# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 125

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/123. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/123.json.

## Tohoku farming and horse breeding · Narration 1 of 2

### Six prefectures in northern Honshu

*奥羽地方は 東北地方とも 言い、福島、宮城、山形、岩手、秋田、青森の 六県に わかれている* means "The Ou region is also called the Tohoku region and is divided into six prefectures."

The passage places the region in northern Honshu. It describes a cold area far from the centers of politics and culture.

### Farms, apples, and horses

*農業の 外に この 地方は 一帯に 馬の 飼育が 盛んで、江戸時代から 南部馬として 知られていた* says that horse breeding is widespread besides agriculture.

Rice is the main product, and Aomori is a famous apple-producing area.

The passage's *東北地方* is *TOOHOKU*, a less industrialized region that keeps traditions disappearing from big cities.

### Kanji: / 福

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

### Kanji: / 森

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

### Kanji: / 油

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

### Kanji: / 民

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

### Kanji: 奥

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

### Kanji: 城

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

### Kanji: 開

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

### Kanji: 形

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

**1** 奥羽地方は 東北地方とも 言い、福島、宮城、山形、岩手、秋田、青森の 六県に わかれている。  
おううちほおはとおほくちほおともいい、ふくしま、みやぎ、やまがた、いわて、あきた、あおもりのろっけんにわかれている。  
The Ou region is also called the Tohoku region and is divided into the six prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, Yamagata, Iwate, Akita, and Aomori.

**2** 奥羽地方は 本州の 北部を 占め、昔から 政治や 文化の 中心からはなれていた。  
おううちほおはほんしゅうのほくぶをしめ、むかしからせいじやぶんかのちゅうしんからはなれていた。  
The Ou region occupies the northern part of Honshu and has long been far from the centers of politics and culture.

**3** 気候は 寒く、交通の 便が 悪い 所が 多いです。  
きこうはさむく、こおつうのべんがわるいところがおおいです。  
The climate is cold, and there are many places with poor transportation.

**4** 一番 重要な 産業は 農業で、主な 産物は 米である。  
いちばんじゅうようなさんぎょおはのおぎょおで、おもなさんぶつはこめである。  
The most important industry is agriculture, and the main product is rice.

