Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 119

Lesson 121

Reading Japan

71 lines

Japan's islands and climate · Narration 1 of 3

An island chain shaped like a bow

*北から 南に 二千六百 キロメートルの 弓形を なして 長く* means "It stretches a long way from north to south in a bow shape 2,600 kilometers long."

Japan is an island country near Asia. Four large islands and more than three thousand small islands form its archipelago.

Climate from north to south

*北の 方は 割合に 寒く、南の 方は 割合に 暖い* means "the north is relatively cold and the south is relatively warm."

*温帯に 位置しているので、四季の* begins the reason: Japan lies in the temperate zone, so its four seasonal changes are distinct.

Kanji: / 余

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: / 帯

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: / 位

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: / 季

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 置

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: / 想

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: / 像

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 1

    にほんはたいへいようのにし、アジアたいりくのちかくにある

    Japan lies west of the Pacific Ocean, near the continent of Asia.

    日本Japan
    はtopic
    太平Pacific Ocean
    洋Pacific Ocean
    のof
    西、west
    アジアAsia
    大陸continent
    のof
    近くnear
    にin
    あるlies
  2. 2

    しまぐにで、ほっかいどう、ほんしゅう、しこく、きゅうしゅうのよっつのおおきな

    It is an island country, with the four large islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu

  3. 3

    しまとさんぜんよのちいさなしまからなっているれっとおである。

    and an archipelago composed of more than three thousand small islands.

  4. 4

    きたからみなみににせんろっぴゃくキロメートルのきゅうけいをなしてながく

    It stretches a long way from north to south in an arc 2,600 kilometers long,

  5. 5

    のびているので、きたのほうはわりあいにさむく、みなみのほうはわりあいにあたたかい。

    so the north is relatively cold and the south is relatively warm.

  6. 6

    しかし、おんたいにいちしているので、しきの

    However, because it is located in the temperate zone, the changes of the four seasons

General Sketch; The archipelago of Japan stretches in an arc approximately 1,500 miles and lies between north latitude 45 degrees, 31 minutes and 29 degrees, 8 minutes and has a width of 170 miles at its widest point.
2 Climate; The climate is generally mild and the four seasons are clearly distinctive. Summer, which is warm and humid, sets in after a rainy season that usually lasts for about 4 weeks from around the middle of June. Except in northern Japan, the winter is usually mild with many sunny days. The spring and autumn are the glory of the year with balmy days and bright sunshine. The spring brings the cherry blossom in all its delicate fragrance, while in the autumn months the whole countryside is dressed in russet hues of incredible richness and variety.
3 Mountains; The mountains account for about 85 per cent of Japan’s total land area. A total of 250 of these mountains are more than 2,000 meters high, and the highest is Mt. Fuji whose perfect cone soars to a majestic height of 3,773 meters (12,375 feet). Mt. Fuji is a dormant volcano (its last eruption was in 1707). There are 58 active volcanoes, which provide the country with countless number of hot spring resorts, enjoyed by millions of Japanese for recreational purposes.
4 Rivers; The mountain chains which extend throughout the length of the four main islands form a divide with rivers, mostly short and rapid, flowing down both sides. Japanese rivers, being narrow, shallow, and rapid, are of little use as means of transportation. On the other hand, these rivers serve a most useful purpose as reservoirs for holding water to irrigate the rice fields. Hydraulic power, obtainable from these rapid streams, is also utilized to generate electricity.
は
leaves
の
See Grammar Notes
西、
west
アジア
Asia
大陸
continent
近く
vicinity
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
ある
certain, some
島国
island country
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
四
four
大きな
big, large (See Gram. Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
三千
3,000
小さな
small (See Gram. Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
列島
an archipelago
北
north
南
south
二千
2,000
六百
600
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
なし
pear
しかし、
however, but
温帯
temperate zone
し
city
四季
four seasons

Japan's size, mountains and volcanoes · Narration 2 of 3

Mountains across the country

*日本の国土のおよそ四分の三は 山地が 占めている* means "mountains occupy about three-fourths of Japan's land area."

