Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 73

Lesson 75

Reading Japan

139 lines

Making limited land productive · Dialogue 1 of 4

More food from limited land

Two speakers discuss the problem facing Japanese farmers. *日本の 百しょうが かぎられた 土地で 食糧を じゅう分に 作る事は むずかしい事ですね* means "It is difficult for Japanese farmers to produce enough food on limited land, isn't it?"

The need to use limited land helped agricultural technology develop. *かぎられた 土地を もっとも ゆうこうに 利用する事です* means "I mean making the most effective use of the limited land."

Technology beyond Japan

The conversation then considers whether these methods can help American farming. *その ぎじゅつは 米国でも 役に立つと 思いますか* means "Do you think that technology would also be useful in the United States?"

Kanji:

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

Kanji: 米

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

Kanji: 糧

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

  1. 1

    「のうぎょう」(に)

    Agriculture (2)

    「農業」agriculture
    (二)two
  2. 2

    にほんのひゃくしょうがかぎられたとちでしょくりょうをじゅうぶんにつくることはむずかしいことですね。

    It is difficult for Japanese farmers to produce enough food on limited land, isn't it?

  3. 3

    そう。それがぎじゅつのはったつをたすけたのです。

    Yes. That is what helped technology develop.

  4. 4

    というと。

    What do you mean?

  5. 5

    かぎられたとちをもっともゆうこうにりようすることです。

    I mean making the most effective use of the limited land.

  6. 6

    で、そのぎじゅつはべいこくでもやくにたつとおもいますか。

    So, do you think that technology would also be useful in the United States?

NO TOORI

”as, "like"

Following noun plus NO and also following basic

form of either past or non-past verbs NO TOCH^I or TOCRI

expresses an idea of "as", "like".

of YOO (See Lesson 39).

TOORI has a resemblance

However, YOO means "way" or

“manner” with emphasis on resemblance; whereas, TOORI means

’’way" or "manner" in the sense of accordance or agreement.

Compare:

YAKUSOKU NO YOO DRSTT.

t

"It»s like (i.e. resembles) a promise."

i

YAKUSOKU NO TOORI DESU.

I

"It’s as (someone) promised."

I

"It’s in accordance with a promise."

I

TOCRI usually occurs without a particle following it when

it modifies an inflected word or phrase, although at times

it is followed by a particle NI.

When TOORI is used as a

modifier of nouns, a particle NO follows it.

I.

Explanatory Notes, continued.

Examples:

HON NO TOORI DESU.

"It’s in accordance with a book.”

KIITA TOORI DESU.

”It»s as you have heard.”

MITA TOORI DESU.

”It«s as you have seen.”

KOJO TOOR I DESU.

”It»s just like this.”
-----IPPOO DESU

“keeps on-----”, “continues to---- ”

Following a basic form (dictionary form) of verbs,

IPPOO DESU expresses an idea of “keeps on doing such-and-

such” or “continues to do such-and-such”.

Examples;

ZOOKA SURU IPPOO DESU.

“It keeps on increasing.”

NIHONGO WA MUZUKASHIKU NARU IPPOO DESU.

“Japanese continues to become difficult.”

Explanatory Notes, continued,

I.

BYOOKI GA WARUKU NARU IPPOO DESU.

I

“Sickness keeps on getting worse,”

I

JINKOO GA FUERU IPPOO DESU.

i

“Population continues to increase,”

ANO SEITO WA NIPPONGO GA JOOZU NI NARU IPPOO

DESU,

“That student keeps on becoming better in

Japanese

3,

Notes on

’’and”, ”in addition to”

-NI — NI

. Following nominals (nouns and pronouns) NI expresses

I

an idea of ’’and” or ”in addition to”.

This NI can be

used two or more in a sentence.

Examples;

I

KOME NT MUGI

I

“There are wheat and potatoes in addition to

■

rice,”

IMO GA ARIMASU,

I,

Explanatory Notes, continued,

NIHONGO NIWA HIRAGANA NI KATAKANA NI, KANJI GA

ARIMASU.