**5** また 青森は 有名な りんごの 産地である。  
またあおもりはゆうめいなりんごのさんちである。  
Aomori is also a famous apple-producing area.

**6** 農業の 外に この 地方は 一帯に 馬の 飼育が 盛んで、江戸時代から 南部馬として 知られていた。  
のおぎょおのほかにこのちほおはいったいにうまのしいくがさかんで、えどじだいからなんぶうまとしてしられていた。  
Besides agriculture, horse breeding is widespread throughout this region, which has been known for its Nanbu horses since the Edo period.

```
1 TOOHOKU
off the beaten tourist tracks, TOOHOKU remains today one of the unexplored areas, in the tourist sense, of all japan.
It is well worth your while to tour through this relatively less industrialized region of Japan as it still retains some of the old traditions of Japan which are fast disappearing in the big cities. Here, a foreign visitor will find japan as he had dreamed of before leaving his country. TOOHOKU offers some of the most impressive sceneries, fine hot spring resorts and vacation land, making it one of the most attractive and popular targets of the domestic tourists.
Among the more important sites in this area, Sendai and neighboring Matsushima are the obvious leaders. Matsushima, one of the three classical sightseeing objectives of Japanese tourists (the others are Miyajima Island and Amanohashidate near Kyoto), is a group of pine-covered islands, often of unusual shapes, dotting the bay near Sendai. Seen at any season of the year, Matsushima is a visual delight and a heaven for camera fans who like scenic shots. Others are TOWADA-HACHIMANTAI National Park and BANDAI-ASAHI National park.
```

```
2 TOWADA-HACHIMANTAI National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National park covering 205,964 acres, consists of mountain and lake districts, extending into AOMORI, AKITA, and IWATE Prefectures. Among the manifold attractions of the national park are Lake Towada, the largest mountain lake in Japan. Lake Towada is often compared with the famous Crater Lake in America, and though it lacks the grandeur of the American lake, it is considered far superior in scenic charm. The remoteness of the lake may be a deterrent to visitors, but this is amply compensated for by the travel facilities available. The best time to make a trip to Towada is from May to October.
```

```
BANDAI-ASAHI National park
This national park which covers a total area of 7,800 square miles was created on September 5, 1950. it is divided into 4 sections, the lake district centering around Lake Inawashiro, the Bandai-Azuma mountains, Mt. Iide, and the Asahi-Gassan mountains.
Lake Inawashiro, the fourth largest in japan, is situated on a highland 1,700 feet above sea level and is 34 miles in circumference. A motorboat trip around the lake takes about 3 hours.
Mt. Bandai is the name of a group of several peaks. It is also known as Aizu-Fuji for its resemblance to Mt. Fuji. The group lies approximately 3 to 4 miles north of Lake Inawashiro, and an unsurpassed view of the surrounding country is obtained from the summit. Many lakes were formed on the northern slope of the mountain at the time of the eruption in 1888, when the two peaks of the group blew up.
Mt, Azuma is the general name for the cluster of peaks rising to the west of Fukushima. The peaks are classed as active volcanoes, although there has been no eruption since 1900 when 82 sulphur diggers were killed. The crater of Azuma-Fuji, one of the peaks, measures 1,640 ft. in diameter.
Asahi mountains are located on the northwest of Yonezawa, on the borders of Yamagata and Niigata Prefectures. From their grand aspect they are also called the TOOHOKU Alps. The highest peak is called Oo-Asahi (major Asahi) and is 6,171 feet in altitude. The mountains are for the most part of granite formation, with several streams rushing down their slopes, cutting deep ravines and scenic gorges. They also abound with alpine plants and wild animals such as monkeys, bears, and antelope. Some 110 species of alpine plants are found on the mountains.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 地方 | country, region |
