1.28.2009

Reading: My Original News Quiz

News Quiz

1. A woman has been chosen as a crew member of a February 2010 mission on the space shuttle Atlantis, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. What’s her name?
2. One baseball team won the Japan Series at Tokyo Dome by edging the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 7. What’s the name of baseball team?
3. Two large electronic companies in Japan will hold talks on tie-up to form a capital and business alliance with the aim of turning. What are the names of two companies?
4. Recently, the presidential election was held in America. Who’s the president of America now?
5. A ceremony of Classics Day in Kyoto was held to work the millennium of the tale, which is the world’s oldest fall-length novel. What’s the tale?
6. At the meat processor incorporation, sausages tainted by residue of a chemical used as glue in its plastic package were found. What’s the name of this incorporation?
7. A well-known music producer was arrested over contract fraud. Who’s he?
8. Delta Air Lines completed its $2.8 billion acquisition of Northwest Airlines. Which will the name of company be kept?
9. Hundreds of pieces of paper money and bent coins worth more than \6.85 million have been discovered in a garbage recycling facility. Where is it in Japan?
10. Prime Minister Taro Aso attended the meeting of the global financial crisis with Asian leaders. Where was the meeting held?


1. Naoko Yamazaki (The Daily Yomiuri, 11/12/2008, p.3)
2. Saitama Seibu Lions (The Daily Yomiuri, 11/11/2008, p.1)
3. Panasonic Corp., Sanyo Electric Co. (The Daily Yomiuri, 11/08/2008, p.1)
4. Barack Obama (The Daily Yomiuri, 11/04/2008, p.1)
5. Tale of Genji (The Daily Yomiuri, 11/02/2008, p.1)
6. Ito-ham Foods Incorporated (The Japan Times, 11/02/2008, p2)
7. Tetsuya Komuro (The Japan Times, 11/05/2008, p.1)
8. Delta (The Japan Times,10/31/2008, p.1)
9. Gifu Prefecture (The Japan Times, 10/28/2008, p.2)
10. Beijing (The Japan Times, 10/26/2008, p.8)

[321 words]

Reading: My Original News Quiz

News Quiz

1. Osamu Shimomura won the Nobel Prize for discovering a fluorescent protein derived from jelly fish that has become a vital lab tool. What branch did he win the Nobel Prize?
2. Mannan Life Company, Japan’s largest maker halted production, because children and elderly people have choked to death. What is the production?
3. With regard to politician, who is the man who quitted cabinet as transport minister?
4. What is the insurance company which went bankrupt recently?
5. Tainted food, Marudai Food Company’s kurimu panda pastries was found in nursing house. What is the name of toxic substance?
6. There was a video theater fire recently. What is a prefecture?
7. A company make a special plane at Haneda Airport to support Tokyo’s campaign to host the 2016 summer Olympic and Paralympics Games. What is the name of company?
8. In America, which department approved rescue plan eventually?
9. Something has become scarce in supermarkets since TV programs and books claimed that eating them has weight-loss benefits. What is the food?
10. Japan Sumo Association chairman Musashigawa handed someone the Emperor’s Cup. Who received the Emperor’s Cup?

1. Chemistry (The Japan Times, 10/10/2008, 1)
2. Konnyaku jelly (The Japan Times, 10/10/2008, 1)
3. Nariaki Nakayama (The Japan Times, 09/29/2008, 1)
4. Yamato Life Insurance Company (The Japan Times, 10/12/2008, 8)
5. Melamine (The Japan Times, 10/01/2008, 2)
6. Osaka (The Daily Yomiuri, 10/02/2008, 1)
7. Japan Airlines (The Daily Yomiuri, 10/03/2008, 1)
8. Senate (The Japan Times, 10/03/2008, 1)
9. Banana (The Daily Yomiuri, 09/29/2008, 3)
10. Hakuho (The Daily Yomiuri, 09/29/2008, 20)

[266 words]

Speaking: Superstitions through my opinion

1. Five lucky things in my country are…
l Wising on a falling star (If you wish on a falling star three times by disappearing it, your wish will be come true.)
l A tea stem(茶柱) in a tea makes us happy. (If a tea stem in a tea rise, what is lucky will happen)
l An invitation cat brings some good luck.
l Lucky things will happen if you put slough of snake in a wallet.
l You will be the rich if you dream of snake.

2. Five bad things in my country are…
l Crossing a black cat in front of you.
l Wearing hat in house makes you bald head.
l Whistle at a night bring a snake.
l You must hide thumb if you see a hearse or funeral.
l To hand from chopsticks to chopsticks.

3. If we break a mirror, some bad things have been happening for seven years.
If you spill salt, misfortunes happen. It suggests sustained-release destruction and means a crack of the friendship.
If you sweep an unmarried woman’s feet, some misfortunes come true.

4. That a black cat walks in front of you and putting shoes on a table bring unlucky things.
That opening an umbrella in a house brings unlucky things for original person or their family.

5. Hair increases when I eat seaweed and kombu.
A sneeze comes out when talked.
Marriage is late unless it is past March 3 and puts dolls in order.
I get a stomach when I eat an eel and a pickled plum together.
When I write letter called "人" three times on the hand and swallow it, strain comes loose.

