Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 138

Lesson 140

Narration and the written language

77 lines

Choosing the prime minister · Narration 1 of 2

The Cabinet and its leader

*内閣総理大臣は国会議員の中から国会の議決で指名される* means "The Prime Minister is designated by a resolution of the Diet from among the members of the Diet."

The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and the other Ministers of State. The Prime Minister chooses those other ministers.

A majority of the ministers must come from the Diet.

Responsibility to the Diet

*内閣は国会に対して連帯して責任をおう* means "The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet."

Kanji: 臣

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

Kanji: 党

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

Kanji: 持

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

Kanji: 相

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

  1. 1

    ないかくはくにのぎょうせいをうけもつきかんである。

    The Cabinet is the organ responsible for the administration of the country.

    内閣Cabinet
    はtopic
    国country
    のof
    行政administration
    をobject
    うけもつis responsible for
    機関organ
    でas
    ある。is
  2. 2

    ないかくはないかくそうりだいじん（ふつうしゅしょうとよばれる）とそのたのこくむだいじんからなっている。

    The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister (usually called the premier) and the other Ministers of State.

  3. 3

    ないかくそうりだいじんはこっかいぎいんのなかからこっかいのぎけつでしめいされる。

    The Prime Minister is designated by a resolution of the Diet from among the members of the Diet.

  4. 4

    じっさいにはかくせいとうがじぶんのとうのだいひょうしゃや、またはしじするせいとうからこうほしゃをだしてたすうけつできめるのである。

    In practice, each political party puts forward a candidate from among its own representatives or from a party it supports, and the choice is made by majority vote.

  5. 5

    ほかのこくむだいじんはないかくそうりだいじんがじぶんでえらぶのである。

    The Prime Minister himself chooses the other Ministers of State.

  6. 6

    しかし、そのかはんすうはこっかいのぎいんのなかからえらばれることになっている。

    However, a majority of them must be chosen from among the members of the Diet.

  7. 7

    ないかくはこっかいにたいしてれんたいしてせきにんをおう。

    The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet.

1 NAIKAKU (Executive)
Japan has adopted a parliamentary system of government, under which the executive and the legislative branches are not as independent of each other as under the United States governmental system. The Prime Minister is elected by the Diet (legislature) from among its membership. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and usually twelve to sixteen Ministers of State appointed by the Prime Minister. More than one-half of the cabinet Ministers must be selected from the Diet membership.
The power of the Prime Minister has been greatly increased under the new Constitution. For example, he may now appoint and remove Ministers of State as he chooses.
The Prime Minister, representing the Cabinet, submits bills, reports to the Diet on national and foreign affairs and exercises control and supervision over the various administrative branches.
Usually a cabinet Minister heads a government department such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, Education, Agriculture, International Trade and Industry or one or more of such agencies as the Atomic Energy Commission and the Economic Planning Board.
In the event of a vote of non-confidence by the House of Representatives, the following courses of action may be taken: The Prime Minister and his Cabinet may resign at once, in which case the Diet elects a new Prime Minister; the Prime Minister may dissolve the House of Representatives and call for a national election, in which case the Prime Minister and his Cabinet must resign as soon as a new House is elected and convenes.
Hirofumi Ito formed the first Japanese Cabinet in 1885. Prime Minister Ikeda’s third Cabinet is the 61st in Japan’s parliamentary history. Since the adoption of the new Constitution, there have been fifteen cabinets.
内閣
cabinet
は
leaves
国
country, nation
の
See Grammar Notes
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
うけもつ
be in charge; take charge
機関
agency; organ; machine
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
ある。
certain, some
首相
prime minister
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
れる）
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
いる。
to need (See Gram. Notes)
国会
Diet
議員
members of the Diet
議決
decision; resolution
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
自分
self
党
party
者
person
や、
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
えらぶ
to select, choose
しかし、
however, but
半数
half the number
し
city
責任
responsibility

No-confidence votes and dissolution · Narration 2 of 2

Resignation or dissolution

*十日以内に内閣は総辞職しなければならない* means "The Cabinet must resign as a whole within ten days."

The Cabinet may instead dissolve the House to put the matter to public opinion. A general election then shows which policies receive support.

Each minister's work

*法務大臣は法務省* pairs "the Minister of Justice" with "the Ministry of Justice."

Each minister handles the affairs of the corresponding ministry.

Kanji: 可

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

Kanji: 辞

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

Kanji: 解

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

  1. 8

    したがって、しゅうぎいんがないかくにたいしてふしんにんあんをかけつしたときには、とおかいないにないかくはそうじしょくしなければならない。

    Therefore, when the House of Representatives passes a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, the Cabinet must resign as a whole within ten days.

  2. 9

    しかし、ないかくはこれをせろんにとうためにしゅうぎいんをかいさんすることもできるのである。

    However, the Cabinet may also dissolve the House of Representatives in order to put the matter to public opinion.

