the tools are tens of thousands years older than any previously discovered.
The existence of stone tools dating back to the early and mid-Paleolithic period in this country was thrown into question in 2000, when a former deputy director of the disbanded Tohoku Paleolithic Institute buried stone tools and later recovered them, claiming they were unearthed from 700,000-year-old archeological remains in Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, and other sites.
Archeologists say the latest discovery could change the way the era is studied.
The tools are between 5.2 centimeters and 1.5 centimeters long and made of quartz or rhyolite. Their surfaces indicate that they were chipped into shape.
The excavation site is located on a slope in a hilly area.
In August, Toshiro Naruse, a professor emeritus of Hyogo University of Teacher Education and a physical geography expert, discovered a knife-shaped stone tool at the site. Naruse asked Matsufuji and other researchers to research the area, leading to 19 other stone tools being discovered there.
The age of the tools was determined by examining the volcanic ash layer just above the layer from which these tools were excavated.
Summary:
研究者たちは火曜日、島根県の出雲で１２万年前の日本最古の２０個の石器が見つかったと発表した。
その石器は5.2ｃｍと1.5ｃｍの長さで、石英または流紋岩でできている。
それらの表面は、石のかけらだということを示している。
発見場所は傾斜のある丘である。
8月に、兵庫教育大学の名誉教授である成瀬敏郎がナイフ型の石器をそこで発見した。成瀬さんは松藤さんや他の研究者たちにそこの研究を頼み、その場所で19個の他の石器が発見された。
What I find interesting:
今から12万年も前の石器を発見することができて、
その上発見された石器がいつの時代のものなのか特定できるなんて、現代の科学技術はすごいと思いました。
これから先、もっと昔の石器が発見されたり、研究が進んで、過去のことがより詳しくわかるようになるといいなと思いました。
New words/expressions I learn:
mid-Paleolithic period 中期旧石器時代
disband 解散する
bury 埋める
quartz 石英
rhyolite 流紋岩
excavation 発掘
professor emeritus 名誉教授
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Reading diary8
Date：8 June 2009
Name and URL：
Rice farmers see salvation in sake
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090608TDY03104.htm
Text:
The government is aiming to set a greenhouse gas reduction midterm target of 14 percent or more from 2005 levels as it enters the final stage of gathering opinions concerning the nation's emissions reduction goal for 2020, government sources said Friday.
Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday to announce the target.
In April, a panel meeting on global warming tabled six plans for reducing emissions that range from 4 to 30 percent cuts from 2005 levels. The government's aim of about 14 percent has been decided on as it is felt most likely to win public approval based on a poll conducted by the Cabinet Secretariat in which 45.4 percent of people surveyed advocated a 14 percent reduction.
In addition, the midterm target of 14 percent or more is about the same level as the midterm target set by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama and would make it more likely that the United States, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, would join a gas reduction scheme to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
Aso told reporters Friday that he also needed to take into account the effect an "ambitious target" would have on the country's industrial competitiveness and how it might burden households.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has pushed for the most ambitious of the panel's reduction targets of 30 percent. But Aso has indicated such a target is not feasible.
"Do you think each household would be willing to pay [an extra] 300,000 yen than they currently do?" Aso said to reporters, referring to the expected financial burdens a 30 percent target would impose.
Summary:
政府は温室効果ガスを2020年までに、2005年から15％以上削減することを目指している。
麻生太郎首相は水曜日にその目標を発言した。
首相は金曜日に記者に、“大掛かりな狙い”の効果を説明する必要があると言った。
日本の主な反民主主義者は、パネルの30％削減の目標を推奨している。しかし首相はそのような目標は可能な目標ではないと述べる。
What I find interesting:
世界的に気球温暖化が進んでいるから、できるだけ早い対応が求められていると思います。2020年までに温室効果ガスを15％も減らすのは簡単なことではないけれど、みんなが協力していけば、達成できる目標だと思いました。私も環境に配慮した生活を心がけようと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
reduction 削減
approval 賛成
currently 現在(のところ)
Name and URL：
Rice farmers see salvation in sake
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090608TDY03104.htm
Text:
The government is aiming to set a greenhouse gas reduction midterm target of 14 percent or more from 2005 levels as it enters the final stage of gathering opinions concerning the nation's emissions reduction goal for 2020, government sources said Friday.
Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday to announce the target.
In April, a panel meeting on global warming tabled six plans for reducing emissions that range from 4 to 30 percent cuts from 2005 levels. The government's aim of about 14 percent has been decided on as it is felt most likely to win public approval based on a poll conducted by the Cabinet Secretariat in which 45.4 percent of people surveyed advocated a 14 percent reduction.
In addition, the midterm target of 14 percent or more is about the same level as the midterm target set by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama and would make it more likely that the United States, one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, would join a gas reduction scheme to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
Aso told reporters Friday that he also needed to take into account the effect an "ambitious target" would have on the country's industrial competitiveness and how it might burden households.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has pushed for the most ambitious of the panel's reduction targets of 30 percent. But Aso has indicated such a target is not feasible.
