Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 121

Lesson 123

Reading Japan

71 lines

Farming and agricultural products · Narration 1 of 2

Limited land and rising production

*日本の 耕地は 国土の 総面積の 十四パーセント、すなわち 千四百万エーカーに 過ぎない* means "Japan's cultivated land amounts to only fourteen percent of the country's total area, or fourteen million acres."

Despite industrial growth, agriculture remains economically important. About twenty-six percent of the population works in agriculture.

Small farms cannot use large machines. Small motor-powered machines and chemical fertilizer support production.

*また 化学肥料が 盛んに 使われているので、産額も 近年 非常に ふえて来た* means "Also, because chemical fertilizers are widely used, agricultural production has increased greatly in recent years."

Kanji: / 著

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

Kanji: / 従

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

Kanji: / 畑

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

Kanji: / 肥

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

Kanji: / 額

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

Kanji: 果

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

Kanji: 用

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

  1. 1

    にほんのこうちはこくどのそうめんせきのじゅうよんパーセント、すなわちせんよんひゃくまんエーカーにすぎない。

    Japan's cultivated land amounts to only fourteen percent of the country's total area, or fourteen million acres.

    日本Japan
    の's
    耕地cultivated land
    はtopic
    国土national territory
    のof
    総total area
    面積total area
    のof
    十fourteen
    四fourteen
    パーセント、percent
    すなわちin other words
    千fourteen million
    四百fourteen million
    万fourteen million
    エーカーacres
    にto
    過ぎamounts only to
    ない。not
  2. 2

    しかし、きんねんにほんのこうぎょうがいちじるしいはったつをとげたにもかかわらず、のうぎょうはけいざいじょうじゅうようなやくわりをはたしている。

    However, despite the remarkable development of Japanese industry in recent years, agriculture plays an important role in the economy.

  3. 3

    にほんのそうじんこうのにじゅうろくパーセントぐらいはのうぎょうにじゅうじしている。

    About twenty-six percent of Japan's total population is engaged in agriculture.

  4. 4

    にほんののうぎょうはしょうきぼのひゃくしょう(のうかいっけんへいきんのたはたのおおきさはにエーカーはんぐらい)だから、おおきなきかいをつかうことはできないが、このごろでは、モーターでうごかされるちいさいこうさくきかいがひろくつかわれる

    Because farming in Japan is carried out on a small scale (the average farm has about two and a half acres of fields), large machinery cannot be used, but nowadays small motor-powered farming machines are widely used.

  5. 5

    またかがくひりょうがさかんにつかわれているので、さんがくもきんねんひじょうにふえてきた。

    Also, because chemical fertilizers are widely used, agricultural production has increased greatly in recent years.

  6. 6

    のうさんぶつのおもなものは、にほんじんのじょうしょくであるこめ、それから、らくのうせいひん、おおむぎ、こむぎ、だいず、さつまいも、くだもの、ちゃなどである。

    The main agricultural products are rice, the staple food of the Japanese people, followed by dairy products, barley, wheat, soybeans, sweet potatoes, fruit, tea, and others.

  7. 7

    これらののうさんぶつはだいぶぶんがしょくようにきょうせられ、いちぶぶんがこうぎょうのげんりょうにもちいられている。

    Most of these agricultural products are used for food, and some are used as raw materials for industry.

1 Agricultural Potential A century of industrial development, economic growth, and population expansion has sharpened rather than diminished the importance of agriculture in Japan’s once almost exclusively farm-based economy. Agriculture, fishing, and forestry employ about 40 per cent of the population and contribute over 18 per cent to the national income. By a type of farming which closely resembles truck gardening, combined with fishing and forestry, the country produces more than 80 per cent of its food requirements. The remainder is imported.

Crop yields, always among the highest in the world, have been further raised since the end of World War II through the widespread adoption of improved farming techniques. Rice, the staple food of the nation, dominates agriculture, and rice crops of twelve million tons are now being harvested regularly.

