Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 127

Lesson 129

Narration and the written language

63 lines

Regional climates and connections · Narration 1 of 3

Three regions around the mountains

*中国と 四国を 文化や 気候を 中心に わけて見ると、三つになる* means "Chugoku and Shikoku form three regions based on culture and climate."

Setouchi lies between the Chugoku and Shikoku mountain ranges. Sanin lies north of the Chugoku range, and southern Shikoku lies farther south.

Setouchi has mild winter weather. Sanin has winter snow, rain, and continuing cloudy skies.

The Inland Sea and its ports

*中国山脈の 南側と 四国山脈の 北側の 地域は 瀬戸内* places Setouchi south of the Chugoku Mountains and north of the Shikoku Mountains.

Japan's Inland Sea has hundreds of pine-covered islands. Most tourist trips start from the ports of *Osaka* or *Kobe*.

The longest trip ends at *Beppu*, a hot springs resort on *Kyuushuu*. *SHIKOKU* is Japan's fourth largest island.

Kanji: 脈, 暗, 盛, 街

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

Kanji: 曇

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

  1. 1

    ちゅうごくちほうはにほんのふるいぶんかのふたつのちゅうしんであったきたきゅうしゅうときんきちほうをむすぶろうかのようなものであった。

    The Chugoku region was like a corridor connecting northern Kyushu and the Kinki region, the two centers of Japan’s ancient culture.

    中国Chugoku region
    地方Chugoku region
    はtopic
    日本Japan
    のof
    古いancient
    文化culture
    のof
    二two
    つtwo
    のof
    中心centers
    でwere
    あっwere
    たwere
    北九州northern Kyushu
    とand
    近畿Kinki region
    地方Kinki region
    をobject
    むすぶconnecting
    廊下corridor
    のof
    ようlike
    なlike
    ものthing
    でwas
    あっwas
    た。was
  2. 2

    したがってはやくからぶんかもひらけ、こうつうがさかんで、かいどうもみなともはったつしていた。

    Consequently, its culture developed early, transportation flourished, and both roads and ports were well developed.

  3. 3

    ちゅうごくとしこくをぶんかやきこうをちゅうしんにわけてみると、みっつになる。

    If Chugoku and Shikoku are divided according to culture and climate, they form three regions.

  4. 4

    ちゅうごくさんみゃくのみなみがわとしこくさんみゃくのきたがわのちいきはせとうち、ちゅうごくさんみゃくのきたがわはさんいん、しこくさんみゃくのみなみがわはみなみしこくといわれている。

    The region south of the Chugoku Mountains and north of the Shikoku Mountains is called Setouchi, the region north of the Chugoku Mountains is called Sanin, and the region south of the Shikoku Mountains is called southern Shikoku.

  5. 5

    せとうちはふゆはあめがすくなく、てんきはうららかである。

    In Setouchi, there is little rain in winter, and the weather is mild and pleasant.

  6. 6

    ねぐるしいことがある。

    There are times when it is hard to sleep.

  7. 7

    さんいんはふゆはゆきやあめがおおく、どんてんがつづいてくらい。

    In Sanin, there is a great deal of snow and rain in winter, and the continuing cloudy weather makes it gloomy.