*又 多くの 火山脈が 走っており* means "Many volcanic ranges also run through the country."

The ranges include Mount Fuji and many volcanoes. Quite a few of the volcanoes constantly emit smoke.

Kanji: 積

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 富

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 7

    うつりかわりがはっきりしていて、にほんじんのせいかつにしげきをあたえている。

    are distinct and provide stimulation to the lives of the Japanese people.

  2. 8

    にほんこくどのめんせきは、やくさんじゅうしちまんへいほうキロ、

    Japan's land area is about 370,000 square kilometers

  3. 9

    （じゅうよんまんにせんななひゃくへいほうマイル）で、べいこくのカリフォルニアしゅうのじゅうごまんはっせんななひゃくへいほうマイル、モンタナしゅうのじゅうよんまんななせんひゃくへいほうマイルとくらべてみると、およそそのおおきさがそうぞうできるとおもう。

    (142,700 square miles), and I think its approximate size can be imagined by comparing it with California in the United States, which is 158,700 square miles, and Montana, which is 147,100 square miles.

  4. 10

    にほんのちせいずをみればすぐきがつくことだが、にほんのこくどのおよそよんぶんのさんはさんちがしめている。

    As one notices immediately upon looking at a topographical map of Japan, mountains occupy about three-fourths of Japan's land area.

  5. 11

    またおおくのかざんみゃくがはしっており、これらのかざんみゃくにはふじさんをはじめ、

    Many volcanic ranges also run through the country, and in these ranges, beginning with Mount Fuji,

  6. 12

    かざんがおおく、たえずけむりをふいているのもすくなくない。

    there are many volcanoes, and quite a few of them constantly emit smoke.

が
but (See Gram. Notes)
はっきり
clearly
い
stomach
人
people
刺激
stimulation; incentive; stimulus
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
国土
country; territory; domain
は、
leaves
三十
30
七
seven
キロ、
kilometer
（十
ten
七百
700
マイル）
mile
五
five
八千
8,000
七千
7,000
百
100
およそ
roughly; approximately
出来る
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
思う。
to think
すぐ
right away, immediately
つく
to arrive, to reach (v.i.)
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
分
minute
三
three
山地
mountain area
多く
many of them
山
mountain
火山
volcano
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes

Hot springs, rivers and power · Narration 3 of 3

Volcanoes and hot springs

*日本には 全国に火山が 百九十二もあり* means "There are as many as 192 volcanoes throughout Japan." Fifty-eight are considered active.

*所々に 温泉が わき出ている* means "hot springs well up here and there." These places suit recreation and sightseeing.

Swift rivers and electric power

*日本の川は 傾斜の 急な山の多い関係で、流れが速く、あまり交通の助けにはならない* means "Because Japan has many steeply sloping mountains, its rivers flow swiftly and are not much help for transportation."

*しかし、発電にはよく利用され* means "However, they are widely used to generate electricity." This helps make Japan a world leader in hydroelectric power.

  1. 13

    にほんにはぜんこくにかざんがひゃくきゅうじゅうにもあり、そのなかでごじゅうはちはかつかざんとされて

    There are as many as 192 volcanoes throughout Japan, and of these, fifty-eight are considered active

  2. 14

    いる。

    volcanoes.

  3. 15

    したがって、いっぱんにけしきがよく、ところどころにおんせんがわきでているので、

    Consequently, the scenery is generally beautiful, and hot springs well up here and there,

  4. 16

    ほよお、ゆうらんにてきするところにとんでいる。

    so the country is rich in places suitable for recreation and sightseeing.

  5. 17

    にほんのかわはけいしゃのきゅうなやまのおおいかんけいで、ながれがはやく、あまりこおつうのたすけにはならない。

    Because Japan has many steeply sloping mountains, its rivers flow swiftly and are not much help for transportation.