"Do you think each household would be willing to pay [an extra] 300,000 yen than they currently do?" Aso said to reporters, referring to the expected financial burdens a 30 percent target would impose.
Summary:
政府は温室効果ガスを2020年までに、2005年から15％以上削減することを目指している。
麻生太郎首相は水曜日にその目標を発言した。
首相は金曜日に記者に、“大掛かりな狙い”の効果を説明する必要があると言った。
日本の主な反民主主義者は、パネルの30％削減の目標を推奨している。しかし首相はそのような目標は可能な目標ではないと述べる。
What I find interesting:
世界的に気球温暖化が進んでいるから、できるだけ早い対応が求められていると思います。2020年までに温室効果ガスを15％も減らすのは簡単なことではないけれど、みんなが協力していけば、達成できる目標だと思いました。私も環境に配慮した生活を心がけようと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
reduction 削減
approval 賛成
currently 現在(のところ)
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Reading diary7
Date：3 June 2009
Some people must clean to make way for luxury apartments in time for 2008.
Around two million people have been forced out of Beijing's city centre as new buildings spring up everywhere.
Some people feel happy about the Beijing Olympics, so they don't blame governmunt for the changes to their lives.
They think that it's a good thing, because their living conditions will improve.
However, it makes some people very angry.
They think it is painful.
Other people who want to tear down the courtyards are using the Olympics as an excuse.
Some people say developers are taking advantage of the Games.
Some people must clean to make way for luxury apartments in time for 2008.
Around two million people have been forced out of Beijing's city centre as new buildings spring up everywhere.
Some people feel happy about the Beijing Olympics, so they don't blame governmunt for the changes to their lives.
They think that it's a good thing, because their living conditions will improve.
However, it makes some people very angry.
They think it is painful.
Other people who want to tear down the courtyards are using the Olympics as an excuse.
Some people say developers are taking advantage of the Games.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Reading diary6
Date：2 June 2009
Name and URL：
'Depachika' eateries attracting food fans
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090601TDY07308.htm
Text:
Depachika, or food halls located in the basement of many large department stores, often feature delicatessens, groceries, and patisseries. Recently, however, small eat-in stalls and cafes dotted around the food halls are proving increasingly popular thanks to their reasonably priced, high-quality cuisine.
Shunbanro, a fugu blowfish restaurant that started in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, has a cafelike stall with four seats at Takashimaya department store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
Shunbanro's main restaurant in Shimonoseki has a long history and was notably visited by Hirobumi Ito, the nation's first prime minister.
The stall is situated behind a shop selling takeout fugu sashimi. In the kitchen, licensed fugu chefs prepare such foods as sushi rolls and sashimi at pocket-friendly prices.
"You can enjoy seasonal cuisine, such as hamo pike conger in summer and wild torafugu tiger blowfish in winter," said Masahiro Takahashi, the stall's manager.
A Takashimaya spokesman said the stall was well established among people in the know, with many making special visits to the store or dropping by during business trips.
Food writer Ikuko Nanayama said many eat-in food corners are small and do not spend much on self-promotion. However, these small eateries are gaining popularity via word of mouth thanks to their pricing policy, fast service and good reputations, Nanayama explained.
An added advantage of these mini restaurants is that cuisine can be purchased to take home or as a souvenir.
Yonyan, a Korean deli at Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, sells kimchi pickles using high-quality pepper and namul seasoned vegetables. Bibimba, a traditional and popular rice-based Korean dish served in a heated stone bowl, sells for under 800 yen.
Nanayama said: "At depachika, cuisine from top-class restaurants, which are usually too expensive and difficult to access, can be enjoyed at reasonable prices. The private atmosphere found in department stores is also nice as it differs from that of food malls."
Taking the time to sample the foods at these small department-store eateries is well worth the effort.
Summary:
デパ地下は大きなデパートの地下の食品売り場で、デリカテッセンや食料雑貨店、ケーキ屋さんなどがある。
しかしながらここ最近は中で食べられたり、高い質の料理を高くない価格で、と改良されている。
フードライターの七山いくこさんは、店内飲食できる食品売り場は小さくて自己販売促進に多くを費やさなくていい、と言う。
それらの小さなレストランの他の好都合な点は、料理を家に持ち帰ったり
お土産として持ち帰ることができることだ。
七山さんは「高価すぎて、入手困難なトップクラスのレストランの料理を
デパ地下は安い価格で楽しませてくれる。」と言う。
What I find interesting:
デパ地下がこんなに発展していて、
ふぐの料理店まであるのは驚きました。
デパ地下は駅の近くにあることが多いし、位置的にも便利なので、これからもどんどん
思いがけないようなお店が進出してくると思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
delicatessen デリカテッセン、調理済食品店
cuisine 料理
via ～経由で、を通って
Name and URL：
'Depachika' eateries attracting food fans
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090601TDY07308.htm
Text:
Depachika, or food halls located in the basement of many large department stores, often feature delicatessens, groceries, and patisseries. Recently, however, small eat-in stalls and cafes dotted around the food halls are proving increasingly popular thanks to their reasonably priced, high-quality cuisine.
