Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 126

Lesson 128

Narration and the written language

70 lines

Historic capitals and trading ports · Narration 1 of 3

Seven prefectures and historic capitals

*近畿地方は 京都府、大阪府、奈良県、兵庫県、和歌山県、滋賀県、三重県をふくむ地方で* names the seven prefectures in the Kinki region.

*長い間 日本の政治、文化、産業の中心だった所である* means "For a long time it was the center of Japanese politics, culture, and industry."

The passage then presents Kyoto and Nara as historic capitals, and Osaka and Kobe as centers of commerce and trade.

Himeji and its castle

*Himeji* is the center of communications for its locality.

*Himeji* Castle is a national treasure.

Kanji: 歴, 史, 貿, 易

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

Kanji: 良

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

  1. 1

    きんきちほおはきょうとふ、おおさかふ、ならけん、ひょうごけん、わかやまけん、しがけん、みえけんをふくむちほおで、

    The Kinki region includes Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, and Mie Prefecture, and

    近畿Kinki region
    地方Kinki region
    はtopic
    京都Kyoto
    府、Prefecture
    大阪Osaka
    府、Prefecture
    奈良Nara
    県、Prefecture
    兵庫Hyogo
    県、Prefecture
    和歌山Wakayama
    県、Prefecture
    滋賀Shiga
    県、Prefecture
    三重Mie
    県Prefecture
    をobject
    ふくむincludes
    地方region
    で、and
  2. 2

    ながいあいだにほんのせいじ、ぶんか、さんぎょおのちゅうしんだったところである。

    for a long time it was the center of Japanese politics, culture, and industry.

  3. 3

    きょうとははっせいきのおわりごろから、せんねんいじょうもみやこのあったところで、そのまえにみやこのあったならとともにれきしじょうのいせきやゆうめいなじんじゃぶっかくにとんでいる。

    Kyoto was the site of the capital for over a thousand years beginning around the end of the eighth century, and together with Nara, where the capital had been before that, it is rich in historic sites and famous shrines and temples.

  4. 4

    したがってがいこくからのかんこうきゃくにもっともよろこばれるところとなっている。

    Consequently, it has become the place most favored by tourists from abroad.

  5. 5

    おおさか、きょうと、こうべのさんしをちゅうしんとするちほおはむかしからしょうぎょうがさかんでおおさかしはとうきょうについでぜんこく

    The area centered on the three cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe has prospered in commerce since long ago, and Osaka ranks second in the nation after Tokyo

  6. 6

    またこうべ、おおさかはぼうえきこうとしてひがしのとうきょう、よこはまときょうそおしている。

    Kobe and Osaka also compete as trading ports with Tokyo and Yokohama in the east.

Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa, so called because in shape it resembles the musical instrument of that name, is 146 miles in circumference and 261 square miles in area. The lake lies 285 feet above sea level and is 314 feet deep. Lake Biwa and the surrounding mountainous district including Mt. Ibuki, Mt. Hiei, Mt. Hira and other peaks, comprising an area of 417 square miles was named Biwako Quasi-National Park on July 24, 1950.
Transportation on the lake is maintained by steamers of the Biwako Kisen Kaisha Company, and visitors can either make a round trip of the lake, or a trip to the so-called ’’eight views.”
2 AMA-NO-HASHIDATE
Ama-no-hashidate has been famous from ancient times for its beautiful views, which make it one of the ’’Scenic Trio” in Japan. The name means literally ’’Bridge of Heaven,” and is taken from the Ama-no-ukihashi (Floating Bridge of Heaven), on which, Japanese mythology relates,