“In Japanese there are HIRAGANA, KATAKANA, and

KANJI.”
Mugi is an all inclusive term and it includes

OOMUGI (barley), KOMUGI (wheat), and EMBAKU (oats).

However, when Japanese say Mugi, they usually mean KOMUGI.
KOME, GOH^,

INE is a rice plant.

KOME is uncooked rice.

GOHAN is boiled rice and at times it means a

meal.

For example, if you say GOHAN DESU

YO, it means

“Breakfast (Dinner, Supper) is ready,” or GOHAN O

TABEMASHITA means “I had a meal.”

I.
Explanatory Notes, continued.

RYOO is a suffix and it means quantity, amount,

volume and in many occasions it is attached to other nouns

to form compound nouns.

For examples:
KOOTSUU RYOO

"traffic volume"

YUNYUURYOQ

"amount of import"

SEISAN RYOO

"amount of production"

W

There are three different tons; namely, the

long ton, the short ton, and the metric ton.

is used in England and it is 2,240 pounds.

The long ton

The short ton

is used in the United States and is 2,000 pounds,

uses the metric ton which is 2,205 pounds.

ton is called KIRO-TON in Japanese,

japan

This metric
「農業」
agriculture
(二)
two
の
See Grammar Notes
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
土地
land, lot
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
食糧
food
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
分
minute
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
作る
to raise, to make
は
leaves
むずかしい
difficult
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
そう。
numerical counter for ships
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
言う
to say
ます
trout
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)

Crops and farming scale · Dialogue 2 of 4

Small farms and their crops

Japan's small farms produce several crops, but their methods do not transfer unchanged to large-scale American agriculture.

*日本の 農業は きぼが小さいので 米国のような 大きぼの 農業には てきしないでしょう* means "Since Japanese agriculture is small in scale, it probably would not suit large-scale American agriculture."

*米に 麦に さつまいも など 色々あります* lists rice, wheat, and sweet potatoes. *麦* includes barley, wheat, and oats, and usually means "wheat".

Rice at each stage

The crop list includes *米*. Japanese uses separate words for rice at different stages: *INE* is "the rice plant", and *KOME* is "uncooked rice".

*GOHAN* is "boiled rice" and can also mean "a meal". *GOHAN DESU YO* means "the meal is ready".

Kanji: 産, 麦, 輸

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

  1. 7

    あるていどまではそのままべいこくのうぎょうにつかえるとおもいます。

    I think it could be used as it is in American agriculture to a certain extent.

  2. 8

    しかし、にほんののうぎょうはきぼがちいさいのでべいこくのようなだいきぼののうぎょうにはてきしないでしょう。

    However, since Japanese agriculture is small in scale, it probably would not be suitable for large-scale agriculture like that in the United States.

  3. 9

    まあ、だいきぼののうぎょうにはてきしないですね。

    Well, it would not be suitable for large-scale agriculture.

  4. 10

    にほんののうさんぶつにはどんなのがありますか。

    What kinds of agricultural products does Japan have?

  5. 11

    こめにむぎにさつまいもなどいろいろあります。くだもの、ちゃなどのさいばいもさかんです。

    There are various products, such as rice, wheat, and sweet potatoes. Fruit, tea, and the like are also widely cultivated.

  6. 12

    にほんではもうこめなどはゆにゅうしなくてもよいとききましたが。

    I heard that Japan no longer has to import rice and such.

ある
certain, some
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
農業
agriculture
ます。
trout
しかし、
however, but
き
counter for airplanes (See Gram. Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
でしょう。
probably (See Gram. Notes)
まあ、
Well! Oh, my!
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
麦
wheat, barley, oats (See Cult. Notes)
など
and so forth, etc.
茶
tea
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)

Rice and wheat imports · Dialogue 3 of 4

Wheat imports and their amount

*近年 小麦の 輸入が ひじょうに ぞうかしています* means "In recent years, wheat imports have increased greatly."

