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Kinrokansha-no-hi, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, is November 23. This day is to honor workers, show respect for labor, and celebrate the nation’s prosperity.
勤労感謝の日は11月23日である。この日は、国民が労働者に敬意を払い、勤労を敬い、そして国の繁栄を祝うためにある。
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最後に次に来る祝日の紹介をと思ったら、12月はないんですね。平成までは12月23日が「天皇誕生日」だったのですが、今は2月23日がその日です。その「天皇誕生日」について『日本的事象 英文説明300選』から引用を。
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Tenno-Tanjobi, or the Emperor’s birthday, is February 23. It is customery for the Imperial Family to appear on the balcony of the Imperial Palace and exchange greetings with the public, who are allowed to enter the compound of the Imperial Palace on this day.
天皇誕生日は2月23日である。天皇御一家が皇居のバルコニーに出て、国民と挨拶を交わすのが慣例となっており、この日には、国民が皇居内へ立ち入ることが許される。
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It’s a given that a lot of airline companies have suffered from losses this year due to the pandemic. However, JAL is looking into other sources of income and according to this article, they’re currently trying out drones carrying goods. This would be beneficial for those who are stuck or caught in a pinch because of a natural disaster. What do you think? Do you think this is a good source of income or do you think otherwise?
ー初めにー
Today’s Fill-In-The-Blanks Quiz:
Here’s last week’s song:
(Fast forward to 1:20)
Bring a friend, join the crowd ; Whoever wanna come along
Word up, talk the talk ; Just move like we off the wall
Day or night the sky‘s alight ; So we dance to the break of dawn
Ladies and gentlemen, I got the medicine ; So you should keep your eye on the ball
Here’s this week’s song:
(Fast forward to 1:12)
I’ve been walking _______, a _____ gone blind
Can’t stop ________ of your diamond mind
Careful creature, made _______ with time
He left her ______ with a diamond mind and those _____ eyes
ー続いてー
Today’s Idiom:
“to be on the same wavelength”
When you have the same opinion as someone else, whether you agree or disagree with the same things, that means you two are on the same wavelength. Sometimes, we also use the phrase, “to be on the same page”.
Here’s a sample dialogue:
A: I wouldn’t be available for a meeting next week because I’ll go on a business trip, but I don’t mind having a teleconference, if that’s fine with you.
B: Actually (実は), I was thinking of the same thing. It might be easier for us to have an online meeting.
A: Alright, it’s good that we’re on the same page. Would Monday at 3 PM be convenient for you?
This phrase can be used in both formal and casual situations and for additional help, here’s a video of the same idiom explained in a simpler way:
Following last week’s news regarding a potential vaccine for COVID-19, a Chinese pharmaceutical company has also released information regarding its vaccine reaching completion.Just like the other vaccines, it claims that its efficacy (効力) is above 90%. Researchers have become positive with the situation and they hope that the vaccines would eradicate (除く) the virus before next year ends.
The head of the International Olympic Committee said he is “very confident” that spectators will be allowed to attend next year’s postponed Tokyo Olympic Summer Games — as long as they are vaccinated against COVID-19.
国際オリンピック委員会（IOC）のトーマス・バッハ会長は、新型コロナウイルスのワクチンが開発された場合、延期されている東京の夏季五輪を来年、観客が入った状態で開催することに自信を示した。
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・International Olympic Committee (IOC) 国際オリンピック委員会
・allow 人 to do 人が〜することを可能にする
・as long as … 〜する限り、〜という条件で
・vaccinate 人 人にワクチンを摂取する
・COVID-19 「新型コロナウイルス」のこと。「coronavirus disease 2019」を略して「COVID-19」
と、バッハ会長は自信を示していますが、国民はというと。
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Organizers’ hopes that the Games could still be held were boosted last week after Tokyo successfully hosted an international gymnastics competition. But public opinion surveys suggest most Japanese residents are opposed to staging the Games.
東京五輪が開催できるという組織委員会の期待は、東京で先週行われた体操の国際大会の成功を受けて高まった。しかしながら、世論調査によると、日本在住者の多くが五輪開催に反対している。
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・hold … 〜を開催する
・boost … 〜を後押しする、〜を高める
・gymnastics 体操
・competition 競技（会）、試合
・public opinion survey(s) 世論調査
・suggest … 〜を示す
・resident 居住者
・oppose to doing 〜することに反対する
・stage … 〜（試合など）を催す
ちなみに、「Organizers’ hopes that the Games could still be held were boosted〜」の部分は、
「Organizers’ hopes (that the Games could still be held)」が主語で、「were boosted〜」が「Organizers’ hopes」の述部です。
Regarding the advancement of a COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has released information that it is nearing (近づいてきている) its finality (終局). Now, it’s on phase III and would be available for public in the future.What has been some concerns (懸念) for some people is that whether it would go under clinical tests first before it is released to the public, since it is a Western (西洋) medicine, as well as whether it would be covered by the national health insurance or not. What’s your opinion regarding this matter?
ー初めにー
Today’s Fill-In-The-Blanks Quiz:
Here’s last week’s song:
(Fast forward to 1:50)
Marry me, girl , be my fairy to the world , be my very own constellation
A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on information
And buy me a star on the boulevard, it’s Californication
Here’s this week’s song:
(Fast forward to 1:20)
Bring a _____, ____ the crowd ; Whoever wanna come _____
Word up, ____ the ____ ; Just move ____ we off the wall
Day or night the ___’s alight ; So we dance to the _____ of ____
______ and gentlemen, I got the medicine ; So you should keep your ____ on the ball
ー続いてー
Today’s Idiom:
“raining on and off”
Usually, people would say “raining cats and dogs” to describe heavy rain. However, not a lot of people use it. Something more practical would be “raining on and off”, to describe days when it rains, then stops, then rains again, then stops again, all on the same day. Here’s a sample conversation:
A: I forgot to bring an umbrella! I’m soaking wet (びしょびしょ)!
B: Oh, yeah, the weather forecast said we’ll have light rains today, that’s why it’s raining on and off. I have two umbrellas here in the office. Do you want to borrow one of them?
A: It’s fine, I don’t think it’ll continue to rain later.
For additional help, here’s a video explaining several other idioms!
Following the election that happened a week ago, social media giant (巨大企業) TikTok has asked Trump whether it would continue to be banned in the US. This is following Trump’s initial decision of only agreeing if it were bought by an American company. Talks (会商) of several American companies buying parts of it are now under negotiation and something to be updated in the near future.