Shunbanro, a fugu blowfish restaurant that started in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, has a cafelike stall with four seats at Takashimaya department store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
Shunbanro's main restaurant in Shimonoseki has a long history and was notably visited by Hirobumi Ito, the nation's first prime minister.
The stall is situated behind a shop selling takeout fugu sashimi. In the kitchen, licensed fugu chefs prepare such foods as sushi rolls and sashimi at pocket-friendly prices.
"You can enjoy seasonal cuisine, such as hamo pike conger in summer and wild torafugu tiger blowfish in winter," said Masahiro Takahashi, the stall's manager.
A Takashimaya spokesman said the stall was well established among people in the know, with many making special visits to the store or dropping by during business trips.
Food writer Ikuko Nanayama said many eat-in food corners are small and do not spend much on self-promotion. However, these small eateries are gaining popularity via word of mouth thanks to their pricing policy, fast service and good reputations, Nanayama explained.
An added advantage of these mini restaurants is that cuisine can be purchased to take home or as a souvenir.
Yonyan, a Korean deli at Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, sells kimchi pickles using high-quality pepper and namul seasoned vegetables. Bibimba, a traditional and popular rice-based Korean dish served in a heated stone bowl, sells for under 800 yen.
Nanayama said: "At depachika, cuisine from top-class restaurants, which are usually too expensive and difficult to access, can be enjoyed at reasonable prices. The private atmosphere found in department stores is also nice as it differs from that of food malls."
Taking the time to sample the foods at these small department-store eateries is well worth the effort.
Summary:
デパ地下は大きなデパートの地下の食品売り場で、デリカテッセンや食料雑貨店、ケーキ屋さんなどがある。
しかしながらここ最近は中で食べられたり、高い質の料理を高くない価格で、と改良されている。
フードライターの七山いくこさんは、店内飲食できる食品売り場は小さくて自己販売促進に多くを費やさなくていい、と言う。
それらの小さなレストランの他の好都合な点は、料理を家に持ち帰ったり
お土産として持ち帰ることができることだ。
七山さんは「高価すぎて、入手困難なトップクラスのレストランの料理を
デパ地下は安い価格で楽しませてくれる。」と言う。
What I find interesting:
デパ地下がこんなに発展していて、
ふぐの料理店まであるのは驚きました。
デパ地下は駅の近くにあることが多いし、位置的にも便利なので、これからもどんどん
思いがけないようなお店が進出してくると思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
delicatessen デリカテッセン、調理済食品店
cuisine 料理
via ～経由で、を通って
Reading diary5
Date：2 June 2009
Name and URL：
Researchers ID gene linked with hair loss
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090602TDY03102.htm
Text:
Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics have identified a gene linked to cyclic hair loss in mice that could potentially be used in treatment of human gene-related hair loss.
Their finding was disclosed May 25 in the online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
The team headed by Prof. Yumiko Saga made the discovery in experiments using mice lacking the Sox21 gene.
According to their research, when the gene's functions are inhibited, it leads to improper formation of cuticles, the outer layer of hair, which leads to the hair falling out.
The team confirmed that the gene also is present in humans for growing hair and is not associated with male hormone functions, raising the possibility of the development of hair-loss treatments utilizing the gene for men and women.
The gene has been known for its role in the formation of nerve cells and other functions.
Researchers accidentally discovered the gene's link to hair loss while conducting an experiment using mice that were genetically modified to halt the gene's functions.
Their experiments showed that the mice without the gene began losing hair about 15 days after being born. The mice lost hair from head to tail in about a week and the cycle for the hair loss was extremely short, they said.
Summary:
遺伝子学の研究所の研究員らが、
ねずみの遺伝子はねずみの毛が抜ける周期と関係あることを発見した。
これは人間の遺伝的な抜け毛の治療に使うことができる。
彼らの発見はアメリカでの科学の国立高等教育機関のオンラインの議事録で５月25日に明らかになった。
研究によって、遺伝子の機能が抑制された時、
髪の外側の層のキューティクルの構造を誤って導いてしまうことが分かった。
その遺伝子は、神経細胞や他の機能の構造の役割で知られている。
研究者たとの実験は、その遺伝子のないねずみは生後15日くらいで毛を失い始めることを示している。
そのねずみは1週間ほどで頭からしっぽまで毛を失い、その周期は極端に短い、と彼らは言う。
What I find interesting:
ねずみの実験を通して、人間の髪の抜け毛に応用できるなんてすごいと思いました。
ある遺伝子の有無だけで髪にこんなに影響が出てくるから、
遺伝子は重要なものだと改めて感じました。
この実験結果のおかげで今後良い治療法が見つかったらいいなと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
cyclic/周期的な，循環の
mice/mouseの複数形
disclosed/あばく，明らかにする
Proceedings /議事録
lack/欠ける
inhibit/抑制する
cuticle/表皮
layer/層
comfirm/確かめる
accidentally/偶然に
Name and URL：
Researchers ID gene linked with hair loss
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090602TDY03102.htm
Text:
Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics have identified a gene linked to cyclic hair loss in mice that could potentially be used in treatment of human gene-related hair loss.
