はじめに

本屋に立ち寄ると、相変わらず、英語関係の本を多く見る。簡単に英語がマスターできるとアピールしている本がほとんど。長い苦労を要する大変な作業である、と書くような本は誰も手に取らないだろうから、当然といえば当然のタイトルだとも思う。K-SEC の皆さんと、こうして月二回、長文の英語輪読、そして英語討論を続けてきて、私自身の英語に関する進歩・発展具合を再検討してみると、つくづく「ああ、英語って難しかしいなあ」と思う。英語の難しさの一端は、何回も何十回も繰り返して、骨身に染みこませないと身に付いたことにならない、ということだろうと思われる。よく、「腑に落ちる」とか「五臓六腑に染みわたる」とか言うが、そのくらい体の奥にしみこませないと、とっさの反応に適切な英語が出てこない。すなわち、無意識の世界、潜在意識の領域にまで定着させないと使い物にならない、ということだろう。「うーん、喉まで出かかっているんだが、、、、」といって、なかなか思い出せない人の名前のように、潜在意識に定着させても、今は思い出せるとは限らない、そんな年齢になってもいるし。（２０１５年８月２４日）本文中の区分Summary 　　　議長の貞安さんが reading materials をまとめたもの。　Words to note　 用語集。reading materials の中で出会った、意味が分から

な　　　　　　　 い単語（多い！）、あるいは昔覚えたがはっきり思い出せ

な い単語（これも多い）、あるいは、意味は分かるが改めて例　　　　　　　　文を示し、使い方を確認しておくべきと思った単語（ほん

の　　　　　　　　少し）など。　　　　　　　　これらの単語の選択は、鶴本の個人的な単語力による。嗚

呼。 (In the text) reading material 本文の中で、その単語が使われている文章(Application) 単語を使った他の例文（英英辞典からの引用）

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コラム　　　　 鶴本が気ままに書き綴ったもの。不確実なもの、独りよがり

や独断もあるが、英語に関連した題材に絞って書こうとして いる。英文読解に面白味が加わるといいのだが、、、、。

September 1, 20141. Moving to a Smaller Home, and Decluttering

a Lifetime of Belongings - Tsurumoto (Summary)Tsurumoto-san picked up this article from The New York Times (dated August 22) which tells us how the decluttering or 断 捨 離 　 is big things in the U.S. these days.The amount of goods people can accumulate over a long period of time, especially if they have lived in the same house, can be overwhelming. Perhaps it is a bigger problem or task for average Americans as they tend to live in larger houses and hold more household goods than average Japanese. What they have accumulated is their history and throwing them away means throwing away their history. It is emotionally very difficult for many people to do that. In America, there are professionals “De-clutter Ladies” or downsizing specialists who can help you sort through and pare down your belongings to a more manageable size. Such service cost you anywhere from $60 to $200 an hour depending upon where you live. You end up paying a lot of money just for the consulting as they spend days with you. In Japan, you tend to attend a seminar or something to learn what to do and most of the cases you do it yourself. With the number of seniors increasing so fast in Japan, de-cluttering is becoming a big theme for many Japanese as well. Word to notedeclutter かたずける　（まだ辞書に出ていないほど、新しい言葉）belongings 家財や持ち物すべてを意味するgrapple with 問題などに取り組む

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pare down 少しづつ減らす、削減するsplit level 一階と二階と中二階の３層になっている家avid 熱心なevery nook and cranny あらゆる場所、隅々までfetch pennies on the dollar 元は高価でも、今は二束三文の価値しかないretirement community ケアや介護付きの高齢者住宅で、日本ではシニア・レ　　　　　　　　　　　ジデンスなど、いろいろな呼ばれ方をしている。2. World’s First Realization of Ultrahigh Pressure and Ultrahigh Temperature at the Earth’s Center – Finally reaching the Earth’s Core - Kotake(Summary)Here is an excellent summary of the presentation that Kotake-san kindly prepared per my request. Quote I (Kotake) briefly explained Spring-8 synchrotron radiation facility (an acronym of Super Photon Ring-8 GeV), or 大型放射光施設 in Japanese, which is the world’s largest and state-of-the-art third generation facility and is located at Sayo-cho, Hyogo Pref. Japan. This facility consists of a storage ring containing an 8 GeV electron beam which is extracted and run through undulators to produce synchrotron radiation with energies ranging from soft X-rays (300 eV) up to hard X-rays (300 KeV).I explained various effective usages of this facility ranging from biochemical protein characterization to spectroscopic analysis, earth science, life science, environmental science, industrial application and so forth. He enumerated, as famous actual cases from many fields, the materials analysis to identify substance for police investigations during the Wakayama curry accident and the attack of superintendent-general of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in

