Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 120

Lesson 122

Reading Japan

73 lines

Japan's monsoons and rainfall · Narration 1 of 2

Snow from the winter monsoon

*アジア大陸から 太平洋に 向って 吹く 冬の 季節風の ため、日本海側は 雪が 大変深い*

The winter monsoon blows from the Asian continent toward the Pacific Ocean. It causes deep snow on the Sea of Japan side.

*これと 反対に 太平洋方面から 大陸に 向って 吹く 夏の 季節風は 太平洋沿岸の 地方に 大雨を もたらす*

The summer monsoon moves in the opposite direction and brings heavy rain to the Pacific coast.

Rain through the year

*こんな 関係で、日本では 年に 四十インチから 百インチぐらいの 降雨が あるのである*

It means "Because of these conditions, Japan receives about forty to one hundred inches of rainfall a year."

The rainy season arrives around June, and long spells of rain continue during it.

Kanji: / 候

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

Kanji: / 向

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

Kanji: / 続

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

Kanji: / 囲

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

Kanji: / 差

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

Kanji: 降

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

Kanji: 結

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

  1. 1

    にっぽんのこうにはにつのときいしょくがある。

    Japan’s climate has two distinctive features.

    日本Japan
    の's
    気候climate
    にin
    はtopic
    二two
    つtwo
    のof
    特色distinctive feature
    がsubject
    ある。exists
  2. 2

    そのいちつはまえにものべたようにおんたいせいのきこうがあることで、もういちつはそのきこうがあじあのきせつふうたいのきこうで、なつふゆのさをいっそおどくとくなものにするということである。

    One, as mentioned earlier, is that Japan has a temperate climate, and the other is that its climate belongs to Asia’s monsoon zone, making the difference between summer and winter even more distinctive.

  3. 3

    あじあたいりくからたいへいようにむかってふくふゆのきせつふうのため、にっぽんうみがわはゆきがたいへんぶかい。

    Because of the winter monsoon that blows from the Asian continent toward the Pacific Ocean, the snow is very deep on the Sea of Japan side.

  4. 4

    これとはんたいにたいへいようほうめんからたいりくにむかってふくなつのきせつふうはたいへいようえんgあんのちほおにおおあねをもたらす。

    In contrast, the summer monsoon that blows from the Pacific Ocean toward the continent brings heavy rain to the Pacific coastal regions.

  5. 5

    またまいねんろくがつごろおとずれるばいうはにっぽんとくゆうのもので、そのきかんちゅうはちょおうがつづく。

    Also, the rainy season that arrives around June every year is peculiar to Japan, and long spells of rain continue throughout that period.

  6. 6

    こんなかんけいで、にっぽんではねんによんじゅういんちからひゃくいんちぐらいのこおうがあるのである。

    Because of these conditions, Japan receives about forty to one hundred inches of rainfall a year.

  7. 7

    にっぽんはやまぐにであるとともにしまぐにでもあり、うみにかこまれたにっぽんははやくからうみとむすびついている。

    Japan is both a mountainous country and an island country, and, being surrounded by the sea, it has been closely connected with the sea since early times.

  8. 8

    にっぽんをめぐるうみにはとおなんぶにたいへいよう、きたがわににっぽんうみ、にしがわにひがししなうみがある。

    The seas around Japan are the Pacific Ocean to the southeast, the Sea of Japan to the north, and the East China Sea to the west.