| は | leaves |
| 東北 | northeastern Honshu (See Cult Notes) |
| と | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| も | as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes |
| 宮城、 | Imperial Palace in Tokyo |
| の | See Grammar Notes |
| 六 | six |
| 県 | prefecture (See Cultural Notes) |
| に | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| いる。 | to need (See Gram. Notes) |
| 北部 | the north, northern part |
| を | particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill) |
| から | from (See Gram. Notes) |
| 政治 | government; adminis-tration; politics |
| や | and---among others (See Gram. Notes) |
| 文化 | culture |
| い | stomach |
| 交通 | traffic, transportation |
| が | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| 所 | address, place |
| です。 | to be (See Gram. Notes) |
| 一番 | number one (See Grammar Notes) |
| な | I wish, I hope, huh |
| 産業 | industry |
| 農業 | agriculture |
| で、 | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| 産物 | product |
| ある。 | certain, some |
| また | thigh |
| りんご | apple |
| 産地 | production center; an area producing; the home |
| 一帯 | all over |
| 馬 | horse |
| 飼育 | breeding; raising |
| 時代 | era, period |
| 南部 | southern part or portion |
| し | city |

## Oil, crafts and fishing · Narration 2 of 2

### Oil, winter crafts, and fishing

*この 地方には 秋田を 中心として 油田が 多く、石油の 産額は 日本の 石油生産額の 三分の二に 達している* says that Akita centers the region's oil fields.

The region produces two-thirds of Japan's petroleum. Winter crafts remain cottage industries. Cold and warm currents create rich fishing grounds.

*Towada-Hachimantai* National park has mountain and lake districts across *AOMORI*, *AKITA*, and *IWATE* Prefectures.

### Parks, lakes, and mountains

*始めとして、磐梯朝日国立公園、十和田八幡平国立公園、陸中海岸国立公園が ある* names three national parks among the region's attractions.

*BANDAI-ASAHI* National park has four sections. They include Lake *Inawashiro*, the *Bandai-Azuma* mountains, Mt. *Iide*, and the *Asahi-Gassan* mountains.

Lake *Inawashiro* is Japan's fourth largest lake. *会津磐梯山は 民謡でも 有名である* says that Mount Aizu-Bandai is famous in folk songs.

**7** この 地方には 秋田を 中心として 油田が 多く、石油の 産額は 日本の 石油生産額の 三分の二に 達している。  
このちほおにはあきたをちゅうしんとしてゆでんがおおく、せきゆのさんがくはにほんのせきゆせいさんがくのさんぶんのににたっしている。  
There are many oil fields in this region, centered around Akita, and its petroleum output has reached two-thirds of Japan’s total petroleum production.

**8** 長い 冬の 手仕事として 古くから 手近な 原料で 作られる 副業が 行なわれ、福島の 会津塗、岩手県の 南部鉄びん、宮城県の こけし人形などは 家内工業として 今も 盛んに 生産されている。  
ながいふゆのてしごととしてふるくからてぢかなげんりょおでつくられるふくぎょうがおこなわれ、ふくしまのあいづぬり、いわてけんのなんぶてつびん、みやぎけんのこけしにんぎょうなどはかないこおぎょおとしていまもさかんにせいさんされている。  
Since long ago, people have done side work during the long winter making things from readily available materials, and Aizu lacquerware from Fukushima, Nanbu iron kettles from Iwate Prefecture, and kokeshi dolls from Miyagi Prefecture are still produced in large numbers as cottage industries.

**9** 漁業は 寒流と 暖流が この 地方の 沿岸で 一緒になるので、いい 漁場が 多く、北海道、九州に 次いで 漁獲の 多い 地方である。  
ぎょぎょおはかんりゅうとだんりゅうがこのちほおのえんがんでいっしょになるので、いいぎょじょおがおおく、ほっかいどう、きゅうしゅうについでぎょかくのおおいちほおである。  
Because the cold and warm currents meet off the coast of this region, there are many good fishing grounds, and it has the third-largest catch after Hokkaido and Kyushu.

**10** 観光地としては、日本三景の 一つとして 知られている 松島を  
かんこうちとしては、にほんさんけいのひとつとしてしられているまつしまを  
As for tourist attractions, there is Matsushima, known as one of Japan’s three most scenic places,

**11** 始めとして、磐梯朝日国立公園、十和田八幡平国立公園、陸中海岸国立公園が ある。  
はじめとして、ばんだいあさひこくりつこうえん、とわだはちまんたいこくりつこうえん、りくちゅうかいがんこくりつこうえんがある。  