Izanagi and Izanami stood while they created the islands of Japan. Actually it is a sand bar, 2 miles long and some 200 feet wide, on which grow groves of pine trees which have been bent into fantastic shapes by many wintry storms. This sand bar projects into the Bay of Miyazu southwestward from Fuchuu on the north coast of the bay.
The best view of Ama-no-hashidate is obtained from a height. Travelers are generally content with the view from Kasamatsu Park, halfway up Mt. Nariai, accessible by cable railway. Connoisseurs in the art of viewing scenery like to look at the scene from between the legs, which makes Ama-no-hashidate appear as if it were suspended in mid-air, it is claimed.
3 Ise-Shima National park
Ise-Shima National park was created on November 20, 1946. Having a total area of 128,586 acres, this park covers the larger part of Ise and Shima provinces which have many interesting geological features in their coastal regions and adjoining islands. This park contains many

beautiful sights and places of interest, chief among which are Jinguu Shrine in Ise, Futami-ga-ura for its two rocks, Myooto-Iwa (Wedded Rocks), nurseries of cultured pearls in Ago Bay, and Toba which are known for women pearl divers.
In Ago and five other bays not very far from Toba are several cultured pearl beds belonging to the Mikimoto Farm. These pearls are produced by introducing an irritant inside the shell of the oysters, causing them to secrete the nacre of which pearls are formed. It takes about 7 years for pearls to develop fully by this method,
4 YOSHINO and KUMANO National Park
This national park, as the name indicates, embraces two districts of Yoshino and Kumano, the former mountainous and the latter rich in rivers, gorges, and seashore. Both have ancient temples and shrines. The park extends over the three prefectures of Nara, Mie, and Wakayama with a total area of 137,000 acres. It was officially designated as a national park in February, 1936, The Yoshino mountains, popularly known as the Yoshino Alps or Yamato Alps, are not volcanic and contain such lofty peaks as Sanjoo-ga-dake,

Shaka-dake, Bukkyoo-ga-dake. These peaks were formerly climbed chiefly for devotional purposes, as they have old sanctuaries on their summits. They are today, however, visited by hikers and excursionists almost all the year round. The Kumano district is not so mountainous, but offers scenic beauty and tourist attractions in rivers, gorges, waterfalls, its coastline, and an abundance of hot springs.
Himeji
Himeji is the center of communications for this locality. Himeji is known for Himeji Castle, which is a ’’national treasure.”
地方
country, region
は
leaves
奈良
P.N.
県、
prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
ふくむ
contain? include
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
間
between
の
See Grammar Notes
政治、
government; adminis-tration; politics
文化、
culture
産業
industry
所
address, place
ある。
certain, some
八
eight
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
千
1,000
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
都
capital
前
before, front
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
遺跡
remains; ruins; vestiges
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
神社
shrine
仏閣
Buddhist temple
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
神戸
Kobe
三
three
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
全国
entire country
港
port, harbor
し
city
東
east
競争
competition, race

Industries, crafts and regional products · Narration 2 of 3

Heavy industry and local crafts

*阪神工業地帯は 製鉄、造船、機械類などの重工業から化学工業、紡績工業、織物業、その他各種の軽工業に至るまで、あらゆる種類の工業をふくんでいる* describes industries ranging from heavy to light.

*京都市の西陣織、友禅染、清水焼、奈良の筆、墨、灘の日本酒、宇治を中心とする茶など有名である* names famous crafts, sake, and tea.

The passage also connects fishing, forestry, timber, and beef with different parts of the region.

Kanji: 筆

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

Kanji: 軽

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

  1. 7

    おおさかをちゅうしんとしてこうべにのびたちほおはにほんのしだいこおぎょおちたいのひとつで、はんしんこおぎょおちたいとしてしられている。

    The area centered on Osaka and extending to Kobe is one of Japan’s four major industrial regions and is known as the Hanshin Industrial Region.

  2. 8

    はんしんこおぎょおちたいはせいてつ、ぞうせん、きかいるいなどのじゅうこおぎょおからかがくこおぎょお、ぼうせきこおぎょお、おりものぎょう、そのたかくしゅのけいこおぎょおにいたるまで、あらゆるしゅるいのこおぎょおをふくんでいる。

    The Hanshin Industrial Region includes every kind of industry, from heavy industries such as iron and steel, shipbuilding, and machinery to the chemical, spinning, textile, and various other light industries.