  3. 10

    そしてせいふをつくっているよとうのほうしんがしじされるか、それともないかくをしんにんしないやとうのほうしんがしじされるかは、このかいさんにつづいておこなわれるそうせんきょによってあきらかになるのである。

    Then, whether the policies of the ruling party that forms the government are supported, or the policies of the opposition parties that do not have confidence in the Cabinet are supported, is made clear by the general election held following this dissolution.

  4. 11

    ないかくのかくりょうはそうりだいじんをはじめとして、

    The members of the Cabinet include the Prime Minister,

  5. 12

    それからすうめいのこくむだいじんとからなっている。

    and several Ministers of State.

  6. 13

    これらのだいじんはそれぞれの（ほうむだいじんはほうむしょうなど）しょうのじむをとる。

    Each of these ministers handles the affairs of the corresponding ministry (the Minister of Justice handles the Ministry of Justice, for example).

時
time
は、
leaves
十
ten
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
世論
public opinion
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
出来る
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
与党
the party in power; friendly party
方針
policy
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
か、
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
野党
party out of power; party opposition
閣僚
cabinet ministers
はじめ
beginning
数
number
名
name
それぞれ
respectively
省
ministry
など）
and so forth, etc.
とる。
to take (v.t.)

Cabinet ministers and portfolios · Questions 1 of 3

The Cabinet portfolios

The Cabinet includes ministers responsible for major areas of government.

*法務大臣* means "Minister of Justice," and *外務大臣* means "Minister for Foreign Affairs."

The other portfolios cover finance, education, welfare, agriculture, trade, and transportation.

Kanji: 文

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

  1. 14

    「ないかく」

    The Cabinet

  2. 15

    ほうむだいじん、

    Minister of Justice,

  3. 16

    がいむだいじん、

    Minister for Foreign Affairs,

  4. 17

    おおくらだいじん、

    Minister of Finance,

  5. 18

    もんぶだいじん、

    Minister of Education,

  6. 19

    こうせいだいじん、

    Minister of Health and Welfare,

  7. 20

    のうりんだいじん、

    Minister of Agriculture and Forestry,

  8. 21

    つうさんだいじん、

    Minister of International Trade and Industry,

  9. 22

    うんゆだいじん、

    Minister of Transportation,

「内閣」
cabinet

Ministers and Cabinet selection · Questions 2 of 3

Who chooses the ministers

The questions ask what the Cabinet is, who belongs to it, and how its members are chosen.

*他の国務大臣はだれがえらびますか* means "Who chooses the other Ministers of State?"

An answer names the Prime Minister as the person who chooses them.

Kanji: 働

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

Kanji: 治

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

  1. 23

    ゆうせいだいじん、

    Minister of Posts and Telecommunications,

  2. 24

    ろうどうだいじん、

    Minister of Labor,

  3. 25

    けんせつだいじん、

    Minister of Construction,

  4. 26

    じちだいじん、

    Minister of Home Affairs,

  5. 27

    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.

  6. 28

    ないかくはどんなきかんですか。

    What kind of organ is the Cabinet?

  7. 29

    ないかくはなにからなっていますか。

    What does the Cabinet consist of?

  8. 30

    ないかくそうりだいじんはどうしてえらばれますか。

    How is the Prime Minister chosen?

  9. 31

    ほかのこくむだいじんはだれがえらびますか。

    Who chooses the other Ministers of State?

ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
い
stomach
ます
trout
だれ
who?

Cabinet responsibility and opposition · Questions 3 of 3

Responsibility and opposition

The questions ask who bears responsibility and what follows a no-confidence motion.

*内閣はどの機関に対して責任をおいますか* means "To which organ is the Cabinet responsible?"

An answer names the Diet. Other answers distinguish the party forming the government from a party that does not support the Cabinet.

  1. 32

    こくむだいじんのかはんすうはどこからえらばれることになっていますか。

    From where must a majority of the Ministers of State be chosen?

  2. 33

    ないかくはどのきかんにたいしてせきにんをおいますか。

    To which organ is the Cabinet responsible?

  3. 34

    だれがせきにんをおいますか。

    Who bears the responsibility?

  4. 35

    しゅうぎいんがないかくにたいしてふしんにんあんをかけつしたときにはどうなりますか。

    What happens when the House of Representatives passes a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet?

  5. 36

    このばあいないかくはしゅうぎいんをかいさんすることができますか。

    In this case, can the Cabinet dissolve the House of Representatives?

  6. 37

    せいふをつくっているとうをなんといいますか。

    What do you call the party that forms the government?

  7. 38

    ないかくをしじしないとうをなんといいますか。

    What do you call a party that does not support the Cabinet?

  8. 39

    ないかくのかくりょうはどんなだいじんからなっていますか。

    What ministers make up the Cabinet?

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
おい
nephew

Cabinet, ministers and political parties · Word list 1 of 4

The Cabinet and its leaders

These words name the Cabinet, its ministers, political parties, and official acts.