1 Climatic conditions: Japan extends over many degrees of latitude, and consequently, there is a great range in the climate and temperature. Central and western Japan have mild winters and hot, humid summers, in the south Japan becomes sub-tropical. To the north, winters become cooler and seasonal contrasts greater. Heavy snows fall on the Sea of Japan’s coast, sometimes reaching a depth of 16 feet. Hokkaidoo is cold, but rarely has deep snows. The greatest contrasts are between the extremes of north and south and between the lowlands and the adjacent uplands. The position of the islands in the path of winter and summer monsoons is a major importance in accounting for the annual climatic cycle. Cold winds blow out of Siberia southwestward across Japan in winter, absorbing moisture over the Sea of Japan and bringing rain and snow to the west coast, as well as to the mountains of central Honshu and Hokkaido. Moving in the opposite direction, the summer monsoon brings masses of warm, moist air, which are drawn from the Pacific by low pressure areas to the Asian mainland. Rainfall is abundant, ranging from 40 to 100 inches a year. Summer temperatures are much the same throughout the country, being warm and humid everywhere, in winter, the variation is much greater. Along the Asahi River in central Hokkaidoo, the mean August temperature is 68.5°F; in Kagoshima, on southern Kyuushuu, it is 80°F. The January mean temperatures in these same places are 14.5°F. and 45°F. respectively.
2 Ocean Current; Two ocean currents affect Japanese weather, the Okhotsk Current and the Kuroshio (or Japan) current. The latter is far the most important. Its warm waters flow northward and diverge at Kyuushuu, the greater flow continuing along the Pacific side of the islands to approximately the latitude of Tokyo, where the current turns out to sea. A lesser branch bathes the southern portion of the Sea of Japan coast. The cold Okhotsk current flows southward from the Bering Sea and splits to follow along the eastern and western shores of Hokkaidoo.
の
See Grammar Notes
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
は
leaves
二
two
特色
characteristic; feattxre
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ある。
certain, some
一
one
前
before, front
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
温帯
temperate zone
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
アジア
Asia
風
manner; way; appear-ance; kind; sort
夏
summer
冬
winter
差
difference; variation
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
一そう
all the more
な
I wish, I hope, huh
もの
things (tangible)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
大陸
continent
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
海
sea, ocean
側
side
雪
snow
沿岸
coast; shore
地方
country, region
大雨
heavy rain
もたらす。
to bring
毎年
every year (See Grammar Notes)
六
six
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
頃
approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
おとずれる
to visit
梅雨
rainy season
期間
period; duration
長雨
long rain
関係
relationship
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
四十
40
インチ
inch
百
100
ぐらい
about
降雨
rainfall
山国
mountainous country
島国
island country
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
めぐる
to siarround
東南
southeast
北側
north side
東
east

Warm and cold currents · Narration 2 of 2

Warm water from the south

*暖流である 日本海流は 南の 方から 東に 向って 流れ、潮岬沖で 本州に 一番 近づき、三陸海岸沖で 北東に 向きを 変えて 行く*

The warm Japan Current flows east from the south. It comes closest to Honshu off Cape Shiono, then turns northeast off Sanriku.

A branch becomes the Tsushima Current and flows northeast along the Sea of Japan coast.

Cold water from the north

*寒流である 千島海流は 千島列島に そって 南下し、三陸沖付近で 黒潮に 接している*

The cold Chishima Current flows south along the Chishima Islands and meets the Black Current near Sanriku.

Bonito and tuna live in the Black Current. Herring, cod, and trout live in the Parent Current.

Kanji: 寒

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

Kanji: 千

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

  1. 9

    かいすいのほうからみるとだんりゅうとかんryっつがある。

    In terms of ocean water, there are warm currents and cold currents.

  2. 10

    だんりゅうであるにっぽんかいりゅうはみなみのほうからひがしにむかってながれ、しおのみさきおきでほんしゅうにいちばんちかづき、さんりくかいがんおきでほくとおにむきをかえていく。

    The Japan Current, a warm current, flows eastward from the south, comes closest to Honshu off Cape Shiono, and turns northeast off the Sanriku coast.

  3. 11

    にっぽんかいりゅうはまたきゅうしゅうのみなみがわでぶんりゅうをだし、これがつしまかいりゅうとなってうらにっぽんのえんgあんをほくとおにながれる。

    The Japan Current also sends off a branch south of Kyushu, which becomes the Tsushima Current and flows northeast along the coast of the Sea of Japan side.

  4. 12

    にっぽんかいりゅうはこいあいいろをしているので、くろしおとよばれている。

    Because the Japan Current is a deep indigo color, it is called the Black Current.

  5. 13

    このくろしおにはかつお、まぐろなどのさかながおおくすんでいる。

    Many fish, such as bonito and tuna, live in this Black Current.