Inland Sea (and SHIKOKU) Dotted with hundreds of pine-covered islands, Japan’s Inland Sea is a delight to the travel-weary eye. As your liner cruises through this paradise of seascapes and mirrored vistas, glimpses of dazzling sand beaches, tiny little islands with fishing villages nestled in coves and the never-ceasing procession of boats, large and small, provide a continuous form of visual entertainment. Most departures on Inland Sea trips for the tourist are from Osaka or Kobe ports, and the longest itinerary ends at Beppu, a hot springs resort on the island of Kyuushuu. Japan’s fourth largest island, SHIKOKU, is frequently visited on Inland Sea tours. At Takamatsu, one of the two major Inland Sea ports, do not fail to see Ritsurin Park, one of the best in Japan and over 900 years old. If time permits, visit Yashima Plateau, from where a fine panoramic view of the sea can be had. You can be carried up and down the plateau’s paths by palanquin if you so desire. About 60 miles away from Takamatsu is Kompira Shrine, one of Japan’s most popular places of worship and home of the fisherman’s patron deity.
West Honshuu Ten miles from Okayama is one of Japan’s most interesting small cities Kurashiki. Site of a large textile complex, it is noted for its retention of the old granary style of architecture, beautiful because of its white walls and dark brown wood trimming. The city has four outstanding museums, including one which has a very good collection of 19th century French paintings, something the visitor would not ordinarily expect to find in a small Japanese town. Beyond Kurashiki lies Hiroshima, a city on which the atomic bomb was first dropped. A visit to the Peace Memorial Park is essential. Here is a cenotaph and tomb in which are placed lists of the A-bomb’s victims, and where annual memorial ceremonies are conducted at 8:15 a.m. each August 15. Nearby is the Memorial Museum, with its exhibition of the bomb’s effects. The main tourist attraction in West Honshuu is the sacred island of Miyajima, a short distance from Hiroshima. Here, on an island where no one was allowed to be born or to die until recently, you may see the famous TORII and the vermilion-hued Itsukushima Shrine. You may request a command performance of Bugaku dances (ancient court dances) on advance notice and by paying a fixed fee at the time. Atop the island from Mt. Misen (reached by cable car) there is an incredibly gorgeous view of the Inland Sea. A few miles from Miyajima is Iwakuni, noted for its “Bridge of the Brocade Sash” (Kintaibashi). This bridge is made of five curving arches and is the most picturesque in Japan.
Daisen National Park Daisen National Park embraces, with Mt. Daisen as its center, a cluster of surrounding mountains which on the northern slope extend almost to the Japan Sea Coast. Situated to the east of Tottori Prefecture, it covers a total area of 30,656 acres. Daisen, popularly known as the Fuji of the Chuugoku district. An extensive virgin forest of beech trees surrounds the upper half of the mountain, and the remarkable forest of kyaraboku, a species of yew trees, is another special attraction. Daisen is one of the best skiing grounds in western Japan, as well as one of the foremost excursion resorts, visited by several thousands of people throughout the year.
中国
China
地方
country, region
は
leaves
の
See Grammar Notes
古い
old, antique
文化
culture
二
two
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
むすぶ
to tie; to bind
廊下
passage; corridor
よう
get intoxicated; get drunk; get seasick (v.i.)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
もの
things (tangible)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
交通
traffic, transportation
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
街道
highway
港
port, harbor
し
city
い
stomach
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
三
three
山脈
mountain range
南側
south side
北側
north side
南
south
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
冬
winter
雨
rain
天気
weather
うららか
beautiful; bright
ある。
certain, some
ねぐるしい
difficult to sleep
雪
snow
多く、
many of them
曇天
cloudy sky

Farming and coastal industries · Narration 2 of 3

Rain in the south

*南四国は 冬も 温暖で、夏は 雨が 多い* means "Southern Shikoku is mild in winter and receives much rain in summer."

This region has the most rain in Japan. Setouchi and Sanin have different winter conditions.

Products of Setouchi

*瀬戸内の 産業としては、先ず 広島県、岡山県の い草の 栽培* names rush cultivation in Hiroshima and Okayama as a Setouchi industry.

The rushes become tatami coverings. Setouchi also produces fruit and salt, and industry flourishes along its coast.

Kanji: 暖

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

Kanji: 表, 塩

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

  1. 8

    しかし、なつはせとうちとどうようにあつい。

    In summer, however, it is hot just as it is in Setouchi.

  2. 9

    みなみしこくはふゆもおんだんで、なつはあめがおおい。

    Southern Shikoku is mild even in winter, and it gets a great deal of rain in summer.

  3. 10

    にほんでもっともあめのおおいのは、このちほうである。

    This region has the most rain in Japan.

  4. 11

    せとうちのさんぎょうとしては、まずひろしまけん、おかやまけんのいぐさのさいばいで、これによってたたみおもてをせいさんしている。

    One Setouchi industry is the cultivation of rushes, chiefly in Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures, which are used to produce tatami mat coverings.

  5. 12

    このちほうはまたくだもののさいばいがさかんで、みかんのさいばいはせとうちいったいでおこなわれ、もも、なし、ぶどうはおかやまけんがとくにしられている。

    Fruit growing also flourishes in this region: mandarin oranges are grown throughout Setouchi, while Okayama Prefecture is especially well known for peaches, pears, and grapes.

  6. 13

    せいえんはせとうちのじゅうようなさんぎょうである。

    Salt production is an important industry in Setouchi.

  7. 14

    せとうちのえんがんかくちにはこうぎょうがさかんにおこなわれている。

    Industry flourishes in many places along the Setouchi coast.

しかし、
however, but
夏
summer
温暖
warm
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
産業
industry
県、
prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
い草
rush
畳表
matting; tatami facing
生産
production
果物
fruit
みかん
tangerine
一帯
all over
もも、
peach
なし、
pear
ぶどう
grapes
製塩
salt manufacture
沿岸
coast; shore
工業
manufacturing industry

Industry, parks, shrines and bridges · Narration 3 of 3

Cities and sacred places

*宮島は 日本三景の 一つとして 有名である* means "Miyajima is famous as one of Japan's Three Scenic Places."

*Kurashiki* is noted for its textile complex, old granary architecture, and four museums. *Hiroshima* has the Peace Memorial Park and Memorial Museum.

*Miyajima* is a sacred island near *Hiroshima*. *Iwakuni* is noted for the five curving arches of its *Kintaibashi* bridge.