and, beginning with Matsushima, there are Bandai-Asahi National Park, Towada-Hachimantai National Park, and Rikuchu Coast National Park.

**12** 会津磐梯山は 民謡でも 有名である。  
あいづばんだいさんはみんようでもゆうめいである。  
Mount Aizu-Bandai is also famous in folk songs.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 油田 | oil field |
| 多く、 | many of them |
| 石油 | petroleum |
| 産額 | production; output; yield |
| 生産 | production |
| 三 | three |
| 分 | minute |
| 二 | two |
| 冬 | winter |
| 手仕事 | manual work |
| 原料 | raw material |
| で | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| れる | to be able to --
(See Grammar Notes) |
| 鉄びん、 | iron kettle |
| 宮城 | Imperial Palace in Tokyo |
| など | and so forth, etc. |
| 工業 | manufacturing industry |
| 漁業 | fishing industry |
| 寒流 | cold current |
| 暖流 | warm current |
| 沿岸 | coast; shore |
| いい | good (See Gram. Notes) |
| 漁場 | fishing ground |
| 漁獲 | catch; haul (fish) |
| 一 | one |
| 松島 | P. N. |
| 朝日 | Asahi Newspaper Co. |
| 海岸 | coast, shore |
| 山 | mountain |
| 民謡 | folk song |

## Tohoku prefectures · Questions 1 of 3

### Two names and six prefectures

*奥羽地方は 東北地方とも 言いますか* asks "Is the Ou region also called the Tohoku region?"

A reply confirms the second name. Six short replies name Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.

Another statement identifies the breeding of Akita dogs as famous.

**13** "奥羽地方"  
"おううちほお"  
The Ou region.

**14** 秋田犬の 飼育も  
あきたいぬのしいくも  
The breeding of Akita dogs is also

**15** 又有名である。  
またゆうめいである。  
famous.

**16** 青森県  
あおもりけん  
Aomori Prefecture.

**17** 秋田県  
あきたけん  
Akita Prefecture.

**18** 岩手県  
いわてけん  
Iwate Prefecture.

**19** 山形県  
やまがたけん  
Yamagata Prefecture.

**20** 宮城県  
みやぎけん  
Miyagi Prefecture.

**21** 福島県  
ふくしまけん  
Fukushima Prefecture.

**22** 奥羽地方は 東北地方とも 言いますか。  
おううちほおはとおほくちほおともいいますか。  
Is the Ou region also called the Tohoku region?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 地方" | country, region |
| ます | trout |
| か。 | either--or-- (See Gram. Notes) |

## Climate, transport and agriculture · Questions 2 of 3

### The region and its agriculture

*気候は どうですか* asks "What is the climate like?" An answer describes the cold climate.

Other answers place the region in northern Honshu and identify poor transportation, agriculture, rice, and Aomori apples.

The final answer names horse breeding as widespread besides agriculture.

**23** この 地方は いくつの 県に わかれていますか。  
このちほおはいくつのけんにわかれていますか。  
How many prefectures is this region divided into?

**24** その 県の 名前を 言ってください。  
そのけんのなまえをいってください。  
Please name those prefectures.

**25** この 地方は 本州の 南部を 占めていますか。  
このちほおはほんしゅうのなんぶをしめていますか。  
Does this region occupy the southern part of Honshu?

**26** この 地方は 昔から 政治や 文化の 中心でしたか。  
このちほおはむかしからせいじやぶんかのちゅうしんでしたか。  
Has this region been a center of politics and culture since long ago?

**27** 気候は どうですか。  
きこうはどうですか。  
What is the climate like?

**28** 交通の 便は どうですか。  
こおつうのべんはどうですか。  
How is the transportation?

**29** 一番 重要な 産業は 何ですか。  
いちばんじゅうようなさんぎょおはなんですか。  
What is the most important industry?

**30** 主な 農産物は 何ですか。  
おもなのうさんぶつはなんですか。  
What is the main agricultural product?

**31** この 地方で 有名な りんごの 産地は どこですか。  
このちほおでゆうめいなりんごのさんちはどこですか。  
Where is the famous apple-producing area in this region?

**32** 農業の 外に、この 地方は 何が 盛んですか。  
のおぎょおのほかに、このちほおはなにがさかんですか。  
Besides agriculture, what else is widespread in this region?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| ください。 | please give me (See Gram. Notes) |
| です | to be (See Gram. Notes) |

## Oil, fishing and attractions · Questions 3 of 3

### Industry, fishing, and attractions

*この 地方の 石油の 産額は どのくらいですか* asks "How much petroleum does this region produce?" The answer gives its share of Japan's output.

Other replies name the oil-field center, examples of cottage industry, and the reason for the region's good fishing grounds.