  6. 14

    かんryっつであるちしまかいりゅうはちしまれっとおにそってなんかし、さんりくおきふきんでくろしおにせっしている。

    The Chishima Current, a cold current, flows south along the Chishima Islands and meets the Black Current near the waters off Sanriku.

  7. 15

    このかんryっつはみどりいろで、ぷらんくとんやえいようふんにとんでいるので、おやしおのながついている。

    This cold current is green and rich in plankton and nutrients, so it has been given the name Parent Current.

  8. 16

    おやしおにはにしん、たら、ますなどのさかながおおくいる。

    Many fish, such as herring, cod, and trout, live in the Parent Current.

海水
ocean water
暖流
warm current
寒流
cold current
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
南
south
流れ、
current; flow
沖
open sea
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
海岸
coast, shore
北東
northeast
分流
tributary; branch ocean current
し
city
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
黒潮
the Black Current (Japan Current)
かつお、
bonito
など
and so forth, etc.
多く
many of them
列島
an archipelago
付近
vicinity, neighborhood
プランクトン
plankton
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
分
minute
親潮
the Kturile Current
名
name
つい
just; only
にしん、
herring
たら、
cod
ます
trout

Climate and winter snowfall · Questions 1 of 3

Climate and deep snow

These questions ask for Japan's two climatic features and the cause of deep winter snow.

*なぜ 日本海側は 冬に 雪が 深いのですか* means "Why is the snow deep on the Sea of Japan side in winter?"

An answer gives the winter monsoon as the cause. The other answers name the temperate climate and the Asian monsoon zone.

  1. 17

    にっぽんちり―そおせつ（に）

    Geography of Japan—General Overview (2)

  2. 18

    かわいたふう

    dry wind

  3. 19

    しめったふう

    damp wind

  4. 20

    にっぽ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.

  5. 21

    にっぽんのきこうにはにつのときいしょくがありますが、そのいちつはなんですか。

    Japan’s climate has two distinctive features; what is one of them?

  6. 22

    もういちつはなんですか。

    What is the other one?

  7. 23

    なぜにっぽんうみがわはふゆにゆきがふかいのですか。

    Why is the snow deep on the Sea of Japan side in winter?

地理―
geography
総説
general remarks; introduction
（二）
two
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
なぜ
why?

Rainfall, seas and currents · Questions 2 of 3

Rain, seas, and currents

These questions ask about summer rain, the rainy season, annual rainfall, the seas around Japan, and types of ocean currents.

*海水には どんなのが ありますか* means "What kinds of ocean currents are there?"

Other answers explain summer rain and the rainy season, give an annual amount, or name a sea.

  1. 24

    なぜたいへいようえんgあんちほおはなつにおおあねがふりますか。

    Why does the Pacific coastal region get heavy rain in summer?

  2. 25

    ばいうというのはなんですか。

    What is the rainy season?

  3. 26

    にっぽんではねんにどのくらいのこおうがありますか。

    How much rainfall does Japan receive in a year?

  4. 27

    にっぽんのとおなんぶになんといううみがありますか。

    What sea lies southeast of Japan?

  5. 28

    きたがわには？

    What about to the north?

  6. 29

    にしがわには？

    What about to the west?

  7. 30

    かいすいにはどんなのがありますか。

    What kinds of ocean currents are there?

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
くらい
dark
どんな
what kind of; what sort of

Currents and their fish · Questions 3 of 3

Two currents and their fish

These questions ask about each current's route, branch, name, features, and fish.

*寒流は なぜ 親潮と 呼ばれていますか* means "Why is the cold current called the Parent Current?"

An answer gives its green color and abundance of plankton and nutrients. Route answers state a starting place and direction.

  1. 31

    だんりゅうはどこから、どのかたにむかってながれていきますか。

    From where and in which direction does the warm current flow?

  2. 32

    にっぽんかいりゅうはきゅうしゅうのみなみがわで、どんなぶんりゅうになりますか。

    What branch current does the Japan Current become south of Kyushu?

  3. 33

    くろしおというのはどんなかいりゅうですか。

    What kind of current is the Black Current?

  4. 34

    くろしおにはどんなさかながすんでいますか。

    What kinds of fish live in the Black Current?