Their finding was disclosed May 25 in the online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
The team headed by Prof. Yumiko Saga made the discovery in experiments using mice lacking the Sox21 gene.
According to their research, when the gene's functions are inhibited, it leads to improper formation of cuticles, the outer layer of hair, which leads to the hair falling out.
The team confirmed that the gene also is present in humans for growing hair and is not associated with male hormone functions, raising the possibility of the development of hair-loss treatments utilizing the gene for men and women.
The gene has been known for its role in the formation of nerve cells and other functions.
Researchers accidentally discovered the gene's link to hair loss while conducting an experiment using mice that were genetically modified to halt the gene's functions.
Their experiments showed that the mice without the gene began losing hair about 15 days after being born. The mice lost hair from head to tail in about a week and the cycle for the hair loss was extremely short, they said.
Summary:
遺伝子学の研究所の研究員らが、
ねずみの遺伝子はねずみの毛が抜ける周期と関係あることを発見した。
これは人間の遺伝的な抜け毛の治療に使うことができる。
彼らの発見はアメリカでの科学の国立高等教育機関のオンラインの議事録で５月25日に明らかになった。
研究によって、遺伝子の機能が抑制された時、
髪の外側の層のキューティクルの構造を誤って導いてしまうことが分かった。
その遺伝子は、神経細胞や他の機能の構造の役割で知られている。
研究者たとの実験は、その遺伝子のないねずみは生後15日くらいで毛を失い始めることを示している。
そのねずみは1週間ほどで頭からしっぽまで毛を失い、その周期は極端に短い、と彼らは言う。
What I find interesting:
ねずみの実験を通して、人間の髪の抜け毛に応用できるなんてすごいと思いました。
ある遺伝子の有無だけで髪にこんなに影響が出てくるから、
遺伝子は重要なものだと改めて感じました。
この実験結果のおかげで今後良い治療法が見つかったらいいなと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
cyclic/周期的な，循環の
mice/mouseの複数形
disclosed/あばく，明らかにする
Proceedings /議事録
lack/欠ける
inhibit/抑制する
cuticle/表皮
layer/層
comfirm/確かめる
accidentally/偶然に
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Reding diary4
Date：1 June 2009
Name and URL：
IN THE NEWS / Iranian writer finds her voice in Japanese
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090531TDY03101.htm
Text:
OSAKA--Shirin Nezammafi, a 29-year-old Iranian, recently won the 108th Bungakukai Shinjinsho--an award for new writers run by Bungakukai, a monthly literature magazine.
"I won't be able to think of myself as a writer until I write a piece of work I'm satisfied with," Nezammafi said after scooping the renowned literary award for budding authors.
Nezammafi's award-winning work, titled "Shiroi Kami" (White Paper), is set in Iran during the 1980s. It depicts a romance between high school students during the Iran-Iraq War.
The war ended when Nezammafi was 8 years old. She remembers returning home from an air raid evacuation shelter to find the windows of her home shattered by bombs.
"Wars are normal in Iran. But I thought it would put a fresh slant [on the issue] by writing about it in Japanese," Nezammafi said.
After graduating from a Tehran high school, she was drawn to Japan by the country's science and technology.
While a third-year student at Kobe University, an "interesting topics" event was held at the university. When Nezammafi showed her friend what she had written in Japanese on two A4-sized sheets of paper, her friend found it interesting enough to turn her writing into a comic.
Nezammafi gained confidence writing in Japanese, and in 2007 she won a literary award for foreign students for "Salam," a story based on her experiences with refugees she met during her part-time work as an interpreter.
"Writing is very normal for me," Nezammafi said. "I was blessed to meet friends, teachers, and superiors in Japan. From now on, I'd like to work hard at filling in my own 'white paper.'"
Nezammafi works at Panasonic Corp. as a systems engineer.
Summary:
大阪の29歳のイタリア人女性Shirin Nezammafiさんが、第108回文学新人賞を受賞した。
受賞作品の題名は「白い紙」で、1980年代のイランの話である。
イランイラク戦争の間の高校生の恋愛を描写したものだ。
テフラン高校を卒業した後、彼女は日本の科学技術を描いた。
彼女は日本で、執筆の信頼を得て、
2007年に彼女が通訳者としてのパートタイムの仕事で出会った難民との経験を土台にした物語「Salam」という作品で文学の賞を受賞した。
「書くことは私にとって普通のことです。」と彼女は言う。
彼女はパナソニックでシステムエンジニアとして働いている。
What I find interesting:
出身国での戦争など、様々な困難を乗り越えたからこそ、
すばらしい作品ができたんだと思いました。
自分の経験を、良いもの悪いものに限らず、生かしていくことができるのは
とても素晴らしいことだと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
refugee 難民
literary 文芸の
depict 描写する
Name and URL：
IN THE NEWS / Iranian writer finds her voice in Japanese
www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090531TDY03101.htm
Text:
OSAKA--Shirin Nezammafi, a 29-year-old Iranian, recently won the 108th Bungakukai Shinjinsho--an award for new writers run by Bungakukai, a monthly literature magazine.