The national parks

*瀬戸内海国立公園、大山隠岐国立公園、山陰海岸国立公園が ある* names three national parks among the tourist attractions.

*Daisen* National Park has Mt. *Daisen* at its center. A virgin beech forest surrounds the upper half of the mountain.

*Daisen* is one of western Japan's best skiing grounds and a major excursion resort.

Kanji: 関, 小

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

Kanji: 絹

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

  1. 15

    やまぐちけんのしものせき、おのだ、うべなどはきたきゅうしゅうこうぎょうちたいにつづくちたいで、せいてつ、セメント、ひりょう、ソーダ、きかいのせいさくなどのこうぎょうがさかんである。

    Shimonoseki, Onoda, Ube, and other places in Yamaguchi Prefecture form an area adjoining the northern Kyushu industrial zone, where industries such as steelmaking and the manufacture of cement, fertilizer, soda, and machinery flourish.

  2. 16

    おかやま、くらしきなどはめんおりものぎょう、スフ、じんけんなどのせんいこうぎょうがさかんである。

    Textile industries such as cotton weaving and the manufacture of staple fiber and rayon flourish in Okayama, Kurashiki, and other places.

  3. 17

    さんいんちほうのさんぎょうはのうぎょうとすいさんぎょうのほかにみるべきものがなく、にほんのきんだいてきはってんからはとりのこされているようにみえる。

    The Sanin region has no noteworthy industries apart from agriculture and fishing, and seems to have been left behind by Japan’s modern development.

  4. 18

    かんこうちとしてはうみのこくりつこうえんとしてゆうめいなせとないかいこくりつこうえん、だいせんおきこくりつこうえん、さんいんかいがんこくりつこうえんがある。

    Tourist attractions include Setonaikai National Park, which is famous as a marine national park, Daisen-Oki National Park, and Sanin Kaigan National Park.

  5. 19

    こくりつこうえんのいちぶであるみやじまはにほんさんけいのひとつとしてゆうめいである。

    Miyajima, which is part of the national park, is famous as one of the Three Scenic Places of Japan.

  6. 20

    そのほか、こうかいのかみとしてゆうめいなことひらのこんぴらじんじゃ、にほんでいちばんふるいじんじゃのひとつであるいづもたいしゃ、いわくにのきんたいきょうなどもゆうめいである。

    Also famous are the Kompira Shrine at Kotohira, known for its god of seafarers; Izumo Taisha, one of the oldest shrines in Japan; and the Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni.

県
prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
など
and so forth, etc.
地帯
zone
製鉄、
iron manufacture
肥料、
fertilizer
機械
machine
製作
manufacture
綿
cotton
織物
fabric
スフ、
staple fiber, rayon staple
農業
agriculture
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
見える。
to be visible, can see (v.i.)
海
sea, ocean
海岸
coast, shore
一部
a copy
宮島
P.N.
一
one
航海
navigation
神
god
神社、
shrine
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
橋
bridge

Ancient regions and cultural links · Questions 1 of 3

Ancient centers and three regions

*中国地方に 早くから 文化も 開け、交通が 盛んであり、街道も 港も 発達した 理由は 何ですか* asks why culture, transportation, roads, and ports developed early in Chugoku.

An answer says Chugoku connected northern Kyushu and the Kinki region, the two centers of ancient culture.

Other answers name three regions and place Setouchi, Sanin, and southern Shikoku around their mountain ranges.

  1. 21

    ちゅうごく、しこくちほう

    The Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

  2. 22

    なつはむしあつく、

    Summers are hot and humid,

  3. 23

    かいじょうこうつうのべんりな

    With convenient sea transportation.

  4. 24

    せとないかい

    The Seto Inland Sea.

  5. 25

    にほんのふるいぶんかのふたつのちゅうしんであったのは、どのちほうですか。

    Which regions were the two centers of Japan’s ancient culture?

  6. 26

    ちゅうごくちほうにはやくからぶんかもひらけ、こうつうがさかんであり、かいどうもみなともはったつしたりゆうはなんですか。

    Why did culture develop early in the Chugoku region, transportation flourish, and roads and ports become well developed?

  7. 27

    ちゅうごくとしこくをぶんかやきこうをちゅうしんにわけてみると、いくつになりますか。

    If Chugoku and Shikoku are divided according to culture and climate, how many regions do they form?

  8. 28

    それはどこですか。

    Where are they?

中国、
China
海上
on the sea; over the sea
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
理由
reason
ます
trout

Climate, rushes and salt · Questions 2 of 3

Climate and industry

*瀬戸内の 産業について 言ってください* means "Please describe the industries of Setouchi."

An answer names rush cultivation, fruit growing, salt production, and coastal industry. Rush cultivation is especially active in Hiroshima and Okayama.