*観光地として この 地方には どんな 所が ありますか* asks for attractions. The replies include national parks and the place famous in folk songs.

**33** 秋田は 何で 有名ですか。  
あきたはなんでゆうめいですか。  
What is Akita famous for?

**34** 油田の 多い 所は どこですか。  
ゆでんのおおいところはどこですか。  
Where are there many oil fields?

**35** この 地方の 石油の 産額は どのくらいですか。  
このちほおのせきゆのさんがくはどのくらいですか。  
How much petroleum does this region produce?

**36** この 地方の 家内工業には どんなのが ありますか。  
このちほおのかないこおぎょおにはどんなのがありますか。  
What kinds of cottage industries are there in this region?

**37** 漁業は どうですか。  
ぎょぎょおはどうですか。  
How is the fishing industry?

**38** なぜこの 地方には いい 漁場が 多いのですか。  
なぜこのちほおにはいいぎょじょおがおおいのですか。  
Why are there so many good fishing grounds in this region?

**39** 観光地として この 地方には どんな 所が ありますか。  
かんこうちとしてこのちほおにはどんなところがありますか。  
What kinds of tourist attractions are there in this region?

**40** 民謡で 有名な所は どこですか。  
みんよおでゆうめいなところはどこですか。  
What place is famous in folk songs?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| どの | which (pre-substantive) (See Notes) |
| くらい | dark |
| どんな | what kind of; what sort of |
| なぜ | why? |

## Politics, crafts and oilfields · Word list 1 of 2

### Regional life and products

These words cover government, transportation, regional products, breeding, crafts, oil fields, and petroleum.

*政治* means "government, administration, or politics." *交通の便* means "transportation facilities." *飼育* means "breeding or raising."

**41** 奥羽地方  
おううちほお  
Oou region

**42** 政治  
せいじ  
government; adminis-tration; politics

**43** はなれる  
はなれる  
be apart from; be a long way off

**44** 交通の便  
こおつうのべん  
transportation facilities

**45** 鉄びん  
てつびん  
iron kettle

**46** こけし人形  
こけしにんぎょう  
Kokeshi Doll

**47** 産物  
さんぶつ  
product

**48** 一帯  
いったい  
all over

**49** 飼育  
しいく  
breeding; raising

**50** 油田  
ゆでん  
oil field

**51** 石油  
せきゆ  
petroleum

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 奥羽地方 | Oou region |
| はなれる | be apart from; be a long way off |
| 交通の便 | transportation facilities |
| 鉄びん | iron kettle |
| こけし人形 | Kokeshi Doll |

## Cottage industry and fishing words · Word list 2 of 2

### Production and regional attractions

These words cover production, manual work, things close by, cottage industry, fishing catches, attractions, and folk songs.

*会津塗* means "Aizu lacquer." *家内工業* means "home industry." *漁獲* means "catch or haul of fish."

The entries also give phrases for reaching an amount and beginning a list.

**52** 生産額  
せいさんがく  
production; output

**53** ---に達する  
---にたっする  
reach

**54** 手仕事  
てしごと  
manual work

**55** 手近な  
てぢかな  
close by; near by

**56** 会津塗  
あいづぬり  
Aizu lacquer

**57** 家内工業  
かないこおぎょお  
home industry

**58** --に次いで  
--についで  
next to ---

**59** ---を始めとして  
---をはじめとして  
beginning with;
starting with ---

**60** 漁獲  
ぎょかく  
catch; haul (fish)

**61** 民謡  
みんよお  
folk song

```
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercises

1 Topics;

a Talk about the following topics in Japanese.

(1) The northwest region in general.

(2) The industry in this region.

(3) The scenic places in this region.

(4) Home industry and famous products.

(5) The fishing industry.

2 Exercises;

a 次の 文章を 日本語に 訳してください。

(1) Oou region occupies the northern part of Honshuu.

(2) Transportation facilities are bad, and there are many places that are still backward in civilization even today.

(3) The breeding of horses flourishes all over this region.
```

```
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.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 生産額 | production; output |
| ---に達する | reach |
| 手近な | close by; near by |
| 会津塗 | Aizu lacquer |
| 家内工業 | home industry |
| --に次いで | next to --- |
| ---を始めとして | beginning with;
starting with --- |