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the Aum Shinrikyo incident. I picked up and introduced above topics as an example not only of earth science but also of a brilliant scientific study results. This study was achieved by a group led by Kei Hirose, a professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology. This experiment was carried out by using this Spring-8 facility. Professor Hirose’s group carried out an experiment to recreate the environment of the D” layer artificially at the bottom of the mantle and discovered a completely new mineral, which had a significant impact throughout the field of earth science. As explained in this topics, Spring-8 an epoch-making and a state-of-the-art facility enabled us to search for earth’s core which is unknown to us and difficult to approach at present. Unquote Word to note　　the Earth’s Core 地球の中心部the Earth’s interior 地球の内部the velocity of seismic waves 地震波の速度the Earth’s center 地球の中心（地表から 6378 km ある）refract 水が光などを屈折させる refraction(名) (Application): Refraction of sunlight makes the sky seem blue by day and orange at sunset.reflect 鏡に映す、熱や光を反射する (Application): The sunlight reflects off the water.bore holes 錐で穴をあける、板に穴をあける　　　　　　＊同じスペル：bore うんざりさせる、退屈させるseismic 地震の　seismologist 地震学者　 seismology 地震学hexagonal 六角形のirradiate 放射線にさらすin situ（サイチュウ） 元の場所で　　in situ analysispoor academic records 成績が悪いmantle solid rock を言う

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magma a liquid, rock partially melts to form magmageology 地質学anisotropy 方向によって弾性性質の異なる物質の異方性

3. Bio series– Jose Rizal, a Philippine’s national hero – Sadayasu(Summary)We read a biography of Philippine’s hero, Jose Rizal who inspired the Philippine people for its independence from Spain. This is compiled based on various Internet sites.Largely through his novels and newspaper articles, Jose Rizal called for a number of reforms of the Spanish colonial system in the Philippines and appealed for freedom of speech and assembly, equal rights for Filipinos and appointment of Filipino priests in place of the often–corrupt Spanish priests. Rizal never called for independence of the Philippines. However, the colonial government considered him a dangerous radical and finally executed him in December 1896. This precocious man with high academic achievements from several top ranking educational institutes in Europe was 35 years old then. Spurred by his martyrdom, the Philippines, with assistance from the

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United States, was able to defeat the Spanish army and declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. Jose Rizal is remembered today throughout the Philippines for his brilliance, his courage, his peaceful resistance and his compassion toward his people. Word to noteJose Rizal ホセ・リサール（1861 年 6 月 19 日 - 1896 年 12 月 30 日）

the Philippines 国名は 1542 年にスペイン皇太子フェリペ（のちにフェリペ　　　　　　　 二世）の名前から、スペイン人征服者によって、ラス・フィ　　　　　　　 リピナス諸島と名づけられたことに由来する。In 1521, Magellan arrived the Philippines. He was killed in the battle there.Since 1565 to 1821, Mexico governed the Philippines.Since 1821 to 1898, Spain governed the Philippines.Since 1901 to 1946, the United States governed the Philippines. (Since 1942 to 1945, Japan controlled the Philippine “government”.) ＊フィリピンが 400 年もスペインとアメリカに支配され、ヨーロッパ並みの先進

　　　国に発展していてもおかしくなかったはずなのに、何故、未だに貧しいのか。

　　　その遠因の一つは、西洋的人材観、教育観にあるように思う。

September 15, 20141. Rare outbreak in Tokyo as WHO warns of spread of dengue fever

- Kanzawa(Summary)This is a CNN article dated September 6, 2014.First of all, Kanzawa-san says the word Dengue is not pronounced デング. British pronounces it デンギ.The article says that Japan now has dengue fever after 55 years of no such illness. While dengue fever is not transmitted human to human, the Japanese health ministry says that domestic mosquitoes could have picked it up from people infected abroad. The disease is on the rise, and over half of the world's population lives in dengue endemic areas including most of Southeast Asian countries. Recently, we have more tourists from those countries. WHO conference is currently examining the links between health and

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climate change and warned of the risks of infectious diseases like malaria and dengue. Higher humidity and temperatures mean mosquitoes can survive longer and increase the likelihood for transmitting diseases over a wider geographic range as people travel. It is interesting to note that severe drought in parts of India this summer has denied the mosquitoes the water that their larvae need to develop, leading to "extremely low" numbers of dengue cases this year. Although dengue fever does not get transmitted from human to human, there is no cure for, and no vaccination against dengue fever. The WHO estimates that there are over 50-100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year, although a new study says the true number may be four times as high as that appraisal. This is a scary story. Word to notefumigate 燻製消毒する　　（名）fumigation strains 菌種harrowing 痛ましい、悲惨なlethargic 　　異常に眠い、だるい、　（名）lethargy 昏睡、眠気debilitating 衰弱させる、虚弱させる2. Modi paving way to realize new India - Nishimura(Summary)This is a Japan News article dated September 1, 2014 and written by Ryuko Hira （比良竜虎） , President of the Indian Commerce and Industry Association in Japan and a head of MHI Hotel Group operating in Japan. Mr. Hira is an Indian gentleman and looks that way. Is his name an Indian? Or is it Japanese? I checked around but could not determine which. (Later Tomozawa-san checked and provided his information. Mr. Hira was born in India and was naturalized to be a Japanese in 1975.)Here is a summary of the article provided by Nishimura-san.