*小麦の 輸入量は 年々 二千五百万トンを こえています* gives the yearly amount. *量* means "quantity", "amount", or "volume" and can end a compound noun.

*輸入量* is "amount of import".

The ton used in Japan

*二千五百万トン* means "twenty-five million tons". Japan uses the metric ton, which is 2,205 pounds.

Kanji: 足

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

Kanji: 量

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

  1. 13

    こめのゆにゅうはほとんどありませんが、それでしょくりょうがたりているというわけじゃないんです。

    There are hardly any rice imports, but that does not mean there is enough food.

  2. 14

    それでは、こめいがいのしょくりょうひんをゆにゅうしているんですね。

    Then Japan imports food other than rice, doesn't it?

  3. 15

    そう。きんねんむぎのゆにゅうがひじょうにぞうかしています。

    Yes. In recent years, wheat imports have increased greatly.

  4. 16

    そうですか。

    Is that so?

  5. 17

    ええ。むぎのゆにゅうりょうはねんねんにせんごひゃくまんトンをこえています。

    Yes. The amount of wheat imported exceeds twenty-five million tons each year.

  6. 18

    それではこめのゆにゅうがげんしょうして、むぎのゆにゅうがぞうかしたわけですね。

    So rice imports decreased, and wheat imports increased.

ほとんど
almost (See Gram. Notes)
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
近年
recent years
小麦
wheat
か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ええ。
Yes
量
amount (See Cult. Notes)
年々
yearly
二千
2,000
五百
500
トン
ton (See Cult. Notes

Why food imports continue · Dialogue 4 of 4

Why food imports continue

*食料品の 輸入は ずっと つづきますね* means "Then food imports will continue for a long time, won't they?"

Farmland cannot increase, while the population keeps increasing. The speakers also do not expect production to increase suddenly.

Agreement with the conclusion

*その通りです* means "That is right." Here *通り* confirms agreement with the other speaker.

Kanji: 方

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

  1. 19

    そのとおりです。

    That is right.

  2. 20

    それではしょくりょうひんのゆにゅうはずっとつづきますね。

    Then food imports will continue for a long time, won't they?

  3. 21

    のうぎょうようちのぞうかもかんがえられませんし、じんこうもぞうかするいっぽうですから。

    Yes, because an increase in farmland is out of the question, while the population keeps increasing.

  4. 22

    そうですね。

    That is true.

  5. 23

    それかといって、せいさんがきゅうにぞうかするわけもありますまいしね。

    But on the other hand, there is probably no reason to expect production to increase suddenly, either.

通り
street
ずっと
by far; very much
かんがえ
idea, thinking
し、
city
人口
population
から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
生産
production

Doing things as expected · Perception drill

As stated or planned

*あなたが おっしゃった 通り 雨に なりましたね* means "Just as you said, it started raining, didn't it?" *通り* marks accordance with what someone said.

*計画の 通りに やります* means "I will do it according to the plan." A noun takes *の* before *通り*, while a verb stands directly before it.

*思った 通りの 物が 三越に ありましたよ* means "Mitsukoshi had what I had in mind." Here *の* follows *通り* before *物*.

A change that keeps continuing

*日本は 人口が ふえる一方だそうですね* means "I hear Japan's population keeps increasing."

*一方です* follows the dictionary form of a verb. It says that an action or change keeps continuing.

*今から あつくなる 一方です* means "From now on, it will keep getting hotter."

  1. 24

    あのひとのいうとおりです。

    Translation, Grammar Perception Drill, continued.

  2. 25

    けいかくのとおりにやります。

    I will do it according to the plan.

  3. 26

    あなたがおっしゃったとおりあめになりましたね。

    Just as you said, it started raining, didn't it?

  4. 27

    へんなくもがでていたから、あめになるとおもったのです。

    There were some strange clouds, so I thought it would rain.

  5. 28

    きょうもいつものとおりへんなてんきですね。

    The weather is strange today too, as usual, isn't it?