  3. 9

    きょうとしのにしじんおり、ゆうぜんぞめ、きよみずやき、ならのふで、すみ、なだのにほんしゅ、うじをちゅうしんとするちゃなどゆうめいである。

    Kyoto City’s Nishijin textiles, Yuzen dyeing, and Kiyomizu ware, Nara’s brushes and ink, Nada’s sake, and tea from the area centered on Uji are famous.

  4. 10

    そのほかすいさんぎょおやりんぎょおもさかんで、きいはんとおのひとびとのせいかつのきそとなっているものである。

    In addition, the fishing and forestry industries also thrive and form the foundation of life for the people of the Kii Peninsula.

  5. 11

    このちほおからすぎ、ひのき、などのりょおざいがおおくでる。

    A great deal of quality timber, such as cedar and cypress, comes from this region.

  6. 12

    ぼくちくぎょうでは、このちほおのぎゅうにくはあじがよく、こうべにくとしてしられている。

    As for livestock farming, the beef from this region has a good flavor and is known as Kobe beef.

四
four
工業
manufacturing industry
地帯
zone
一
one
阪神
P.N., a railway company and department store
製鉄、
iron manufacture
機械
machine
など
and so forth, etc.
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
織物
fabric
まで、
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
あらゆる
all; all sorts
種類
kind, sort
清水
P.N. (See Cult. Notes)
筆、
writing brush; paint brush
墨、
Indian ink; ink stick
酒、
Sake, rice wine
茶
tea
林業
forestry
半島
peninsula
人々
people
基礎
basis; foundation
もの
things (tangible)
すぎ、
past, after
ひのき、
Japanese Cypress
良材
good timber
多く
many of them
出る。
come out to the phone, go out, come out (vi)
牛肉
beef
よく、
well, skillfully
肉
meat, flesh

Scenic sites and pearl farming · Narration 3 of 3

Lake Biwa and the pearl coast

*日本最大の琵琶湖* identifies Lake Biwa as Japan's largest lake.

Lake *Biwa* has the shape of the musical instrument of that name. It is 146 miles in circumference and 261 square miles in area.

The lake lies 285 feet above sea level and is 314 feet deep.

*海岸で、養殖真珠で有名である* means "The coastline is famous for cultured pearls."

A sand bar called the Bridge of Heaven

*日本三景の一つの天の橋立* identifies *Ama-no-hashidate* as one of Japan's Scenic Trio.

Its name means "Bridge of Heaven". It is a sand bar 2 miles long and some 200 feet wide.

Pine trees grow on it, bent into fantastic shapes by wintry storms.

Kanji: 谷

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

  1. 13

    かんこうちとしてはきょうと、ならはいうまでもなく、きいはんとおにあるさんちやきょうこくをちゅうしんとしたよしのくまのこくりつこうえん、にほんさいだいのびわこ、

    As tourist destinations, needless to say, there are Kyoto and Nara, as well as Yoshino-Kumano National Park, centered on the mountains and gorges of the Kii Peninsula, Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake,

  2. 14

    にほんさんけいのひとつのあまのはしだて、いせしまこくりつこうえんなどけしきのよいところがたくさんある。

    Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s three most scenic places, Ise-Shima National Park, and many other places with beautiful scenery.

  3. 15

    いせしまこくりつこうえんのいちぶになっているあごわんふきんはにほんでもいりこみのもっともおおい

    The area around Ago Bay, which is part of Ise-Shima National Park, has one of the most deeply indented

  4. 16

    かいがんで、ようしょくしんじゅでゆうめいである。

    coastlines in Japan and is famous for cultured pearls.

  5. 17

    そのようしょくじょうはいせじんぐうやふたみがうらとともにがいこくじんのおとずれもおおいところである。

    Along with Ise Shrine and Futamigaura, its pearl farms are places frequently visited by foreigners.