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When Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, he realized it was futile to depend on the conventional order of development assistance from Delhi. In 2003 he organized the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Economic Summit. He was successful in persuading the administration to throw away bureaucratic barriers. He took the pragmatic practical approach of working hard days and nights to persuade, satisfy and assure each small or big investor within India and overseas.Modi successfully built the infrastructure of supplying electricity at low prices that in other states even today is a far reality. He built roads, seaports and airports, and developed the industry with private-sector initiatives.Japan in 2013 became an official partner of the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Japanese major corporations have begun constructing manufacturing plants. Although the whole world wants to be Modi's economic partner, he decided to pick Japan for his first official visit overseas, symbolizing the great potential of the India-Japan economic partnership. Gujarat is a sample of what India will soon become. New dreams and new hopes abound to make India a part of the global economic system. He says that isolation cannot bring development and that cooperation, coordination, partnership, and one-to-one dialogue will connect India to the world as a responsible economic partner. Global bonding through economic partnership is Modi's promise to India.The Indian economy is rapidly transforming from a local consumption economic model to a global manufacturing and export based model. UnquoteWord to notepave the way to (for) への道を開く、可能にする (In the text): Modi is paving the way to realize new India.abound に富む、満ちている (In the ttext): New dreams and new hopes abounds to make India a part of

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the global economic system. (Application): The ship abounds with rats. America abounds in oil. (Oil abounds in America.)vibrant 元気いっぱいのascetic 苦行の、禁欲のsumptuous 豪華な、ぜいたくな (In the text): a week long sumptuous wedding celebration.luminary 優れた知識人、有名人 (In the text): spiritual luminaries of all faithsbiennial（バイエニアル）二年に一度の、二年ごとの　（名）bienniumemulation 競争、張り合うこと (In the text): Modi has established much-needed trust and confidence for emulation by all states of India.buoyant（ボイアント）浮力のある、元気な、快活な、上昇傾向の (In the text): the buoyant stock market in India

3. A Cup of Joe with Average Joes and Plain Janes – Tomozawa (Summary)This article is from VOA Special English Program, Words and Their Stories dated September 7, 2014. The article lists a number of unique but popular American expressions that we foreigners are not all that familiar. Some expressions listed are:

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　A cup of Joe = a cup of coffee 　An Average Joe = a common person 　A doubting Thomas = a suspicious person 　Joe Blow = a common man 　A plain Jane = an average looking woman 　 A real Sheila = a beautiful woman 　 No way, Joe = simply “no” 　John Hancock = a signature　　Well, how many of them did you know?Word to note Joe 名前を知らない男子への呼びかけに使う、　Joseph の愛称John Doe 実名の知らない訴訟当事者に付ける仮の名前 The police captured a thief who would not give his name so that the police called him John Doe.Jack John の愛称、若い奴、男、やつJack of all trades ( a person who can do many different jobs) He is a jack-of-all trades but he does none of them well.Sheila （シーラ）　　　娘、女の子　　　＊このような英語の熟語表現は、日本の高校ではほとんど習わないし、　　　　たとえ習ったとしても、ぴったりのコンテキストで、ネイティブと話　　　　しているときに使えるかは難しい。だから、私程度の“英語使い”は、　　　　この手の表現をほとんど覚えようとしたことがない。　　　　実際の場面で、ネイティブの人が使っても、「その意味はなんですか」　　　　と質問できることの方がスマートだろうと思ったりする。

コラム　　　英語に尻込みする。その本当の訳は何？　　TV の番組で、外人が街の人に英語で話しかけると、みんな尻込みして、「だめです」とか、「イヤ、話せません」とか、後期高齢者にいたっては、

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「戦争中だったもので」などと、苦笑いして尻込みする。学校でまともに勉強し成績も悪くなかった人でも「英語は自信がありません」とか言う。TV のアナウンサーになるような女性は、高校も大学も勉強ができたに違いないのに「英語はね、、、」と笑ってごまかす人がいる。「英語には自信があります」というコメントはめったに聞かない。もっとも、外資系の入社試験で「私は英語ができます」と言う人は結構いるが。　そんな自信の無さに関し、TV に出てくる識者とか大学教授などは、高校で英語の成績の順位付けをされ、少しでもできない者は劣等生のレッテルを張られたからだ、と解説する人がいる。これは、私の経験からも本当のように聞こえる。高校の時、定期的に学内の英語実力試験があり、上位数十名の氏名が廊下に張り出せれたものだった。英語ができる生徒は頭がいいと、賞賛の的になったものだ。英語の先生は、正解より、不正解のちょっとしたミスを鬼の首を取ったように非難したものだった。“三単現の S”の間違いなどしようものなら、他の英文の正解を全否定されてしまう。劣等感が骨の髄までしみこんで、卒業していく、というわけである。確かにそれは間違いないことではあるが、尻込みする理由の一つでしかないように思う。実はもっと奥深い何かを感じる。日本は遣隋使に見られるように、１４００年も前に、漢文で書いた国書を中国に送っている。当時既に一部の人は漢文（中国語）を自由自在に書くことができた。それ以来、日本では明治まで、中国の古典を教材として勉強してきた長い歴史がある。四書五経を自由に読め、達筆で漢字を書ける人は教養があるとされてきた。漢文は中国語であり、外国語である。外国語を読み、書ける人には日本人は頭が上がらない、という伝統が千年以上も続いたのである。だが、漢文を中国風に発音して、会話するという習慣は日本では根づかなかった。さて、そのような漢文学習の伝統が今の英語学習に影響していないか。難しい漢語を駆使する人を、「頭がいい」と尊敬の目で観る習慣はないか。やさしい漢字しか使わない人を、「勉強できなかった人なのね」と見下す気風はないか。はっきり言って、日本人の意識下で、伏流水のように、脈々と強く流れていると、私は思う。英語は外国語である。かっての漢文がそうであったように。　October 6, 2014

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Due to the typhoon, the meeting was canceled.