Assuring an adequate food supply for a growing population is one of the country’s serious long-term economic problems. The land shortage is chronic and

critical. The total land under cultivation is less than 15 million acres, or about 14 per cent of the whole area of the country. Land reclamation has been pushed to the limit. At the same time, an expected increase in population of almost 10 million within the next 10 years would compel further diversion of agricultural land to use for dwellings, roads, and industry, while typhoons destroy considerable areas of cropland every year.
2 Demography The 1965 estimate of the population in Japan is 98,300,000. The rate of population increase has been approximately 0.9 per cent. Although Japan’s birth rate is now one of the lowest in the world, the population has continued to increase as a result of a decline in mortality rate, in terms of total population, Japan ranks 7th in the world after Communist China, India, the Soviet Union, the U. S., Indonesia, and Pakistan. The density of population in Japan is approximately 667 persons per square mile, making it one of the most densely populated nations of the world, as only a few countries

surpass this number. Statistics show that the percentage of persons in the age group of less than 15 years old is decreasing. This fact reflects a continuing decrease in the birth rate in Japan since 1950.

It should be noted, however, as the population tends to concentrate in industrial, urban complexes more than 40 per cent of Japan’s 98 million people are found in only one per cent of the country’s total land area.
の
See Grammar Notes
は
leaves
国土
country; territory; domain
十
ten
四
four
パーセント、
percent
すなわち
that is to say; in other words
千
1,000
四百
400
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
しかし、
however, but
近年
recent years
工業
manufacturing industry
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
著しい
remarkable
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
農業
agriculture
な
I wish, I hope, huh
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
人口
population
二十
20
六
six
ぐらい
about
し
city
一
one
けん
numerical counter for houses (See Gram. Notes)
田畑
fields; farm
二
two
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
大きな
big, large (See Gram. Notes)
機械
machine
使う
to use, employ
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
耕作
cultivation; tillage
また
thigh
産額
production; output; yield
もの
things (tangible)
人
people
常食
staple food; daily food
ある
certain, some
品、
quality, goods
大麦、
barley
小麦、
wheat
大豆、
soybean
果物、
fruit
茶
tea
など
and so forth, etc.
部分
parts
食用
for food, for the table
原料
raw material

Population growth and density · Narration 2 of 2

A large and growing population

*千九百六十五年十月一日の 調査によると、日本の 総人口は 九千八百* begins the 1965 survey figure of about 98,280,000 people.

The population increased by about one percent each year. Demand for food and industrial materials increased with it.

*今日では 日本人の 出生率は 世界最低だが、死亡率が 減少するので、人口は やはり 増加を 示している* gives the reason for continued growth. It means "Today, the Japanese birth rate is the lowest in the world, but because the death rate is declining, the population is still increasing."

Japan ranked seventh in total population and third in population density.

  1. 8

    にほんのじんこうはねんねんぞうかして、しょくりょうのじゅようがおおくなり、またこうぎょうのはったつにつれてげんりょうのじゅようもまたぞうかする。

    As Japan's population increases year by year, the demand for food grows, and as industry develops, the demand for raw materials also increases.

  2. 9

    せんきゅうひゃくろくじゅうごねんじゅうがつついたちのちょうさによると、にほんのそうじんこうはきゅうせんはっぴゃく

    According to the survey of October 1, 1965, Japan's total population was ninety-eight million...

  3. 10

    にじゅうはちまんにんぐらいで、まいねんいちパーセントぐらいのわりでぞうかしている。

    ...two hundred eighty thousand people, and it was increasing at a rate of about one percent each year.

  4. 11

    こんにちではにほんじんのしゅっしょうりつはせかいさいていだが、しぼうりつがげんしょうするので、じんこうはやはりぞうかをしめしている。

    Today, the Japanese birth rate is the lowest in the world, but because the death rate is declining, the population is still increasing.

  5. 12

    そうじんこうからいってにほんはちゅうきょう、いんど、ソれん、べいこく、インドネシア、パキスタンについでせかいだいしちいになっている。

    In terms of total population, Japan ranks seventh in the world, after Communist China, India, the Soviet Union, the United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

  6. 13

    じんこうみつどはいちへいほうキロににひゃくごじゅうごにんのわりで、オランダのさんびゃくごじゅうにん、ベルギーのにひゃくきゅうじゅうはちにんについでせかいさんいになっている。

    The population density is 255 people per square kilometer, ranking third in the world after the Netherlands, with 350 people, and Belgium, with 298.