"I won't be able to think of myself as a writer until I write a piece of work I'm satisfied with," Nezammafi said after scooping the renowned literary award for budding authors.
Nezammafi's award-winning work, titled "Shiroi Kami" (White Paper), is set in Iran during the 1980s. It depicts a romance between high school students during the Iran-Iraq War.
The war ended when Nezammafi was 8 years old. She remembers returning home from an air raid evacuation shelter to find the windows of her home shattered by bombs.
"Wars are normal in Iran. But I thought it would put a fresh slant [on the issue] by writing about it in Japanese," Nezammafi said.
After graduating from a Tehran high school, she was drawn to Japan by the country's science and technology.
While a third-year student at Kobe University, an "interesting topics" event was held at the university. When Nezammafi showed her friend what she had written in Japanese on two A4-sized sheets of paper, her friend found it interesting enough to turn her writing into a comic.
Nezammafi gained confidence writing in Japanese, and in 2007 she won a literary award for foreign students for "Salam," a story based on her experiences with refugees she met during her part-time work as an interpreter.
"Writing is very normal for me," Nezammafi said. "I was blessed to meet friends, teachers, and superiors in Japan. From now on, I'd like to work hard at filling in my own 'white paper.'"
Nezammafi works at Panasonic Corp. as a systems engineer.
Summary:
大阪の29歳のイタリア人女性Shirin Nezammafiさんが、第108回文学新人賞を受賞した。
受賞作品の題名は「白い紙」で、1980年代のイランの話である。
イランイラク戦争の間の高校生の恋愛を描写したものだ。
テフラン高校を卒業した後、彼女は日本の科学技術を描いた。
彼女は日本で、執筆の信頼を得て、
2007年に彼女が通訳者としてのパートタイムの仕事で出会った難民との経験を土台にした物語「Salam」という作品で文学の賞を受賞した。
「書くことは私にとって普通のことです。」と彼女は言う。
彼女はパナソニックでシステムエンジニアとして働いている。
What I find interesting:
出身国での戦争など、様々な困難を乗り越えたからこそ、
すばらしい作品ができたんだと思いました。
自分の経験を、良いもの悪いものに限らず、生かしていくことができるのは
とても素晴らしいことだと思います。
New words/expressions I learn:
refugee 難民
literary 文芸の
depict 描写する
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Reading diary 3
Date：31 May 2009
Name and URL：
Parties to extend Diet session to August
www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300070.html
Text:
Ruling coalition executives agreed Friday to extend the current Diet session for at least 60 days, which would ensure passage of important bills and likely delay the next Lower House election until August or September.
Prime Minister Taro Aso of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Akihiro Ota, leader of junior ruling coalition partner New Komeito, will make a formal decision Monday, two days before the scheduled end of the ordinary Diet session.
While the prime minister has the power to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election at any time, the coalition parties want to pass a number of bills in the Diet before an election is called.
The Lower House, where the ruling parties have a solid majority, has already passed or will soon pass legislation related to the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget, including the tax system revision bill and the bill to revise the law on privatizing the Development Bank of Japan.
Other important bills, including one on anti-piracy measures, are certain to pass the Diet by late June.
The lengthy extension of the Diet session is intended to negate any delay tactics from the opposition-controlled Upper House.
If the opposition parties vote against bills that have already cleared the Lower House, the lower chamber of the Diet can hold a second vote on the bills and pass them into law with a two-thirds majority.
If the Upper House refuses to vote on a bill within 60 days after receiving it from the Lower House, the bill will be viewed as rejected, and the Lower House can pass it in a second vote.
Since an ordinary Diet session can be extended only once, the ruling coalition and government have decided to give the current session a long extension until early August to ensure passage of the legislation.
However, views are strong within the ruling parties that Aso should dissolve the Lower House for a snap election if a favorable situation presents itself.
Because of this, ruling coalition members feel that the Lower House election will come in August after the July 12 Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.
To leave open the option of further delaying the next Lower House election, the idea of extending the Diet session even beyond early August has been floated within the coalition parties.