October 20, 20141. Nobel Prize for LED a Morale Booster for Japanese Electronics – Sekiguchi(Summary)The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Tuesday honored three Japanese researchers (Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura) with a 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing the blue light-emitting diode, which has made possible lighting that is more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs. This Wall Street Journal article dated October 8, 2014 focuses mostly on the effect it has on the Japanese LED industry. It talks about how Japan has been lagging behind in the world LED market and blames it for Japan’s lack in proper marketing ingenuities. The article then introduces an interview with Dr. Nakamura, who is a professor in the University of California in Santa Barbara, and quotes his criticism of Japanese research environment and national sentiment, especially in its efforts in promoting further globalization of its human talents and resources. Word to note beleaguer 軍隊に包囲された、困難な状況にある、 (In the text): The award of the Nobel Prize stands to boost the morale of the country’s beleaguered electronics industry. (Application): The man is beleaguered by debts. incandescent 白熱光を発する、光輝く (In the text): incandescent bulbsretain an edge 優位を保つ (In the text): Japanese companies have retained an edge in LEDs’ most lucrative applications.

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sanguine 楽天的な、快活な2. My Life as Li Xianglan (「李香蘭」を生きて) – Sadayasu(Summary)This is a book review by Fumiko Halloran of the autobiography “My Life as Li Xianglan” written by Li Xianglan (山口淑子)　and released by Nihon Keizai Shimbun in 2004. 山口淑子 was in her 80’s and was retired from the politics when the book was published. She died on September 7, 2014. She was 94. Japanese-born Yoshiko Yamaguchi made her screen debut as Chinese actress Li Xianglan in 1938. The Li was her stage name taken from her adoptive Chinese father and Xianglan (pronounced Koran in Japanese) was her father's pen name as a haiku poet. She was known as Rikoran in Japan.As she was born and raised in China, she spoke perfect Mandarin and was strikingly beautiful. She started her career as a movie actress when she was still very young. She starred in many Japanese films as a Chinese girl and helped promote Japanese war efforts. After World War II, Chinese authorities accused her of being a traitor who cooperated with the Imperial Japan. After the war, she was tried but escaped capital punishment when her Japanese origin was confirmed. She returned to Japan in 1946 and resumed her film career. She married an internationally known artist Noguchi Isamu but divorced in five years. She then went to the U.S. in 1956 and starred in the Broadway musical “Shangri La”. She married a young Japanese diplomat called Otaka. She was then elected to the House of Councilors in 1974 which she served for 18 years as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. She played a crucial role in Japan and China relationship while she was a Diet member. She lived a truly dramatic life.Word to note contempt 軽蔑、侮辱、法廷侮辱罪condescension （カンディセンシャン）　謙遜、腰の低さ

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posterity 子孫、後代の人々movingly 感動的に　　moving=creating strong emotions 感動する　　＊“涙と感動の物語”は英語では、tearful and moving story? moving と感動は同じ次元のものなのか、どこか違うように感じる。3. 2014 Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine - Nishiwaki (Summary)Nishiwaki-san presented an October 6, 2014 press release made by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute about the winners of 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Prize went to John O’Keefe along with May-Britt Moser and Edward I. Moser for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. The system is referred to as an “inner GPS” in the brain and makes it possible to orient ourselves in space. The discovery helps us answer our age old question “how does the brain create a map of the space surrounding us and how can we navigate our way through a complex environment. In his experimentations using animals (mice), O’Keefe discovered that certain nerve cells in the hippocampus are activated when the animal assumes a particular place in the environment. This results in creation of numerous inner maps of the environment that the animal has been exposed to. These inner maps tell the animal of the location they are in. The press release says the discovery of the brain’s positioning system represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of how ensembles of specialized cells work together to execute higher cognitive functions. It has opened new avenues for understanding other cognitive processes, such as memory, thinking and planning.Word to note labyrinth 迷路、迷宮　　the labyrinth=内耳entorhinal 嗅内皮質（きゅうない）underpin 議論を支持する、下から支える