  6. 29

    ええ、いちがつはたいていこんなてんきですよ。

    Yes, January usually has weather like this.

  7. 30

    ぼくはどうしてもことばがおぼえられないので、こまっているんだ。

    I am having trouble because I just cannot learn the words.

  8. 31

    おもったとおりのものがみつこしにありましたよ。

    Mitsukoshi had just what I had in mind.

  9. 32

    そうですか。それはよかったですね。

    Is that so? That was good.

  10. 33

    あのみせはずいぶんこんでいたでしょう。

    That store was very crowded, wasn't it?

  11. 34

    ええ、ほんとうにあなたがおっしゃったとおりでした。さんじゅっぷんぐらいまたされましたよ。

    Yes, it was exactly as you said. I was made to wait for about thirty minutes.

  12. 35

    いまからあつくなるいっぽうです。

    From now on, it will just keep getting hotter.

  13. 36

    スミスさんはにほんごがじょうずになるいっぽうですね。

    Mr. Smith's Japanese keeps getting better, doesn't it?

  14. 37

    ええ、あのひとはよくべんきょうしますからね。

    Yes, because he studies hard.

  15. 38

    ろっかげつぐらいべんきょうすればにほんごもすこしやさしくなるとおもいましたが、むずかしくなるいっぽうですね。

    I thought Japanese would get a little easier if I studied for about six months, but it just keeps getting harder.

  16. 39

    べんきょうはなんでもおなじですよ。ならえばならうほどむずかしくなるものです。

    It is the same with anything you study. The more you learn, the harder it gets.

  17. 40

    にほんはじんこうがふえるいっぽうだそうですね。

    I hear Japan's population keeps increasing.

  18. 41

    そうです。にさんじゅうねんぐらいあとではにほんもじんこうがおおすぎてこまることでしょう。

    That is right. In twenty or thirty years, Japan will probably have trouble because its population is too large.

  19. 42

    やまださんのびょうきはわるくなるいっぽうだそうですね。

    I hear Mr. Yamada's illness keeps getting worse.

  20. 43

    ええ、おいしゃさんのはなしによると、あのひとのびょうきはなおらないそうですから、もうながくないのでしょう。

    Yes, according to the doctor, his illness cannot be cured, so he probably does not have long to live.

  21. 44

    このごろはひがながくなるいっぽうですね。

    The days have just been getting longer lately, haven't they?

  22. 45

    ええ、ろくがつのおわりごろまではひがながくなるいっぽうです。

    Yes, the days will keep getting longer until around the end of June.

  23. 46

    せんせいからいわれたとおりにべんきょうしてみたまえ。そうすればきっとおぼえられるとおもうよ。

    Try studying just as the teacher told you. If you do that, I am sure you will be able to learn it.

人
people
雨
rain
雲
cloud
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
今日
today
いつ
when?
天気
weather
ええ、
Yes
一
one
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
僕
I (see notes)
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
だ。
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
店
store, shop
ずい分
very much
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
三十
30
ぐらい
about
上手
skillful, fluent (See Grammar Notes)
よく
well, skillfully
六
six
少し
little (quantity)
ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
もの
things (tangible)
ふえる
to increase (v.i.)
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
すぎ
past, after
医者
medical doctor
話
story, talk
まえ。
front
きっと
surely
思う
to think

Following words and plans · Pattern 1 1 of 3

As promised or stated

*約束の 通り 七時に 参りました* means "I came at seven as promised." The promise appears before *の 通り*.

*私の 言う 通りに すれば 間違いは ありません* means "If you do as I say, you will not make a mistake." The verb stands directly before *通りに*.

  1. 47

    やくそくのとおりしちじにまいりました。

    I came at seven as promised.

  2. 48

    わたくしのいうとおりにすればまちがいはありません。

    If you do as I say, you will not make a mistake.

  3. 49

    いわれたとおりにします。

    I will do as I was told.

  4. 50

    ぼくのいったとおりだ。

    It is just as I said.

  5. 51

    わたくしのいうとおりにすればまちがいはない。

    If you do as I say, you will not make a mistake.