言う
to say
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
ある
certain, some
山地
mountain area
峡谷
gorge; ravine; canyon
最大
the largest (See Gram. Notes)
天の橋立、
P.N.
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)
一部
a copy
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
湾
bay
付近
vicinity, neighborhood
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
入りこみ
indentation
海岸
coast, shore
真珠
pearl
人
people
おとずれ
visit

Capitals, commerce and industry · Questions 1 of 3

Prefectures, capitals, and industry

*近畿地方は どの県を ふくんでいますか* asks "Which prefectures does the Kinki region include?"

An answer names the prefectures in the region.

Other answers identify former capitals, historic sites, commerce, and the area called the Hanshin Industrial Region.

  1. 18

    きんきちほお

    The Kinki region.

  2. 19

    だいにいのしょうぎょうとしである。

    It is the second-ranking commercial city.

  3. 20

    きんきちほおはどのけんをふくんでいますか。

    Which prefectures does the Kinki region include?

  4. 21

    ながいあいだなんのちゅうしんだったところですか。

    What was it the center of for a long time?

  5. 22

    きょうとはいつごろからみやこのあったところですか。

    From about when was Kyoto the site of the capital?

  6. 23

    そのまえにみやこのあったところはどこですか。

    Where was the capital located before that?

  7. 24

    きょうとはならとともになんにとんでいますか。

    What is Kyoto rich in, together with Nara?

  8. 25

    おおさか、きょうと、こうべのさんしをちゅうしんとするちほおはむかしからなんがさかんですか。

    What has prospered since long ago in the area centered on the three cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe?

  9. 26

    はんしんこおぎょおちたいというのはどのちほおですか。

    What area is called the Hanshin Industrial Region?

二
two
都市
city
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
県
prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
い
stomach
ます
trout
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)

Ports, industries and crafts · Questions 2 of 3

Ports and products

*東の東京、横浜と競争している貿易港はどこですか* asks "Which trading ports compete with Tokyo and Yokohama in the east?"

An answer names the competing ports.

Other answers give the industries of the Hanshin region and connect crafts and sake with their places of production.

  1. 27

    ひがしのとうきょう、よこはまときょうそおしているぼうえきこうはどこですか。

    Which trading ports compete with Tokyo and Yokohama in the east?

  2. 28

    はんしんこおぎょおちたいではどんなこおぎょおがおこなわれていますか。

    What kinds of industry are carried on in the Hanshin Industrial Region?

  3. 29

    つぎのものはどこでできますか。

    Where are the following products made?

  4. 30

    ゆうぜんぞめ

    Yuzen dyeing.

  5. 31

    ふで

    Brushes.

  6. 32

    きよみずやき

    Kiyomizu ware.

  7. 33

    すみ

    Ink.

  8. 34

    にしじんおり

    Nishijin textiles.

  9. 35

    なだはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is Nada famous for?

どんな
what kind of; what sort of
筆
writing brush; paint brush
墨
Indian ink; ink stick

Timber, tourism and pearls · Questions 3 of 3

Pearls of Ise-Shima

*英虞湾付近は何で有名ですか* asks "What is the area around Ago Bay famous for?"

The area is famous for cultured pearls. Pearl beds in *Ago* Bay belong to the *Mikimoto* Farm.

Other chief sights include *Jinguu* Shrine in *Ise*, the Wedded Rocks, and *Toba* with its women pearl divers.

Mountains and rivers of Yoshino and Kumano

*観光地として有名な所はどこですか* asks "Which places are famous as tourist destinations?"

Answers include Lake *Biwa*, *Ama-no-hashidate*, and the national parks of *Yoshino*, *Kumano*, and *Ise-Shima*.

*Yoshino* is mountainous. *Kumano* is rich in rivers, gorges and seashore.

The park lies in the prefectures of *Nara*, *Mie* and *Wakayama*. Both districts have ancient temples and shrines.

  1. 36

    うじはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is Uji famous for?

  2. 37

    きいはんとおのひとびとのせいかつのきそとなっているものはなんですか。

    What forms the foundation of life for the people of the Kii Peninsula?

  3. 38

    このちほおからなんのりょうざいがでますか。

    What kinds of quality timber come from this region?

  4. 39

    ぼくちくぎょうはどうですか。

    How is livestock farming?