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コラム 鼻音（びおん）、鼻濁音と鼻声（はなごえ）m,n,ng などは鼻に響かせる鼻音である。確かに昔、昔そんな風に習って、自分でも音読する時は無意識に鼻音にして発音しているように思うのだが、改めてはっきりと鼻音にして、音読してみると、今までの音とは違うなあと感じる。movement, going, want などなど、m, n, ng が入っている、そんな単語はすごく一般的で数が多い。前ページの最後の文章； such as memory, thinking and planning には５か所も入っている。英語を話すときには、いちいち鼻音なんて意識していられない。朗読の時は、文字で確認できるので、鼻音をきちんと意識して発音することはできる。でもちょっとでも内容を意識すると、発音は無意識の領域に追いやられてしまう。memory の m と m をいちいち意識しない。私は声楽（西洋のオペラなど）をやっていて、多くはイタリア語で歌うので、スペルが分かる。“Maria”と出てくると、m は鼻音にしなければならない。否、鼻音にするとソフトでいい感じの音になる。今回アヴェ・マリアという曲を練習していて、それを強く感じて、一層意識するようになった。日本語でも「が」を鼻濁音にして歌うと柔らかくなる。話し言葉では、最近、「が」を鼻濁音にする人は少なくなっているらしい。確かに私も「が」を鼻濁音にはしていないようだ。何回か発音してみて、そのことを確認できる。ところで、鼻音、鼻濁音は鼻声（はなごえ）なのか。英語には nasal voice,nasal sound という表現がある。でも、この nasal voice は鼻に音を通すことで発声しているのだろうか。インターネットでアメリカの voice trainer の Justin Stoney という若いトレーナーは、nasal voice は nasal cavity (鼻腔) に息を通して発生するのではない、と断言している。ものすごい反論があるだろうね、と彼は言っているので、彼の考えがアメリカで一般的ということはなく、彼の独創らしい。声楽の練習をしていて、高音を出そうと四苦八苦しているとき、息を鼻腔に

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通すと高音が出やすいということも分かり、私には、Stoney トレーナーの事が信じられる（今のところは）。確かにイタリア語のｍ、ｎなどを鼻に通しても、鼻声には聞こえない。だから、私は高い音程のｍ、ｎなどを鼻腔に通すようにして練習している。もっとも、こんなことをやり始めたのは、ほんの最近ではある。ソフトな高音を出したいと切に願いながら。

November 3, 20141. Three Denver girls played hooky from school and tried to join ISIS - Terasaki(Summary)This is a CNN article dated October 22, 2014 about how ISIS, the extremely bloodthirsty militant group, has been surprisingly attractive to young recruits from the West, mostly men but some women as well. More than 100 of the foreign fighters have come from the United States and hundreds more from Europe. But most of the foreign fighters joining the ISIS come from the Middle East and African countries, though. The article quotes a comment by some experts that it's more than just a radical interpretation of Islam that is drawing teens to the extremely bloodthirsty militant group. Many of these teens lack a sense of belonging where they live and that they believe ISIS can give it to them. “The general picture of the lives of foreign fighters in Syria suggests camaraderie, good morale and purposeful activity, all mixed in with a sense of understated heroism. It is designed to attract their friends as well as to boost their own self-esteem," they say.The article points out that most of these young boys and girls from the West are descendants of Middle Eastern or African countries and could be potential causes in the future for home grown terrorism in the countries they come from. Word to noteplay hooky (米) 学校をさぼる

(In the text): Denver girls played hooky from school.in tandem 　　　息の合った

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slick ずるい, 悪賢い、口先のうまい、如才のない、巧みな、器用な

(In the text): making expert use of slick videos and social mediainstigate （暴力、悪事などへ）扇動する

2. Look, Ma, no wheels! How maglev trains reach 500 kph – Kotake(Summary)This article is taken from Nikkei Asia Review dated July 31, 2014. It introduces the Linear Chuo Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Nagoya which is scheduled to become operational in 2027. The article shows us how the liner train will technically work. The train will be the fastest in the world, running at up to 500kph. It will reach the speed of airplanes by using a superconducting maglev system that propels it forward on a magnetic field between the track and the carriage. The line will cut the travel time between the Tokyo and Nagoya down to 40 minutes, instead of 90 minutes it takes by present day Shinkansen.  The secret behind is Japan's superconductivity technology. The article has a detail account of the maglev technology used and points out that the most crucial goal moving forward is to develop and produce the superconductivity at room temperature. So far, the highest critical temperature attained is minus 138 C.  If the superconductivity at room temperature was achieved, it would benefit other industries as it will reduce power losses in electrical equipment and requires a fewer power plants. This in turn would result in far less carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere which would reduce the risk of further global warming.Word to notesuperconductivity 超伝導levitate 空中に浮遊する（心霊術、奇術などで） (Application): A magician levitated a chair on the stage by waving