  6. 52

    ほんとうにそのとおりです。

    That is really so.

  7. 53

    あなたからきいたとおりにほんはいいところです。

    Just as I heard from you, Japan is a nice place.

  8. 54

    ほんのとおりにかきたまえ。

    Write it just as it is in the book.

  9. 55

    やくそくのとおりごじにまいりました。

    I came at five as promised.

七
seven
時
time
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
所
address, place
五
five

Matching descriptions and directions · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Directions that produce a result

*あなたに 教えて もらった通り 行ったので、すぐ わかりました* means "I went the way you told me, so I found it right away."

The action follows the directions expressed by the past verb before *通り*.

Progress according to plan

*計画の 通りに じゅんびが すすんでいるそうです* means "I hear the preparations are proceeding according to plan." The noun pattern *の 通りに* marks agreement with the plan.

  1. 56

    ヨセミテのけしきはこのえのとおり、すばらしいものです。

    The scenery in Yosemite is as magnificent as it is in this picture.

  2. 57

    スミスさん、あのにほんえいがをみにいきましたか。

    Mr. Smith, did you go to see that Japanese movie?

  3. 58

    ええ、いきました。あなたがおっしゃったとおり、とてもいいえいがでした。

    Yes, I did. Just as you said, it was a very good movie.

  4. 59

    パーカーさんのいえがすぐわかりましたか。

    Did you find Mr. Parker's house right away?

  5. 60

    ええ、あなたにおしえてもらったとおりいったので、すぐわかりました。

    Yes, I went the way you told me, so I found it right away.

  6. 61

    ミラーさん、にっこうへあそびにいきましたか。

    Mr. Miller, did you go to Nikko for pleasure?

  7. 62

    ええ、いきましたよ。にほんごのほんにかいてあったとおりです。ほんとうにきれいなところですね。

    Yes, I went. It was just as it said in the Japanese book. It really is a beautiful place, isn’t it?

  8. 63

    せんきゅうひゃくろくじゅうよねんのオリンピックはにほんであるのですが、オリンピックのじゅんびはどうですか。

    The 1964 Olympics will be held in Japan, but how are the preparations for the Olympics going?

  9. 64

    けいかくのとおりにじゅんびがすすんでいるそうです。

    I hear the preparations are proceeding according to plan.

けしき
scenery
通り、
street
すばらしい
splendid, great, grand
映画
movie
とても
very, indeed
家
house, home
すぐ
right away, immediately
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
千
1,000
九百
900
六十
60
四
four
じゅんび
preparation

Confirming things went as expected · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Exactly as stated

*本とうに その通りです* means "That is exactly right." Here *その通り* confirms that the preceding description matches the fact.

*約束の 時間に 来ましたか* means "Did you come at the agreed time?" An answer with *通り* says that the arrival matched the promise.

  1. 65

    ジョンズさんはよくはたらきますが、よくべんきょうもしますね。

    Mr. Jones works hard, and he studies hard too, doesn’t he?

  2. 66

    ほんとうにそのとおりです。

    That is exactly right.

  3. 67

    にっこうはきれいですか。（えいがでみました）

    Is Nikko beautiful? (I saw it in a movie.)

  4. 68

    いいてんきになりましたか。（あなたがいいました）

    Did the weather turn fine? (You said it would.)

  5. 69

    あめになりましたか。（ラジオでききました）

    Did it start raining? (I heard it on the radio.)

  6. 70

    オリンピックのじゅんびはどうですか。（けいかく）

    How are the preparations for the Olympics going? (According to plan.)

  7. 71

    やくそくのじかんにきましたか。（やくそくしました）

    Did you come at the agreed time? (As you promised.)

（映画
movie
（ラジオ
radio
時間
hour, time

Continuing changes over time · Pattern 2 1 of 2

Change that continues

*日本の人口は ぞうかする 一方です* means "Japan's population keeps on increasing." The dictionary form *ぞうかする* comes before *一方です*.