年々
yearly
食糧
food
多く
many of them
九百
900
六十
60
五
five
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
一日
first day of the month (See Grammar Notes)
調査
survey; investi-gation
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
九千
9,000
八百
800
八
eight
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
毎年
every year (See Grammar Notes)
パーセント
percent
今日
today
最低
lowest
やはり
as it should be expected
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
中共、
Communist China
七
seven
キロ
kilometer
二百
200
五十
50
オランダ
Netherlands; Holland
三百
300
ベルギー
Belgium
九十
90
三
three

Farmland, industry and agriculture · Questions 1 of 3

Farmland and agriculture

*日本の 耕地は 日本国土の 総面積の 何パーセントぐらいですか* asks "About what percentage of Japan's total land area is cultivated land?" An answer gives about fourteen percent.

Other answers give the acreage, describe recent industrial growth, and state that agriculture remains important.

*工業が 著しい 発達を とげたから、農業は だめに なりましたか* asks whether industrial growth made agriculture unimportant. The answer is negative.

  1. 14

    にほんちりそうせつ(さん)

    A General Survey of Japanese Geography (3).

  2. 15

    ようになった。

    It came to be that way.

  3. 16

    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.

  4. 17

    にほんのこうちはにほんこくどのそうめんせきのなんパーセントぐらいですか。

    About what percentage of Japan's total land area is cultivated land?

  5. 18

    それはなんエーカーぐらいですか。

    About how many acres is that?

  6. 19

    にほんのこうぎょうはきんねんいちじるしいはったつをとげましたか。

    Has Japanese industry developed remarkably in recent years?

  7. 20

    こうぎょうがいちじるしいはったつをとげたから、のうぎょうはだめになりましたか。

    Since industry developed remarkably, did agriculture become unimportant?

  8. 21

    にほんのそうじんこうのなんパーセントぐらいがのうぎょうにじゅうじしていますか。

    About what percentage of Japan's total population is engaged in agriculture?

地理
geography
総説
general remarks; introduction
(三)
three
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
だめ
no good, useless, hopeless
い
stomach
ます
trout

Farms, crops and food demand · Questions 2 of 3

Farms, crops, and demand

*農産額が 近年 非常に ふえた 理由の一つは 何ですか* asks "What is one reason agricultural production has increased greatly in recent years?" An answer names chemical fertilizer.

Other answers describe farm size, machinery, principal crops, and the use of agricultural products.

*なぜ 食用の 需要が 多くなりますか* asks "Why is the demand for food increasing?" The answer connects demand with population growth.

  1. 22

    にほんののうかいっけんへいきんのたはたのおおきさはどのくらいですか。

    What is the average size of the fields on a Japanese farm?

  2. 23

    にほんののうかはきかいをぜんぜんつかいませんか。

    Do Japanese farmers use no machinery at all?

  3. 24

    のうさんがくがきんねんひじょうにふえたりゆうのひとつはなんですか。

    What is one reason agricultural production has increased greatly in recent years?

  4. 25

    のうさんぶつのおもなものはなんですか。

    What are the main agricultural products?

  5. 26

    のうさんぶつのだいぶぶんはなんにつかわれますか。

    What are most agricultural products used for?

  6. 27

    いちぶぶんがなんにもちいられていますか。

    What is some of it used for?

  7. 28

    なぜしょくようのじゅようがおおくなりますか。

    Why is the demand for food increasing?

  8. 29

    なぜげんりょうのじゅようがおおくなりますか。

    Why is the demand for raw materials increasing?

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
くらい
dark
理由
reason
なぜ
why?

Population rates and rankings · Questions 3 of 3

Population figures and ranks

*日本の 総人口は 千九百六十五年十月一日の 調査によると、どのぐらいですか* asks for the 1965 population figure. The answer gives about 98,280,000 people.

Other answers give the annual growth rate, describe the birth rate, and state Japan's rank by total population.

*人口密度は どのくらいですか* asks "What is the population density?" Related answers give 255 people per square kilometer and identify the higher-ranking countries.

  1. 30

    にほんのそうじんこうはせんきゅうひゃくろくじゅうごねんじゅうがつついたちのちょうさによると、どのぐらいですか。

    According to the survey of October 1, 1965, about what was Japan's total population?

  2. 31

    にほんのじんこうはまいねんどのくらいのわりでぞうかしますか。

    At about what rate does Japan's population increase each year?