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his 　　　　　　　　　　　hands.propulsion（プロパルシャン）　　　推進repulsion (磁石の)反発作用　　反対語＝attractioncupplings 動物の交尾、連結器elliptical 楕円の、長円のlateral 側面の、横のinduction　　　　（電気の）誘導、感応 induce誘導するC Celsius, Centigradehelium（ヒーリウム）　ヘリウムbe dubbed　　　(物を)、、、、と呼ぶ3. Sun and Wind Alter German Landscape, Leaving Utilities Behind – Tomozawa(Summary)We read an article from the New York Times dated September 13, 2014. The article tells us that, of all the developed nations, Germany is pushing hardest to find a solution to global warming and achieving striking results as well. It says they will soon be getting 30 percent of their power from renewable energy sources. Environment activists praise Germany as a model and a proof that a transformation of the global energy system is possible. However, this rapid transition has devastated the country’s utility companies whose profits from power generation have collapsed. Electric utility executives all over the world are also watching nervously as technologies they once dismissed as irrelevant begin to threaten their long-established business plans.Another critical problem of the renewable power generation is that it is intermittent. Under the current system, when the renewable energy is not generating enough power, German utilities have to dial up their conventional power plants to supply power rapidly to compensate. The plants are not necessarily profitable when operated this way and have been threatening to shut down the facilities that some analysts say the country needs as backup.As the German experience shows, the difficulties of the transition are likely to be enormous. It is still far from clear whether the system can be transformed fast enough to head off dangerous levels of global warming.

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Word to notewrenching ねじれる、物をもぎ取る、

harness 自然の力を動力源として利用する、馬に馬具をつける

gyrate 旋回する、回転する、価格が急変動する

The stiff, steady breezes in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea mean that turbines built there will produce far more power than land turbines.

November 17, 2014(Summary)1. Ensuring Achievement of the Price Stability Target of 2 Percent - NishimuraIn April last year, the Bank introduced the QQE (quantitative and qualitative monetary easing) to achieve the price stability target of 2 percent at the earliest possible time, with a time horizon of about 2 years. It was necessary to drastically convert the deflationary mindset that took root among people by way of monetary easing that is totally different from past policies. At the Monetary Policy Meeting on October 31, the Bank decided to expand the QQE. One and a half years have passed since the introduction of the QQE, and it has been producing the intended effects so far. But weakness in demand associated with the consumption tax hike and the decline in crude oil prices have been exerting downward pressure on prices. To preempt the manifestation of such risk and maintain the improving momentum of expectation formation, the Bank judged it appropriate to expand the QQE.Specific measures of the decision this time are of a large scale in

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terms of both quantity and quality. With these measures, the improving momentum of inflation expectations will be maintained and the mechanism of the QQE will continue to work steadily. If judged necessary for achieving the price stability target, the Bank will make adjustments without hesitation.　(Note: The summary is by Nishimura-san)Word to notepreempt 予測される事態を回避する、阻止する、無効にする

underpin 議論などを支持する

2. How Will the Middle-east War End? – Tsurumoto(Summary)This is a paper written by a General Editor of the Norton Anthology of World Religion. The writer says the current struggle within Islam, among radical Islamists (ISIS in particular) and Muslim sects Sunni and Shia, is likened to that of the wars fought in the English Civil War in England and the ensuing Thirty Years War on the European Continent that was fought between the Protestants and Catholics in 17 century. These wars left nothing but a complete destruction of the infrastructures of all countries involved, let alone a huge number of human losses. The writer also says, "Just as Catholics and Protestants concluded in their Wars of Religion, Sunni and Shia have to exhaust one another before concluding that neither side can determine what their religion is to be."And he says that an intra-Muslim conflict with roots in the seventh

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century may have come to a belated climax, although slowly and brutally. In the Middle East, Sunni and Shia numbers are so nearly equal that neither is in a position to establish a quick, clear total victory over the other. Just as Protestants and Catholics concluded in their Wars of Religion (by The Peace of Westphalia in 1648), Sunni and Shia have to exhaust one another before concluding that neither side can determine what their religion is to be in the future. And they must come to this conclusion on their own, not through any American intervention or clever coalition formation. This trend will be accelerated by large migration of people in the Middle East to where their religions belong. The Copts are leaving Egypt. The Greeks and Armenians are gone from Turkey. Christianity may soon be virtually extinct even in Bethlehem. Demographic simplification in the Middle East is undeniable.Word to noteprotracted 長引いた、引き伸ばされたnot in the least ちっとも、、、でないshrink from 尻込みする、仕事からのがれるemphatically 強調して、断然に、徹底的にedification (知的、道徳的、精神的)教科、啓発dwarf を小さく見せるthe Aegean Sea（イジーアン）　エーゲ海undo 取り消す、人を破滅させる、ダメにするbewilder 当惑させるmelee（メイレイ） 乱闘、混戦the Ottoman Empire オスマン帝国polemical plomic 論争curdling 血が凝結するen masse　　　ひとまとめにsovereign 君主、主権者、統治者pagan 　異端者、無宗教者(キリスト教やユダヤ教でも、イスラム教で

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　　　　　　　　もない人達)heretics 異教徒、反対論者（ローマ、カトリックの立場から）heathen 異教徒、野蛮人、未開人（キリスト教の立場から）atheist 無神論者the Thirty Years War ３０年戦争（１６１８～１６４８）the Peace of Westphalia　　ウェストファリア条約（1648）the Copts コプト教徒（エジプトのキリスト教徒）