The same pattern presents many continuing changes. *輸入量が ぞうかする一方です* means "The volume of imports keeps on increasing."

Different directions

The direction can be growth or decline. *品物は 高くなる一方です* says goods keep getting more expensive. *日が みじかくなる一方です* says the days keep getting shorter.

  1. 72

    にほんのじんこうはぞうかするいっぽうです。

    Japan’s population keeps on increasing.

  2. 73

    しなものはたかくなるいっぽうです。

    Goods keep on getting more expensive.

  3. 74

    じんこうはふえるいっぽうです。

    The population keeps on growing.

  4. 75

    びょうにんはわるくなるいっぽうです。

    The patient keeps on getting worse.

  5. 76

    ぼくのじどうしゃはふるくなるいっぽうです。

    My car keeps on getting older.

  6. 77

    ろくがつのおわりごろからひがみじかくなるいっぽうです。

    From around the end of June, the days keep on getting shorter.

  7. 78

    にほんごはむずかしくなるいっぽうです。

    Japanese keeps on getting more difficult.

  8. 79

    うちのこどもはふとるいっぽうです。

    Our child keeps on gaining weight.

  9. 80

    ゆにゅうりょうがぞうかするいっぽうです。

    The volume of imports keeps on increasing.

  10. 81

    にほんはじんこうがふえるいっぽうですから、いまからにさんじゅうねんごにはこまるでしょうね。

    Since Japan’s population keeps on growing, there will probably be problems twenty or thirty years from now.

品物
goods, merchandise
病人
sick person, patient
車
vehicle, car
うち
home, house
ふとる
to become stout (v.i.)
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)

Ongoing growth and change · Pattern 2 2 of 2

From now on

*日本語は これから むずかしくなる一方だよ* means "From now on, Japanese will keep getting harder." *これから* sets the starting period for the continuing change.

*これから クリスマスまで いそがしくなる一方です* sets both ends of the period. The store will keep getting busier until Christmas.

Development that continues

*この町は はってんする一方ですね* means "This town keeps on developing, doesn't it?" The new factories provide the reason for that continuing development.

  1. 82

    そうですね。めんせきはふえないが、じんこうがふえるいっぽうですからね。

    That’s right. The land area does not increase, but the population keeps on growing.

  2. 83

    おこさんはいくつですか。

    How old is your child?

  3. 84

    じゅうさんです。

    Thirteen.

  4. 85

    それではまだおおきくなるいっぽうですね。

    Then your child still has a lot of growing to do.

  5. 86

    せんせい、わたくしはにほんごをもうろっかげつべんきょうしていますが、ちっともやさしくなりません。

    Teacher, I have been studying Japanese for six months now, but it has not gotten any easier at all.

  6. 87

    にほんごはこれからむずかしくなるいっぽうだよ。

    From now on, Japanese will just keep getting harder.

  7. 88

    あなたのおみせはいそがしそうですね。

    Your store looks busy, doesn’t it?

  8. 89

    ええ、すこしいそがしくなりました。これからクリスマスまでいそがしくなるいっぽうです。

    Yes, it has gotten a little busy. From now until Christmas, it will just keep getting busier.

  9. 90

    このまちははってんするいっぽうですね。

    This town keeps on developing, doesn’t it?

  10. 91

    ええ、あたらしいこうじょうがたくさんできましたからね。

    Yes, because many new factories have been built.

めんせき
area, dimension
十
ten
三
three
まだ
yet, still
ちっとも
not even a little (See Gram. Notes)
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
町
town
工場
factory

Japanese crops and farming methods · Questions 1 of 2

Farming methods and products

The passage links limited land to the development of agricultural methods. It says those methods suit small-scale vegetable farming, but not large-scale farming.

*日本の おもな 農産物には どんな物が ありますか* means "What are Japan's principal agricultural products?" An answer names *米、麦、さつまいも、くだ物、茶など*.