  6. 18

    しかし、はつでんにはよくりようされ、にほんがせかいてきなすいりょくはつでんこくになっているおもなりゆうのひとつである。

    However, they are widely used to generate electricity, and this is one of the main reasons Japan is a world leader in hydroelectric power.

全国
entire country
九十
90
二
two
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
五十
50
八
eight
よく、
well, skillfully
保養、
health seeking; re-laxation; recuperation
遊覧
excursion; sightseeing
所
address, place
川
river
傾斜
inclination; slope
急
steep; sudden
な
I wish, I hope, huh
関係
relationship
流れ
current; flow
交通
traffic, transportation
助け
help; aid
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
発電
generation of electric power
国
country, nation
理由
reason
一
one
ある。
certain, some

Islands, climate and area questions · Questions 1 of 2

Japan's shape and climate

The questions ask about Japan's location, islands, bow shape, climate, area, and mountainous terrain.

*北から 南に どんな形をして のびていますか* means "In what shape does it stretch from north to south?" An answer gives the bow shape described in the passage.

Other answers give a place, a cause, a measurement, or a comparison from the passage.

  1. 19

    にほんちり―そおせつ（いち）

    The Geography of Japan—General Overview (I)

  2. 20

    にほんごでつぎのしつもんにこたえてください。

    Please answer the following questions in Japanese.

  3. 21

    にほんはどこにあって、どんなくにですか。

    Where is Japan located, and what kind of country is it?

  4. 22

    にほんはなにからなっているれっとおですか。

    What is the Japanese archipelago composed of?

  5. 23

    きたからみなみにどんなかたちをしてのびていますか。

    In what shape does it stretch from north to south?

  6. 24

    なぜきたのほうはわりあいにさむく、みなみのほうはわりあいにあたたかいのですか。

    Why is the north relatively cold and the south relatively warm?

  7. 25

    にほんはなぜしきのうつりかわりがはっきりしていますか。

    Why are the changes of the four seasons distinct in Japan?

  8. 26

    にほんこくどのめんせきはやくなんへいほうキロですか。それはなんへいほうマイルですか。

    About how many square kilometers is Japan's land area? How many square miles is that?

  9. 27

    べいこくのカリフォルニアしゅうやモンタナしゅうとくらべてみると、どうですか。

    How does it compare with California and Montana in the United States?

  10. 28

    にほんのちせいずをみてすぐきがつくことはなんですか。

    What do you notice immediately when you look at a topographical map of Japan?

地理―
geography
総説
general remarks; introduction
（一）
one
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ます
trout
なぜ
why?
キロ
kilometer
マイル
mile
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)

Mountains, volcanoes and rivers questions · Questions 2 of 2

Causes and uses in the landscape

The questions ask for facts and causes concerning mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, and swift rivers.

*日本の川は 何によく 利用されますか* means "What are Japan's rivers widely used for?" The answer gives their use in generating electricity.

The remaining answers state counts, causes, or yes-or-no facts from the passage.

  1. 29

    さんちはにほんこくどのなんパーセントぐらいをしめていますか。

    About what percentage of Japan's land area is occupied by mountains?

  2. 30

    にほんにはおおくのかざんみゃくがはしっていますか。

    Do many volcanic ranges run through Japan?

  3. 31

    かざんにはたえずけむりをふいているのがおおいですか。

    Are there many volcanoes that constantly emit smoke?

  4. 32

    にほんにはぜんこくにかざんがいくつぐらいありますか。

    About how many volcanoes are there throughout Japan?

  5. 33

    かつかざんがいくつぐらいありますか。

    About how many active volcanoes are there?

  6. 34

    にほんはなぜほよお、ゆうらんにてきするところにとんでいますか。

    Why is Japan rich in places suitable for recreation and sightseeing?

  7. 35

    にほんのかわはなぜながれがはやいのですか。

    Why do Japan's rivers flow swiftly?

  8. 36

    にほんのかわはこおつうのたすけになりますか。

    Are Japan's rivers useful for transportation?

  9. 37

    にほんのかわはなにによくりようされますか。

    What are Japan's rivers widely used for?