  3. 32

    にほんのしゅっしょうりつはどのくらいですか。

    What is Japan's birth rate like?

  4. 33

    にほんのそうじんこうはせかいだいなんいですか。

    Where does Japan rank in the world in total population?

  5. 34

    じんこうみつどはどのくらいですか。

    What is the population density?

  6. 35

    にほんのじんこうみつどはせかいなんいですか。

    Where does Japan's population density rank in the world?

  7. 36

    いちい、にいはどこですか。

    Which countries rank first and second?

Economic and population words · Word list 1 of 3

Land, importance, and work

These words cover land area, limits, economic importance, population, employment, and small-scale activity.

*総面積* means "total area," and *総人口* means "total population."

*経済上* means "economically" or "financially."

  1. 37

    そうめんせき

    total area

  2. 38

    すなわち

    that is to say; in other words

  3. 39

    --にすぎない

    be no more than; merely; only

  4. 40

    いちじるしい

    remarkable

  5. 41

    とげる

    to accomplish; attain

  6. 42

    --にかかわらず

    regardless of; irrespective of

  7. 43

    けいざいじょう

    economically; financially

  8. 44

    じゅうような

    important

  9. 45

    やくわりをはたす

    fulfill one’s duties

  10. 46

    そうじんこう

    total population

  11. 47

    じゅうじする

    to engage in

  12. 48

    しょうきぼ

    small scale

総面積
total area
--に過ぎない
be no more than; merely; only
とげる
to accomplish; attain
--にかかわらず
regardless of; irrespective of
経済上
economically; financially
重要な
important
役割を果す
fulfill one’s duties
総人口
total population
従事する
to engage in
小規模
small scale

Crops, machinery and fertilizer · Word list 2 of 3

Farm production and crops

These words cover fields, machinery, fertilizer, farm output, staple foods, and agricultural products.

*化学肥料* means "chemical fertilizer," and *産額* means "production," "output," or "yield."

*常食* means "staple food" or "daily food."

  1. 49

    たはた

    fields; farm

  2. 50

    うごかす

    to move; drive; operate

  3. 51

    きかい

    machine

  4. 52

    かがくひりょう

    chemical fertilizer

  5. 53

    さんがく

    production; output; yield

  6. 54

    じょうしょく

    staple food; daily food

  7. 55

    らくのうせいひん

    dairy products

  8. 56

    おおむぎ

    barley

  9. 57

    こむぎ

    wheat

  10. 58

    だいず

    soybean

  11. 59

    きょうする

    to offer; supply; serve

  12. 60

    だいぶぶん

    bulk, majority

動かす
to move; drive; operate
化学肥料
chemical fertilizer
酪農製品
dairy products
大麦
barley
小麦
wheat
大豆
soybean
供する
to offer; supply; serve
大部分
majority, bulk, for the most part

Population surveys and rankings · Word list 3 of 3

Population measurement and rank

These words cover population surveys, rates, density, countries, and numerical rankings.

*調査* means "survey" or "investigation," and *人口密度* means "population density."

*--の割で* means "at the rate of."

  1. 61

    いちぶぶん

    one portion

  2. 62

    もちいる

    to use

  3. 63

    ベルギー

    Belgium

  4. 64

    さんい

    third; No, 3

  5. 65

    ちょうさ

    survey; investi-gation

  6. 66

    --のわりで

    at the rate of

  7. 67

    さいてい

    lowest

  8. 68

    ちゅうきょう

    Communist China

  9. 69

    しちい

    seventh; No. 7

  10. 70

    じんこうみつど

    population density

  11. 71

    オランダ

    Netherlands; Holland

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercises

1. Topics:

a. Talk about agriculture in Japan with your friend.

b. Make a comparative study of agriculture in Japan and in the U. S.

c. Talk about the population problem in Japan.

2. Exercises:

a. 次の 文章を 日本語に 訳してください。

(1) Japanese industry made remarkable progress.

(2) About 26% of the total population engages in agriculture.

(3) Japanese agriculture is done on a small scale.

(4) As the industry develops , the demand for food increases.
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 Cultural Notes.
一部分
one portion
用いる
to use
三位
third; No, 3
--の割で
at the rate of
中共
Communist China
七位
seventh; No. 7
人口密度
population density

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.