  1. 92

    にほんのひゃくしょうにとっていちばんむずかしいことはかぎられたとちでしょくりょうをじゅうぶんつくらなければならないことです。しかし、それがにほんのうぎょうのぎじゅつのはったつをたすけたのです。このぎじゅつはべいこくでもやさいさいばいのしょうきぼののうぎょうにはやくにたつでしょうが、だいきぼののうぎょうにはてきしません。にほんのおもなのうさんぶつには、こめ、むぎ、さつまいも、くだもの、ちゃなどがあります。こめはまえにはがいこくからたくさんゆにゅうしていましたが、こんにちでは、こめのゆにゅうはほとんどありません。

    The most difficult thing for Japanese farmers is having to produce enough food on a limited amount of land. However, this helped Japanese agricultural technology develop. This technology would also be useful in the United States for small-scale farming that grows vegetables, but it is not suited to large-scale farming. Japan’s principal agricultural products include rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, fruit, and tea. A great deal of rice used to be imported from abroad, but today there are almost no rice imports.

  2. 93

    にほんのひゃくしょうにとっていちばんむずかしいことはなんですか。

    What is the most difficult thing for Japanese farmers?

  3. 94

    それはなにをたすけましたか。

    What did that help?

  4. 95

    このぎじゅつはべいこくでもやくにたちますか。

    Is this technology useful in the United States too?

  5. 96

    にほんのおもなのうさんぶつにはどんなものがありますか。

    What are Japan’s principal agricultural products?

  6. 97

    こめはまえにはがいこくからたくさんゆにゅうしていましたか。

    Was a great deal of rice imported from abroad in the past?

  7. 98

    こんにちではどうですか。

    How is it today?

一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
やさい
vegetable
麦、
wheat, barley, oats (See Cult. Notes)
前
before, front

Future food imports · Questions 2 of 2

Reasons for future imports

The questions ask why food imports continue although rice imports have declined. Wheat imports are rising, farmland cannot expand, and population growth continues.

*なぜ 食料品の 輸入が これからも つづきますか* means "Why will food imports continue from now on?" The answer joins the limits on farmland with *人口も ぞうかする 一方ですから*.

  1. 99

    こんにちではしょくりょうがたりているから、こめをゆにゅうしていないのですか。

    Is rice not imported today because there is enough food?

  2. 100

    では、なぜですか。

    Then why not?

  3. 101

    むぎのゆにゅうはどうですか。

    What about wheat imports?

  4. 102

    しょくりょうひんのゆにゅうはこれからどうなりますか。

    What will happen to food imports from now on?

  5. 103

    なぜしょくりょうひんのゆにゅうがこれからもつづきますか。

    Why will food imports continue from now on?

  6. 104

    それで、しょくりょうがたりているというわけじゃないんですが、こめいがいのしょくりょうひんをゆにゅうしているからです。こめのゆにゅうはげんしょうしましたが、きんねんむぎのゆにゅうがひじょうにぞうかしています。にほんはのうぎょうようちのぞうかもかんがえられないし、じんこうもぞうかするいっぽうですから、しょくりょうひんのゆにゅうはこれからずっとつづくことでしょう。

    So it does not mean that there is enough food; it is because food products other than rice are being imported. Rice imports have decreased, but in recent years wheat imports have increased greatly. Since Japan cannot expect an increase in farmland and its population keeps on growing, food imports will probably continue for a long time to come.

なぜ
why?
つづく
to last, continue

Limits, usefulness and scale · Word list 1 of 3

Land, food, and farming scale

This set covers limited land, food, usefulness, cultivation, and farming scale. *食糧* means "food".

*きぼ* means "scale" or "scope", while *大きぼ* means "large scale".

  1. 105

    かぎられた

    limited

  2. 106

    かぎる

    limit (v.t,)

  3. 107

    しょくりょう

    food

  4. 108

    たすける

    aid, help, rescue(Vt)

  5. 109

    やくにたつ

    be useful

  6. 110

    --というと

    I don’t quite understand, what do you mean by that?