  5. 35

    ちしまかいりゅうはどこから、どのかたにむかってながれますか。

    From where and in which direction does the Chishima Current flow?

  6. 36

    かんryっつはなぜおやしおとよばれていますか。

    Why is the cold current called the Parent Current?

  7. 37

    おやしおにはどんなさかながすんでいますか。

    What kinds of fish live in the Parent Current?

から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
流れ
current; flow
い
stomach

Monsoon and rainfall words · Word list 1 of 3

Wind and rain

These words cover monsoons, coasts, and rain.

*季節風* means "monsoon". *梅雨* means "rainy season".

*長雨* means "long rain". It names prolonged rain, not the season itself.

  1. 38

    ときいしょく

    characteristic; feattxre

  2. 39

    のべる

    to relate

  3. 40

    さ

    difference; variation

  4. 41

    きせつふう

    monsoon; seasonal wind

  5. 42

    えんgあん

    coast; shore

  6. 43

    おおあね

    heavy rain

  7. 44

    もたらす

    to bring

  8. 45

    おとずれる

    to visit

  9. 46

    ばいう

    rainy season

  10. 47

    とくゆうの

    peculiar to; charac-teristic of

  11. 48

    ---ちゅう

    during

  12. 49

    ちょおう

    long rain

のべる
to relate
季節風
monsoon; seasonal wind
もたらす
to bring
特有の
peculiar to; charac-teristic of
---中
throughout (See Gram. Notes)

Seas, rainfall and currents · Word list 2 of 3

Water and direction

These words cover Japan's surrounding geography, rainfall, ocean currents, and directions of flow.

*暖流* means "warm current". *寒流* means "cold current".

The pair separates currents by temperature. *北東* means "northeast".

  1. 50

    やまぐに

    mountainous country

  2. 51

    かこむ

    to enclose; to surround

  3. 52

    むすびつく

    to join; to link

  4. 53

    めぐる

    to siarround

  5. 54

    かいすい

    ocean water

  6. 55

    こおう

    rainfall

  7. 56

    だんりゅう

    warm current

  8. 57

    かんryっつ

    cold current

  9. 58

    にっぽんかいりゅう

    the japan current

  10. 59

    ちかずく

    approach; draw near

  11. 60

    むきをかえる

    change direction

  12. 61

    ほくとお

    northeast

囲む
to enclose; to surround
結びつく
to join; to link
日本海流
the japan current
近づく
to approach, draw near
向きをかえる
change direction

Ocean currents and nutrients · Word list 3 of 3

Current names and nutrients

These words cover current branches, colors, movement, nutrients, names, and fish.

*黒潮* means "the Black Current". *親潮* means "the Kurile Current".

*栄養分* means "nutritive substance".

  1. 62

    ぶんりゅう

    tributary; branch ocean current

  2. 63

    こいあいいろ

    deep blue; mazarine

  3. 64

    くろしお

    the Black Current (Japan Current)

  4. 65

    かつお

    bonito

  5. 66

    ちしまれっとう

    the Kurile islands

  6. 67

    なんかする

    to go southward

  7. 68

    せっする

    touch; come in contact with

  8. 69

    プランクトン

    plankton

  9. 70

    えいようぶん

    nutritive substance

  10. 71

    おやしお

    the Kturile Current

  11. 72

    にしん

    herring

  12. 73

    たら

    cod

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

a. Topics:

1 Talk about the peculiarities of the Japanese climate.

2 Talk about the currents surrounding Japan,

b. Exercise:

Translate the following into Japanese.

1 The climate in Japan has two peculiarities.

2 The winter monsoon blows toward the Pacific Ocean from the continent of Asia,

3 The summer monsoon brings heavy rain to the Pacific coast region.

4 Since the cold current contains a wealth of plankton and nutritive substance, it is given the name of parent tide (the Kurile current).
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly 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.
こい藍色
deep blue; mazarine
かつお
bonito
千島列島
the Kurile islands
南下する
to go southward
接する
touch; come in contact with
栄養分
nutritive substance
にしん
herring
たら
cod

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.