スンニ派：血統による世襲にこだわらない、戒律には厳しい。　　　　　イランとイラクを除くほとんどのアラブ諸国がスンニ派。　　　　　ＩＳＩＳはスンニ派だが、過激なスンニ。シーア派：ムハンマドの血を引く子孫に特別な資格があると考える。戒律はそ　　　　　れほど厳しくない。イランはほぼ１００％がシーア派。イラクは６　　　　　０％くらい。スンニ派は２０％くらい。サダム・フセインは少数派　　　　　のスンニ派だった。シリアは１０％のシーア派（アラフィーという）　　　　　がアサド政権。

3. Bio series – Harriet Tubman - Sadayasu(Summary)Harriet Tubman, referred to as Lady Moses or Black Moses later in her career, was born as a fifth child in 1811 to slave parents on the plantation on the eastern Shore of Maryland. Her early life was a painful and yet very eventful life as a slave. In her late thirties, she fled from her slavery and met John Brown, a radical abolitionist and fiery freedom fighter, in Canada. That was the beginning of her new

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career as an activist. She eventually became one of the prominent leaders in the United States in the humanitarian and suffrage activities until her death at the age of 90. The biography we read today says, “Harriet Tubman’s life was rooted in an intensely deep spiritual faith and a life-long humanitarian passion for family and community, demonstrating an unyielding, and seemingly fearless, resolve to secure liberty, equality, justice, and self-determination throughout her long and productive life.” After her death, her contributions are widely recognized in the U.S. To mention a few, the U.S. Postal Services issued in 1978 its first stamp in the Black Heritage series commemorating Harriet Tubman. Her home in Auburn, New York, received National Historic Landmark status in 1974. Word to noteexacting 多くを要求する、過酷な exact (動) (Application): The law exacts severe penalties for not paying one’s taxes.seizures 発作、卒中provenance 芸術作品などの起源、出所、由来mariner 水夫religiosity 信心深さ、狂信confidante （秘密を打ち明けることのできる）腹心 a special friend who one can talk to about secret and personal mattersardent 熱狂的なfixture 一定の地位に長く居る人suffrage 選挙権 (Application): In ancient Greece, suffrage was extended only to people who owned property.コラム　　　「英語喉」の著者とその主張この本は２００７年６月１５日の発売なので、既に７年も経っている。

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著者は上川一秋（うえかわ かずあき）さん。アメリカ在住で、奥様がアメリカ人。奥様が共著者になっている。本人は下記のように書いている。「日本人は、英語発音と聞き取り能力において苦労してきました。これは日本人の能力

のせいではなく、長い間、ある勘違いをしていたことが原因です。ずばり、英語は喉で

発音するものなのです。日本語で言うと首にあたる部分の喉です。ネイティブの声が、

日本語よりも深く、立体的に響くのには、わけがあったのです。口発音の日本人がネイ

ティブの発音ができないのは当然のことでした。

また、日本語と英語ではリズムが違います。日本語のリズムは 2ビートで、英語のリズ

ムは 3ビートなのです。リズムが違うのですから、同じように話すことは無理なのです。

これまでの日本人の英語の喋りかたは、ワルツで盆踊りを踊っているようなものだった

のです。実は 3ビートさえこころがけておけば、これまで強調されてきたイントネー

ションとかアクセントの位置などは全て忘れてもよいのです。

本書では、英語ネイティブがしている喉発音、そして 3 ビートを理解し、練習してもら

います。短期間で、英語ネイティブと同じ発音が身につき、音の聞き取りが 100%でき

るようになります。」

私は、何年か前にこの本について、新聞の広告を見たような記憶がある。その後、すっかり忘れていたが、ひょんなことから、彼のブログに突き当たり、YouTube で彼の話やインタビュー、彼自身の英語を聞く機会があった。本は二千円以上もするので、高くて買えない。彼の主張は YouTube で十分わかったと思うので、買うまでもないとも考えた。私が注目したのは、「喉発音」と「口発音」。声楽では“喉発音”はいろんな意味合いで使われるので、定義はまぎらわしいが、彼の言う「喉発音」は日本語の口発音に対して、英語は喉で発音する、という意味での「喉発音」。「なんで英語やるの？」という本を３０年以上前に書いた中津遼子さんが“同じ趣旨のこと”を書いている。ただし「喉発音」という表現は使っていなかったように思う。中津さんはその後、英語未来塾という塾を主宰して、長く英語発音に関し、日本人の英語学習者を啓蒙しようと努力したようだが、最後には絶望して、塾を閉鎖したらしい。誰も英語の発音に関し、英語らしく、なんて興味を示さなかった、ということだったみたい。テストには関係ないからね。私の個人的な経験から、喉発音について、そして、中津さんの言うことに１００％賛成したい。でも、関係ないか。わかりゃいいんだろう？！ってね。December 1, 2014