  7. 111

    きぼ

    scale, scope

  8. 112

    で

    therefore

  9. 113

    だいきぼ

    large scale

  10. 114

    てきする

    be suited; suit; be becoming (vi)

  11. 115

    さいばい(する)

    cultivation, culture (grow, raise, cultivate (v.t.)

  12. 116

    のうさんぶつ

    agricultural products; farm produce, rice; (See Cult. Note)

かぎられた
limited
かぎる
limit (v.t,)
たすける
aid, help, rescue(Vt)
役に立つ
be useful
--というと
I don’t quite understand, what do you mean by that?
きぼ
scale, scope
大きぼ
large scale
てきする
be suited; suit; be becoming (vi)
さいばい(する)
cultivation, culture (grow, raise, cultivate (v.t.)
農産物
agricultural products; farm produce, rice; (See Cult. Note)

Grains, crops and recent trends · Word list 2 of 3

Crops and recent changes

This set covers grains, crops, recent increases, and amounts. *麦* includes wheat, barley, and oats, while *小麦* means "wheat".

*量* means "amount" and can end a compound noun.

  1. 117

    --に--に

    and (See Note)

  2. 118

    むぎ

    wheat, barley, oats (See Cult. Notes)

  3. 119

    さつまいも

    sweet potatoes-

  4. 120

    ちゃ

    tea

  5. 121

    ゆうこうに

    effectively

  6. 122

    こんにち

    these days; today

  7. 123

    いがい(の)

    other than

  8. 124

    きんねん

    recent years

  9. 125

    こむぎ

    wheat

  10. 126

    ひじょうに

    very much, greatly

  11. 127

    ぞうか(する)

    increase (increase) (vi)

  12. 128

    りょう

    amount (See Cult. Notes)

--に--に
and (See Note)
さつまいも
sweet potatoes-
ゆうこうに
effectively
いがい(の)
other than
ひじょうに
very much, greatly
ぞうか(する)
increase (increase) (vi)

Imports, production and change · Word list 3 of 3

Import amounts and change

This set covers import amounts, annual change, accordance, continuing increase, production, and decrease. *輸入量* means "amount of import".

*ぞうかする一方です* means "keeps on increasing", while *げんしょう* means "reduction".

  1. 129

    ゆにゅうりょう

    amount of import

  2. 130

    ねんねん

    yearly

  3. 131

    トン

    ton (See Cult. Notes

  4. 132

    ---のとおりです

    as”, ”like” (See Gram. Notes)

  5. 133

    ぞうかするいっぽうです

    keeps' on increasing

  6. 134

    ---いっぽう

    keep on (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 135

    それかといって

    but, on the other hand, even then

  8. 136

    せいさん

    production

  9. 137

    ぞうかするわけもありますまい

    there probably is no reason to believe that (it will) increase

  10. 138

    げんしょう(する)

    reduction (to decrease)

  11. 139

    ---いっぽう

    keep on (See Gram. Notes)

Guide for Free Conversation

F,

Guide for Free Conversation,

Topic Titles

a.

Talk about vegetable farming in Japan—farm produce,

what has to be imported, etc.

b.

Compare vegetable farming in Japan and that of the

United States.

Talk about the rice situation in Japan,

Visual Cues

a.

Look at the pictures on Pages 162 to 164

and talk about them.
Homework

J.

Homework

1.

Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary.

2.

Study Grammar Perception Drill.

3.

Study Pattern Practice and do the exercises following

each pattern.

4.

Learn to read and write new Kanji.

5.

Read the Reading Selection and answer the questions

given based on the Reading Selection.

6.

Read the Explanatory Notes.

7.

Read the Guide for Free Conversation and practice

exercises given.
輸入量
amount of import
---の通りです
”as”, ”like” (See Gram. Notes)
ぞうかする一方です
keeps' on increasing
---一方
keep on (See Gram. Notes)
それかと言って
but, on the other hand, even then
ぞうかする訳もありますまい
there probably is no reason to believe that (it will) increase
げんしょう(する)
reduction (to decrease)

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.