My friends or parents said to me.
My friend said to me, “If you see a black cat, some bad things happen to you.”
My parents said to me, “If you catch a falling star and wish on it three times by disappearing it, your wish will come true.”

6. A lucky number in my country is 7.
I don’t know the real reason why “7” is lucky. However everyone said, “7 is a lucky seven.”

7. A bad luck number in my country are said “4” and “9”.
“4” means that “death”. “9” means that “suffering”. These words derive from each of pronunciation.
Especially I don’t know any days, months, or years that are unlucky in my country.

8. It depends on case. I believe in some superstitions, but I don’t believe others. I believe lucky things because I want it to happen for me. Contrary to the former, I don’t believe some bad things, because I don’t want to have a problem about it for a long time and actually don’t want it to happen.

9. One day, I had a good dream. It was that I had passed the entrance exam for high school. After waking up in the morning, I went to high school to confirm my examinee’s number. At the moment I looked at the board, I found my examinee’s number. So my dream was prophetic dream.

[518 words]

Japanese Adult Age

Japanese Adult Age

Should the age of adulthood be changed in Japan from 20 to 18? I think that the age of adulthood may be changed from 20 to 18. I have two reasons.

The first reason is that Japan should promote the participation of the youth in politics or the community. The young of today participates in the society like an adult by cultural activities such as music, performing arts and sports. By such a cultural activities, the free ideas and expressions of youths spread still more. Therefore, I think that Japanese society is reproduced as a vibrant society. Also in the suffrage, more nations can participate in politics, and the opinions of the youths are reflected by the youths’ votes. At a stage of 18 years old, there are youths who get a job and pay their tax.

The second reason is that “18 years old adult” is the mainstream in the world and there are rights given at 18 years old. It is 162 countries to regard 18 years old as an adult among countries and areas of 185 countries. It is rare that adult age is 20 years old in developed nations, except for Japan. Then when youths become 18 years old, they can marry. And they can acquire the car licenses, too. These are treatment like adult.

For these reasons, I think that the age of adulthood may be changed from 20 to 18.

[239 words]

Important Lesson Through the Monocycle

Important Lesson Through the Monocycle

When I was 10 years old, I learned a lesson about daily practice from my favorite activity, riding a monocycle.

When I was in the fourth grade, it was popular to ride a monocycle. My friends rode a monocycle and played. They played tag by riding a monocycle in a playground. And then, they cycled around the site of an elementary school, and they had an adventure in a botanical garden. However, I couldn’t ride a monocycle, so I couldn’t enjoy this play with my friends. Since I felt bad, I practiced riding a monocycle very hard from that day.

In order to practice it, I was given a monocycle by my parents. I practiced it every day from then. Whenever a holiday came, I practiced it in our yard or in the park with my father. During practice, I fell down many times. I got angry and cried because I couldn’t ride a monocycle. However, I never lost hope. Then one day, I could ride a monocycle. I was very happy. The next day, we cycled around the site of an elementary school for the lunch break, and we had an adventure in a botanical garden. We also played tag by riding a monocycle in a playground. We showed our skills of the monocycle to our teacher sometimes.

From this experience, I learned the importance of daily practice. Perseverance is power! Now, I make it a rule not to give up things that I start.

[251 words]

An Interesting Television Commercial

An Interesting Television Commercial

The television commercial which I chose is an ice cream “和ごころ” (wagokoro) of the Glico. Just when I wanted to eat an ice cream, I saw the commercial of “和ごころ”. And the actress who appeared on the commercial was eating a powdered green tea ice cream with great relish, and therefore I wanted to eat it even more. I think that this commercial expresses Japanese culture. I was charmed by this ice cream because the image was high class. This is why I chose this commercial.

The television commercial for the ice cream is graceful. First, one fusuma is opened. Then an actress sits up straight on the tatami and picks up a spoon. After that, the cover of the powdered green tea ice cream opens, and the actress eats it. Next, several fusumas open in turn, and the wind blows suddenly. Finally, the actress tastes the ice cream again and she says “It’s new.” The six kinds of ice cream appear.

This commercial has three messages. First, these ice creams examine the stuff of “和ごころ” closely. Second, although these are very rich, they are good premium ice creams which leave a pleasant aftertaste. Basically, these are ice creams which use the Japanese cooking ingredients which are good for your health and taste.

There are values that this commercial shows. In a Japanese traditional style, Japanese traditional culture and modern Japan are mixed by letting a modern young actress appear. Her kimono with a modern design is elegant which harmonizes with an old-fashioned fusuma, so values of elegance and a high class appear. The kimono adopts gold to make the impression of the “和” strong. This commercial is intended for young women. It was made so that young women will want to eat ice cream.

[316 words]

SCOTLAND

How much do you really know about this country of exciting cities, beautiful islands and wonderful mountains?
Recently, I am interested in SCOTLAND because of United Kingdom affaires, so I lent this book. If you are interested in this, you should lend this book. And you will know more about SCOTLAND.

[51 words]

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