Summary:
主な党は国会の会期を60日間延長することに賛成した。
衆議院は2009年の補正予算をすでに通過、またはすぐに通過させる。
他の海賊対処法案を含んだ重要な法案も、6月後半までには通過することが確かだ。
もし参議院が衆議院から法案を受け取ってから60日間、投票を拒絶したら、
その法案は否決となり、また衆議院は2度目の投票でそれを通過させることができる。
通常国会は、1度しか延長できないので、8月前半までの長い延長を決めた。
What I find interesting:
国会での会議は重要なものだから、最善の結果を出すために延長することはいいことだと思う。
60日ルールがあるから、8月上旬までの60日間という大幅な延期は不可欠だったんだろうなと思った。
国会は1度しか延長できないというのは初めて知りました。
New words/expressions I learn:
ruling 主な
coalition 連合、党
anti-piracy measures 海賊対処法案
legislation 法律制定
supplementary budget 補正予算
ruling party 与党
Name and URL：
Parties to extend Diet session to August
www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300070.html
Text:
Ruling coalition executives agreed Friday to extend the current Diet session for at least 60 days, which would ensure passage of important bills and likely delay the next Lower House election until August or September.
Prime Minister Taro Aso of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Akihiro Ota, leader of junior ruling coalition partner New Komeito, will make a formal decision Monday, two days before the scheduled end of the ordinary Diet session.
While the prime minister has the power to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election at any time, the coalition parties want to pass a number of bills in the Diet before an election is called.
The Lower House, where the ruling parties have a solid majority, has already passed or will soon pass legislation related to the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget, including the tax system revision bill and the bill to revise the law on privatizing the Development Bank of Japan.
Other important bills, including one on anti-piracy measures, are certain to pass the Diet by late June.
The lengthy extension of the Diet session is intended to negate any delay tactics from the opposition-controlled Upper House.
If the opposition parties vote against bills that have already cleared the Lower House, the lower chamber of the Diet can hold a second vote on the bills and pass them into law with a two-thirds majority.
If the Upper House refuses to vote on a bill within 60 days after receiving it from the Lower House, the bill will be viewed as rejected, and the Lower House can pass it in a second vote.
Since an ordinary Diet session can be extended only once, the ruling coalition and government have decided to give the current session a long extension until early August to ensure passage of the legislation.
However, views are strong within the ruling parties that Aso should dissolve the Lower House for a snap election if a favorable situation presents itself.
Because of this, ruling coalition members feel that the Lower House election will come in August after the July 12 Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.
To leave open the option of further delaying the next Lower House election, the idea of extending the Diet session even beyond early August has been floated within the coalition parties.
Summary:
主な党は国会の会期を60日間延長することに賛成した。
衆議院は2009年の補正予算をすでに通過、またはすぐに通過させる。
他の海賊対処法案を含んだ重要な法案も、6月後半までには通過することが確かだ。
もし参議院が衆議院から法案を受け取ってから60日間、投票を拒絶したら、
その法案は否決となり、また衆議院は2度目の投票でそれを通過させることができる。
通常国会は、1度しか延長できないので、8月前半までの長い延長を決めた。
What I find interesting:
国会での会議は重要なものだから、最善の結果を出すために延長することはいいことだと思う。
60日ルールがあるから、8月上旬までの60日間という大幅な延期は不可欠だったんだろうなと思った。
国会は1度しか延長できないというのは初めて知りました。
New words/expressions I learn:
ruling 主な
coalition 連合、党
anti-piracy measures 海賊対処法案
legislation 法律制定
supplementary budget 補正予算
ruling party 与党
Reading diary 2
Date：31 May 2009
Name and URL：
Job offer ratio ties worst level
www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300076.html
Text:
The ratio of job offers to job seekers in April slid to 0.46, down 0.06 point from the previous month, to tie all-time worst levels posted in May and June 1999, according to labor ministry statistics released Friday.
Moreover, April's unemployment rate rose 0.2 point from March to a seasonally adjusted 5 percent, according to the internal affairs ministry. It is the first time in nearly five and a half years that the rate has risen to 5 percent.
The latest job offer rate indicates that only 46 jobs were available for every 100 job seekers.
For regular, full-time jobs, the ratio was especially low, registering 0.27, a drop of 0.27 point from April 2008.
It is the worst ratio posted since the government began tracking such statistics for full-time positions in November 2004.
New job offers, a key indicator in economic forecasting, plunged 26.5 percent from April 2008, marking its 28th consecutive month of decline.
Job availability in the manufacturing industry was particularly glum, with new offers tumbling 55.6 percent from April 2008.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate grew by a combined 0.9 point over the last three months, with internal affairs ministry officials describing the situation as "an unprecedented rapid decline."
For men, the unemployment rate rose 0.4 point in April from the previous month to 5.3 percent, while for women, the ratio fell 0.1 point to 4.6 percent.
The number of jobless people totaled 3.46 million in April, up 710,000 from April 2008, the largest margin of growth on record.
The number of people who lost jobs in corporate restructuring or for other employer-instigated reasons was 1.14 million, up 530,000 from a year earlier.