*内閣* means "cabinet." Both *内閣総理大臣* and *首相* mean "prime minister."

  1. 40

    ないかく

    cabinet

  2. 41

    うけもつ

    be in charge; take charge

  3. 42

    きかん

    agency; organ; machine

  4. 43

    ないかくそうりだいじん

    prime minister

  5. 44

    しゅしょう

    prime minister

  6. 45

    こくむだいじん

    ministers of state

  7. 46

    ぎけつ

    decision; resolution

  8. 47

    しめいする

    nominate; designate

  9. 48

    しょう

    ministry

  10. 49

    とう

    party

内閣総理大臣
prime minister
国務大臣
ministers of state
指名する
nominate; designate

Candidates, responsibility and public opinion · Word list 2 of 4

Responsibility and public judgment

These words cover candidates, majorities, collective responsibility, resignation, and public opinion.

*候補者* means "candidate," *連帯して* means "collectively," and *世論* means "public opinion."

  1. 50

    だいひょうしゃ

    representative

  2. 51

    すうめいの

    several

  3. 52

    こうほしゃ

    candidate

  4. 53

    かはんすう

    majority

  5. 54

    れんたいして

    collectively

  6. 55

    せきにんをおう

    be responsible

  7. 56

    ふしんにんあん

    non-confidence vote

  8. 57

    そうじしょくする

    resign en masse

  9. 58

    せろん

    public opinion

  10. 59

    --にとう

    appeal to ----

代表者
representative
数名の
several
候補者
candidate
過半数
majority
連帯して
collectively
責任をおう
be responsible
不信任案
non-confidence vote
総辞職する
resign en masse
--に問う
appeal to ----

Political parties and senior ministers · Word list 3 of 4

Parties and senior ministers

These words name governing and opposition parties, elections, Cabinet members, and senior portfolios.

*与党* means "the party in power," while *野党* means "party out of power."

*閣僚* means "cabinet ministers." The other entries name ministers for justice, foreign affairs, finance, and education.

  1. 60

    よとう

    the party in power; friendly party

  2. 61

    ほうしん

    policy

  3. 62

    しんにんする

    confide in; trust

  4. 63

    やとう

    party out of power; party opposition

  5. 64

    そうせんきょ

    general election

  6. 65

    かくりょう

    cabinet ministers

  7. 66

    ほうむだいじん

    Minister of Justice

  8. 67

    がいむだいじん

    Minister of Foreign Affairs

  9. 68

    おおくらだいじん

    Minister of Finance

  10. 69

    もんぶだいじん

    Minister of Education

信任する
confide in; trust
総選挙
general election
法務大臣
Minister of Justice
外務大臣
Minister of Foreign Affairs
大蔵大臣
Minister of Finance
文部大臣
Minister of Education

Ministers for public services · Word list 4 of 4

Ministers for public services

These words name ministers responsible for major public services and areas of government.

*厚生大臣* means "Minister of Welfare," *運輸大臣* means "Minister of Transportation," and *労働大臣* means "Minister of Labor."

Each title ends with *大臣*, the word shared by all eight ministerial offices in this group.

  1. 70

    こうせいだいじん

    Minister of Welfare

  2. 71

    のうりんだいじん

    Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

  3. 72

    つうさんだいじん

    Minister of International Trade and Industry

  4. 73

    うんゆだいじん

    Minister of Transportation

  5. 74

    ゆうせいだいじん

    Minister of Postal Services

  6. 75

    ろうどうだいじん

    Minister of Labor

  7. 76

    けんせつだいじん

    Minister of Construction

  8. 77

    じちだいじん

    Minister of Autonomy

Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Talk about the following topics with your classmates in Japanese,

(1) The Japanese Cabinet

(2) The Cabinet members

(3) The Cabinet in relation to the Diet

2 Exercise:

a Interpretation Exercise

(1) How is the Prime Minister selected?

(1) 内閣総理大臣は国会議員の中から国会の議決で指名されるのです。

(2) How are the Ministers of State selected?

(2) 内閣総理大臣が自分で、国務大臣の過半数を国会の議員の中からえらぶのです。

(3) Is the Cabinet responsible for the Diet?

(3) はい、内閣は国会に対して連帯して責任をおいます。

(4) When the House of Representatives passes a vote of non-confidence against the cabinet, what must the Cabinet do?

(4) 十日以内に内閣は総辞職するか、衆議院を解散するかしなければなりません。

(5) What is the party that makes up the Cabinet called?

(5) それは与党と呼ばれています。
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.
厚生大臣
Minister of Welfare
農林大臣
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
通産大臣
Minister of International Trade and Industry
運輸大臣
Minister of Transportation
郵政大臣
Minister of Postal Services
労働大臣
Minister of Labor
建設大臣
Minister of Construction
自治大臣
Minister of Autonomy

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.