パーセント
percent
ぐらい
about
よく
well, skillfully

Geography and climate words · Word list 1 of 3

The islands and their setting

These words describe Japan's island composition, position, climate, and land.

*島国* means "island country," while *列島* means "an archipelago." The first names the country, and the second names its island chain.

*温帯* means "temperate zone."

  1. 38

    そおせつ

    general remarks; introduction

  2. 39

    たいりく

    continent

  3. 40

    しまぐに

    island country

  4. 41

    --よ

    suffix meaning “over

  5. 42

    --からなっている

    composed of; consist of

  6. 43

    れっとお

    an archipelago

  7. 44

    ゆみがたをなす

    to form an arch; to form a bowshape

  8. 45

    おんたい

    temperate zone

  9. 46

    いちする

    to situate; locate

  10. 47

    しき

    four seasons

  11. 48

    しげき

    stimulation; incentive; stimulus

  12. 49

    こくど

    country; territory; domain

--余
suffix meaning “over”
--からなっている
composed of; consist of
弓形をなす
to form an arch; to form a bowshape
位置する
to situate; locate

Volcanoes and topographic maps · Word list 2 of 3

Volcanic land

These words cover topographic maps, volcanic activity, hot springs, and recuperation.

*地勢図* means "topographic map." *火山* means "volcano," while *活火山* distinguishes an "active volcano."

  1. 50

    へいほうマイル

    square mile

  2. 51

    およそ

    roughly; approximately

  3. 52

    そうぞうする

    to imagine; to pictiure to oneself

  4. 53

    ちせいず

    topographic map

  5. 54

    かざんみゃく

    volcanic range

  6. 55

    かざん

    volcano

  7. 56

    たえず

    constantly

  8. 57

    ふく

    emit; spout

  9. 58

    かつかざん

    active volcano

  10. 59

    ところどころに

    here and there

  11. 60

    わきでる

    gush out; spout

  12. 61

    ほよお

    health seeking; re-laxation; recuperation

平方マイル
square mile
想像する
to imagine; to pictiure to oneself
地勢図
topographic map
火山脈
volcanic range
絶えず
constantly
ふく
to blow (v.i.)
活火山
active volcano
所々に
here and there
わき出る
gush out; spout
保養
health seeking; re-laxation; recuperation

Slopes and hydroelectric power · Word list 3 of 3

From steep slopes to electric power

These words connect slopes and rivers with transportation and electric power.

*傾斜* means "slope." *発電* means "generation of electric power," while *水力発電* specifies "hydroelectric generation."

  1. 62

    ゆうらん

    excursion; sightseeing

  2. 63

    --にとんでいる

    be rich in; abundant in

  3. 64

    けいしゃ

    inclination; slope

  4. 65

    --のかんけいで

    due to —

  5. 66

    たすけ

    help; aid

  6. 67

    はつでん

    generation of electric power

  7. 68

    すいりょくはつでん

    hydroelectric generation

  8. 69

    ちり

    geography

  9. 70

    とむ

    be rich in

  10. 71

    したがって

    consequently

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

a. Topics

Talk about the following;

1 Location and composition of Japan.

2 Size of Japan (comparative study between Japan and the U. S.).

3 Volcanic mountains in Japan.

4 Rivers in Japan.

b. Translate the following into Japanese;

1 Japan is rich in places suitable for health-seeking and sightseeing.

2 Due to the abundance of steep mountains, the Japanese rivers flow fast.

3 As the archipelago lies in the temperate zone, Japan’s climate is generally mild.

4 Japan is an archipelago consisting of four large islands.
Homework

1 Read the Narration and memorize the vocabulary,

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write new Kanji.

4 Read the Explanatory Notes.
--に富んでいる
be rich in; abundant in
--の関係で
due to —
水力発電
hydroelectric generation
地理
geography
富む
be rich in
したがって
consequently

The particulars

The course
Defense Language Institute, Japanese Basic Course, 1967 to 1971. Public domain. The teaching pages and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Botchan, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.