Summary:
4月の求人比率は0.46倍で、前月から0.06ポイント下がり、
1999年5,6月と同様、今までで最低となった。
さらに、4月の失業率は3月より0.2ポイント高い5%で、5%以上となるのは5年半ぶりである。
正社員の求人比率は特に低く、2008年4月を0.27ポイント下回る0.27%となった。
これは2004年11月に正社員の統計をとり始めてから最も悪い比率である。
4月の失業者数は346万人で、2008年4月から710,000人増えている。
雇い主の扇動により仕事を失った人は114万人で、1年前より530,000人増えた。
What I find interesting:
景気が悪いのは知っていたけれど、
求人の比率の低さや失業率の高さに驚いた。
このままでは大変だと思った。
特に失業者が1年間だけで71万人も増えたことに驚いた。
政府の適切な対処が求められていると思う。
New words/expressions I learn:
ministry 省
statistic 統計量
plunge 陥る
instigated 扇動
Name and URL：
Job offer ratio ties worst level
www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300076.html
Text:
The ratio of job offers to job seekers in April slid to 0.46, down 0.06 point from the previous month, to tie all-time worst levels posted in May and June 1999, according to labor ministry statistics released Friday.
Moreover, April's unemployment rate rose 0.2 point from March to a seasonally adjusted 5 percent, according to the internal affairs ministry. It is the first time in nearly five and a half years that the rate has risen to 5 percent.
The latest job offer rate indicates that only 46 jobs were available for every 100 job seekers.
For regular, full-time jobs, the ratio was especially low, registering 0.27, a drop of 0.27 point from April 2008.
It is the worst ratio posted since the government began tracking such statistics for full-time positions in November 2004.
New job offers, a key indicator in economic forecasting, plunged 26.5 percent from April 2008, marking its 28th consecutive month of decline.
Job availability in the manufacturing industry was particularly glum, with new offers tumbling 55.6 percent from April 2008.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate grew by a combined 0.9 point over the last three months, with internal affairs ministry officials describing the situation as "an unprecedented rapid decline."
For men, the unemployment rate rose 0.4 point in April from the previous month to 5.3 percent, while for women, the ratio fell 0.1 point to 4.6 percent.
The number of jobless people totaled 3.46 million in April, up 710,000 from April 2008, the largest margin of growth on record.
The number of people who lost jobs in corporate restructuring or for other employer-instigated reasons was 1.14 million, up 530,000 from a year earlier.
Summary:
4月の求人比率は0.46倍で、前月から0.06ポイント下がり、
1999年5,6月と同様、今までで最低となった。
さらに、4月の失業率は3月より0.2ポイント高い5%で、5%以上となるのは5年半ぶりである。
正社員の求人比率は特に低く、2008年4月を0.27ポイント下回る0.27%となった。
これは2004年11月に正社員の統計をとり始めてから最も悪い比率である。
4月の失業者数は346万人で、2008年4月から710,000人増えている。
雇い主の扇動により仕事を失った人は114万人で、1年前より530,000人増えた。
What I find interesting:
景気が悪いのは知っていたけれど、
求人の比率の低さや失業率の高さに驚いた。
このままでは大変だと思った。
特に失業者が1年間だけで71万人も増えたことに驚いた。
政府の適切な対処が求められていると思う。
New words/expressions I learn:
ministry 省
statistic 統計量
plunge 陥る
instigated 扇動
Reading diary 1
Date：30 May 2009
Name and URL：
Final resting place of Himiko discovered?
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300072.html
Text:
An ancient tomb, constructed in traditional keyhole style denoting someone of very high rank, may well be the final resting place of Himiko, the legendary third-century queen of the Yamatai kingdom, say archaeologists who relied on radiocarbon dating for their finding.
Artifacts from near the earthen mound in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, were examined by researchers attached to the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku) in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture.
Using radiocarbon dating, they studied clay fragments from the rim of the mound and found that they were made between 240 and 260. Himiko, according to Chinese records, died around 250.
They determined that the tomb very likely could have been built for Himiko.
The discovery will also likely ignite further debate on the location of the Yamatai kingdom, which some say was in Kyushu and others believe was centered around Nara, an ancient capital.
An early Chinese book, "The Wei Zhi: Account of the Wa People," chronicles tributary relations between Himiko and the Cao Wei kingdom during the late second to early third century. Himiko is recorded as having dispatched a diplomatic mission to Wei in 239. The delegation was said to have received 100 sacred copper mirrors and other gifts from the Chinese dynasty.
Hashihaka, a 280-meter key-hole shaped tree-encrusted mound, is much larger than other ancient tombs built before or at the same time in Japan. The nearest one in size measures just 110 meters in length.
Some scholars believe Hashihaka matches ancient Chinese descriptions of Himiko's tomb.
Until recently, many archaeologists had theorized that the Hashihaka mound was constructed in the fourth century.
However, an analysis of artifacts unearthed near the site led researchers in recent years to conclude the tomb was constructed in the late third century, and thus, it could be Himiko's.
The Imperial Household Agency has forbidden any excavation of the tomb itself on grounds that it is designated as an imperial burial ground.
The archaeologists will present a paper on their findings at the 20th International Radiocarbon Conference in Hawaii starting Sunday and at the Japan Archeological Association conference being held the same day at Tokyo's Waseda University.