  5. 40

    かんこうちとしてゆうめいなところはどこですか。

    Which places are famous as tourist destinations?

  6. 41

    あごわんふきんはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is the area around Ago Bay famous for?

  7. 42

    びわこはどんなみずうみですか。

    What kind of lake is Lake Biwa?

  8. 43

    いせふきんでゆうめいなところは。

    What famous places are there around Ise?

History, ports and industry · Word list 1 of 3

History, ports, and industry

These words cover historic places, ports, and industry.

*遺跡* means "remains" or "ruins".

*重工業* and *軽工業* distinguish heavy industry from light industry.

  1. 44

    ふくむ

    contain? include

  2. 45

    れきしじょうの

    historic; historical

  3. 46

    いせき

    remains; ruins; vestiges

  4. 47

    ぶっかく

    Buddhist temple

  5. 48

    よろこばれる

    to be appreciated; be rejoiced

  6. 49

    ぼうえきこう

    trade port

  7. 50

    せいてつ

    iron manufacture

  8. 51

    じゅうこおぎょお

    heavy industry

  9. 52

    けいこおぎょお

    light industry

歴史上の
historic; historical
喜こばれる
to be appreciated; be rejoiced
貿易港
trade port
製鉄
iron manufacture
重工業
heavy industry
軽工業
light industry

Crafts, sake and marine industry · Word list 2 of 3

Crafts, sake, and marine industry

These words cover crafts, local products, marine industry, and the foundation of a community's life.

*友禅染* means "YUUZEN process printed silk", while *清水焼* means "Kiyomizu China".

*--から--に至るまで* marks a range "from -- to --".

  1. 53

    --から--にいたるまで

    from -- to --

  2. 54

    あらゆる

    all; all sorts

  3. 55

    ゆうぜんぞめ

    YUUZEN process printed silk

  4. 56

    きよみずやき

    Kiyomizu China

  5. 57

    ふで

    writing brush; paint brush

  6. 58

    すみ

    Indian ink; ink stick

  7. 59

    にほんしゅ

    sake

  8. 60

    すいさんぎょう

    marine industry

  9. 61

    きそ

    basis; foundation

--から--に至るまで
from -- to --
友禅染
YUUZEN process printed silk
清水焼
Kiyomizu China
日本酒
sake
水産業
marine industry

Timber, gorges and pearl farms · Word list 3 of 3

Timber, pearl farms, and visits

These words cover timber, coastal features, pearl farming, and visits.

*ひのき* means "Japanese Cypress", and *良材* means "good timber".

*養殖場* can mean "a farm" or "nursery".

*おとずれ* means "visit".

  1. 62

    --のきそとなる

    form the foundation of --

  2. 63

    ひのき

    Japanese Cypress

  3. 64

    りょうざい

    good timber

  4. 65

    ---はいうまでもなく

    needless to say about ---

  5. 66

    きょうこく

    gorge; ravine; canyon

  6. 67

    いりこみ

    indentation

  7. 68

    ようしょくじょう

    breeding ground; a farm; nursery

  8. 69

    --とともに

    together with ---

  9. 70

    おとずれ

    visit

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Make conversation with your classmates on the following topics.

(1) The Kinki region in general, with particular emphasis on Kyoto and Nara,

(2) Industry in this region.

(3) Sightseeing places—Lake Biwa, Ama-no-hashidate, Ago Bay, Ise-Shima National park.

2 Exercise:

a 次の文章を日本語に訳してください。

(1) The historic remains and famous shrines and temples of Kyoto and Nara are much appreciated by tourists from foreign countries.

(2) Kobe, as the number-one trading port in Japan, is competing against Yokohama.

(3) Marine industry and forestry form the foundation of livelihood for the people of Kii peninsula.

(4) The vicinity of Ago Bay is the seashore that has the most indentations in Japan.
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 the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes.
--の基礎となる
form the foundation of --
ひのき
Japanese Cypress
---は言うまでもなく
needless to say about ---
養殖場
breeding ground; a farm; nursery
--と共に
together with ---

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.