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)
Sunday, 7 June 2009
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
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