Summary:
ある前方後円墳が邪馬台国の女王卑弥呼のものかもしれないことが、放射性炭素年代測定法でわかった。
古墳のへりのかけらが粘土であることや、
それが240～260年に作られたものであることがわかり、
また、中国の記録文書より卑弥呼は250ごろ亡くなっているので
このお墓は卑弥呼によって建てられた可能性が高い。
280mある箸墓古墳はそれ以前に日本でつくられた他の古墳の中で最大である。
魏志倭人伝の卑弥呼のお墓は箸墓だという学者もいる。
最近までずっと、多くの考古学者は箸墓古墳は4世紀に作られたと分析していた。
しかし、発掘された物の分析から、3世紀後半に作られているので
卑弥呼のものかもしれないとわかった。
考古学者たちは、日曜日にハワイで始まる国際的な放射性炭素の会議や、
早稲田大学での日本の考古学者の連合協議で
彼らの発見を述べるだろう。
What I find interesting:
すごく昔の出来事でも、放射性炭素年代測定法を使えば分かることがたくさんあるので、すごいと思いました。
これからもどんどん研究が進んで、箸墓古墳が卑弥呼のものかどうかわかる時がくると思います。
もしも卑弥呼のお墓だったら大発見だと思います。
すごく興味深いニュースでした。
New words/expressions I learn:
radiocarbon dating 放射性炭素年代測定法
unearth 発掘する
burial 埋葬
The Wei Zhi: Account of the Wa People 魏志倭人伝
diplomatic 外交
Imperial 皇帝
Name and URL：
Final resting place of Himiko discovered?
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905300072.html
Text:
An ancient tomb, constructed in traditional keyhole style denoting someone of very high rank, may well be the final resting place of Himiko, the legendary third-century queen of the Yamatai kingdom, say archaeologists who relied on radiocarbon dating for their finding.
Artifacts from near the earthen mound in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, were examined by researchers attached to the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku) in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture.
Using radiocarbon dating, they studied clay fragments from the rim of the mound and found that they were made between 240 and 260. Himiko, according to Chinese records, died around 250.
They determined that the tomb very likely could have been built for Himiko.
The discovery will also likely ignite further debate on the location of the Yamatai kingdom, which some say was in Kyushu and others believe was centered around Nara, an ancient capital.
An early Chinese book, "The Wei Zhi: Account of the Wa People," chronicles tributary relations between Himiko and the Cao Wei kingdom during the late second to early third century. Himiko is recorded as having dispatched a diplomatic mission to Wei in 239. The delegation was said to have received 100 sacred copper mirrors and other gifts from the Chinese dynasty.
Hashihaka, a 280-meter key-hole shaped tree-encrusted mound, is much larger than other ancient tombs built before or at the same time in Japan. The nearest one in size measures just 110 meters in length.
Some scholars believe Hashihaka matches ancient Chinese descriptions of Himiko's tomb.
Until recently, many archaeologists had theorized that the Hashihaka mound was constructed in the fourth century.
However, an analysis of artifacts unearthed near the site led researchers in recent years to conclude the tomb was constructed in the late third century, and thus, it could be Himiko's.
The Imperial Household Agency has forbidden any excavation of the tomb itself on grounds that it is designated as an imperial burial ground.
The archaeologists will present a paper on their findings at the 20th International Radiocarbon Conference in Hawaii starting Sunday and at the Japan Archeological Association conference being held the same day at Tokyo's Waseda University.
Summary:
ある前方後円墳が邪馬台国の女王卑弥呼のものかもしれないことが、放射性炭素年代測定法でわかった。
古墳のへりのかけらが粘土であることや、
それが240～260年に作られたものであることがわかり、
また、中国の記録文書より卑弥呼は250ごろ亡くなっているので
このお墓は卑弥呼によって建てられた可能性が高い。
280mある箸墓古墳はそれ以前に日本でつくられた他の古墳の中で最大である。
魏志倭人伝の卑弥呼のお墓は箸墓だという学者もいる。
最近までずっと、多くの考古学者は箸墓古墳は4世紀に作られたと分析していた。
しかし、発掘された物の分析から、3世紀後半に作られているので
卑弥呼のものかもしれないとわかった。
考古学者たちは、日曜日にハワイで始まる国際的な放射性炭素の会議や、
早稲田大学での日本の考古学者の連合協議で
彼らの発見を述べるだろう。
What I find interesting:
すごく昔の出来事でも、放射性炭素年代測定法を使えば分かることがたくさんあるので、すごいと思いました。
これからもどんどん研究が進んで、箸墓古墳が卑弥呼のものかどうかわかる時がくると思います。
もしも卑弥呼のお墓だったら大発見だと思います。
すごく興味深いニュースでした。
New words/expressions I learn:
radiocarbon dating 放射性炭素年代測定法
unearth 発掘する
burial 埋葬
The Wei Zhi: Account of the Wa People 魏志倭人伝
diplomatic 外交
Imperial 皇帝
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
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