Setouchi has little winter rain and mild weather. Sanin has winter snow and rain. Southern Shikoku has mild winters and rainy summers.

  1. 29

    せとうちのきこうはどんなですか。

    What is the climate of Setouchi like?

  2. 30

    さんいんはどうですか。

    What about Sanin?

  3. 31

    みなみしこくはどうですか。

    What about southern Shikoku?

  4. 32

    せとうちのさんぎょうについていってください。

    Please tell me about the industries of Setouchi.

  5. 33

    いぐさでなにをつくりますか。

    What is made from rushes?

  6. 34

    いぐさのさいばいはどこがさかんですか。

    Where does rush cultivation flourish?

  7. 35

    せいえんはどこがさかんですか。

    Where does salt production flourish?

  8. 36

    しものせき、おのだ、うべなどはどんなところですか。

    What kind of places are Shimonoseki, Onoda, and Ube?

どんな
what kind of; what sort of
つい
just; only
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
所
address, place

Textiles, landmarks and sacred sites · Questions 3 of 3

Textiles, parks, and shrines

*観光地として 有名な 所は、どこですか* means "Which places are famous as tourist attractions?"

An answer names the three national parks. Miyajima is one of Japan's Three Scenic Places.

Kotohira has Kompira Shrine. Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest shrines.

The industry answer names cotton weaving, staple fiber, and rayon in Okayama and Kurashiki.

  1. 37

    おかやまし、くらしきなどはなにがさかんですか。

    What industries flourish in Okayama City, Kurashiki, and other places?

  2. 38

    さんいんちほうはどんなところですか。

    What kind of place is the Sanin region?

  3. 39

    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 attractions?

  4. 40

    みやじまはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is Miyajima famous for?

  5. 41

    ことひらはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is Kotohira famous for?

  6. 42

    このちほうでにほんいちのふるいじんじゃのひとつはなんですか。

    What is one of the oldest shrines in Japan located in this region?

神社
shrine

Landscape and climate words · Word list 1 of 2

Land and weather

These words describe the landscape and climate of Chugoku and Shikoku. *山脈* means "mountain range."

*うららか* means "beautiful" or "bright." *曇天* means "cloudy sky."

  1. 43

    むすぶ

    to tie; to bind

  2. 44

    ろうか

    passage; corridor

  3. 45

    かいどう

    highway

  4. 46

    さんみゃく

    mountain range

  5. 47

    みなみがわ

    south side

  6. 48

    うららか

    beautiful; bright

  7. 49

    ねぐるしい

    difficult to sleep

  8. 50

    どんてん

    cloudy sky

  9. 51

    どうように

    similarly; in the same way

  10. 52

    おんだん

    warm

  11. 53

    いぐさ

    rush

同様に
similarly; in the same way

Manufacturing and navigation words · Word list 2 of 2

Industry and travel by sea

These words cover manufacturing, industry, and navigation. *製塩* means "salt manufacture," and *繊維工業* means "fiber industry."

*航海* means "navigation."

  1. 54

    たたみおもて

    matting; tatami facing

  2. 55

    せいえん

    salt manufacture

  3. 56

    かいじょうこうつう

    ocean traffic; ocean transportation

  4. 57

    ひりょう

    fertilizer

  5. 58

    せいさく

    manufacture

  6. 59

    せんいこうぎょう

    fiber industry

  7. 60

    みるべきもの

    things worthy of notice

  8. 61

    きんだいてき

    modern

  9. 62

    とりのこす

    to leave behind

  10. 63

    こうかい

    navigation

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Make conversation with your classmates on the following topics.

(1) The climate of Chuugoku and Shikoku.

(2) Industry in the Inland Sea region.

(3) Industry in the San-in area.

(4) Sightseeing spots in this region.

2 Exercise:

a 次の 文章を 日本語に 訳してください。

(1) The summer is humid and there are times when one cannot sleep well.

(2) The San-in area is left behind in the march of the modern development of Japan.

(3) The growing of the mandarin orange is done all over Inland Sea in the Seto region.

b Match the names in the Column (A) with those in the Column (B) by inserting the letter a, b, etc., in the proper spaces provided.

1 灘 （ ）

2 奈良 （ ）

3 京都 （ ）

4 天の橋立 （ ）

5 紀伊半島 （ ）

6 宇治 （ ）

7 大阪 （ ）

8 英虞湾 （ ）

9 神戸 （ ）

10 琵琶湖 （ ）

a 真珠養殖

b 吉野熊野国立公園

c 茶

d 日本最大

e 日本酒

f 牛肉

g 友禅染

h 筆

i 商業都市

j 日本三景
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,
海上交通
ocean traffic; ocean transportation
肥料
fertilizer
繊維工業
fiber industry
見るべきもの
things worthy of notice
近代的
modern
取り残す
to leave behind

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.