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1. LDP Expected to Lose Seats in Election - Sekiguchi(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)Part oneThis article is written by Toko Sekiguchi, a daughter of Sekiguchi-san, who is working for the Wall Street Journal. (Isn’t it wonderful to have a journalist daughter?)Analysts say Prime Minister Shinzo Abe likely calculated that it was better to lose a few seats now than lose more next year or in 2016, when the current term of the lower house would have expired.Mr. Abe said he was aiming for the coalition to take a majority, which it could do even if he loses more than 80 seats. The real question isn’t whether Mr. Abe wins and stays in power, but whether he emerges with a strong enough position to push through the more politically difficult parts of his “Abenomics” growth platform.Analysts said Wednesday the Liberal Democratic Party was at risk of losing several dozen seats. His biggest problem is the weak economy, which shrank at an annual rate of 1.6% in the third quarter, following a 7.3% contraction in the previous quarter.Mr. Abe’s main challenge in the election is likely to be general dissatisfaction with the economy and falling real wages rather than any objection to his decision, also announced Tuesday, to put off a sales-tax increase that had been scheduled for October 2015.Opposition parties generally supported the delay but sought to raise public irritation over the election’s existence, calling it an expensive waste of time.Part twoSekiguchi-san added his own thesis at the end of the reading material and discussed “inequality issue.” In his opinion, the claims by the opposition parties that Mr. Abe’s economic policy caused more inequality of income is unfounded. He shows the GINI coefficient shows Japan is no worse than many developed countries including, Germany, England and France.Word to note

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(特になし)2. 　　 Japanese Vending Machines 　　　– Kanzawa(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)This article is from the website of the Ministry of Foreign AffairsIf you walk around a town in Japan, you will notice that there are vending machines everywhere. That isn’t surprising considering that there are about 5.5 million vending machines in Japan, giving them the highest prominence rate in the world when calculating the population ratio. Of those, the number of machines specializing in beverage sales is about 2.56 million and one feature of these Japanese machines is that they don’t only sell cold drinks, but also hot drinks as well in one machine.Besides variety of merchandize they handle, new features are constantly added. Machines with unique features such as helping “customers” enjoy even seconds or tens of seconds spent at the machine by talking to the buyers are also being developed one after another.A new breed of machine can help you decide what to buy from the machine. By just standing in front of the vending machine it will automatically determine your gender and age with a probability of more than 70% using a face recognition sensor at the top of the machine. A “recommended” mark is then indicated on select beverages based on the buyers attribute information, time of purchase, temperature, etc.Word to notevending machine 自動販売機　（英）slot machine vend 街頭などで、花や果物を売る、行商する　　vender (vendor) 物売り、行商人prominence rate 普及率prevalence rate 普及率penetration rate 普及率、、、、すこしづつ、ニューアンスが違うように思う。footage テレビ、ビデオの一連のシーン, a length of film

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(Application): The television news program showed footage of the plane crash.

3. Cellphone tracking: Find an address? Easy. But new devices can calculate your altitude. – Tomozawa(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)This article is from the Washington Post November 19, 2014.Cellphones long have doubled as tracking devices, capable of revealing your location to police, paramedics, even grocery stores looking to deliver coupons to nearby customers. But there’s a measurement cellphones once struggled to make: altitude. But no more.Cellphone tracking is about to go vertical as the location-services industry, prodded by the U.S. government, solves the riddle of what experts call “the z vector.” Soon it will be possible to determine not only what building you and your phone are in but also whether you are on the first or 15th floor.One key element is the barometric-pressure sensors, which have become standard features in Apple’s iPhone 6 and several Android devices. The systems, though now used mainly for apps that users control, are part of a new generation of location technology that could collect altitude data from smartphones and use it to, for example, help rescue crews find people trapped in an office-tower fire. But privacy advocates warn that detectives, intelligence agencies and maybe hackers could gain the ability to map the three-dimensional movements of cellphone users with startling new detail.As with everything else, a good thing comes with a potential vice and it’s up to us to control it.

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Word to note(特になし)

December 15, 2014 1. Why Elders Smile - Tsurumoto(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)This is a New York Times op-ed article published on December 5, 2014.The writer mentioned the famous U-curve theory: People are happy in youth because they do not have much to worry and lead a carefree life. In the middle age, people have a lot of responsibilities and things to worry about such as jobs, families, etc. So they are unhappy. The old people are freed from heavy responsibilities. They are free to enjoy whatever they wanted to do in the past but could not do. So they are happy. After reading the article Tsurumoto-san asked every one of the attendees if he/she was happy at this moment. Nobody said he/she was unhappy. So the theory of the U-curve is proven to be correct even among the K-SEC members.Word to noteintact 　　そのままwell-being 　　幸福、健康gravitate 　　 引力で引き付けられるspare 　　なしですます、惜しんでつかわない、compassionate 思いやりのある、憐れみ深い

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detached 　一歩距離を置いてfraught 　心配してget on with it 　 はかどる、進むempathy 　 感情移入、共感sexagenarian　　６０歳台の人septuagenarian　７０歳代の人octogenarian　　８０歳台の人nonagenarian　　９０歳台の人centenarian　　　１００歳台の人＊６０～７０歳に仕事からリタイアして数年がたつと、仕事モードのマインドや習慣から離れ、自宅での日常生活に慣れ、自分の資力内での生活パターンも把握でき、気持ちが落ち着いてくるものだ。それが高齢者の幸福感なのだろう、思われる。まあ、そうなる方が“勝ち”かも。2. Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener More Efficient Cities – Nishiwaki(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)This article is from the New York Times, published on December 8th, 2014.The LEDs are much power efficient than the ordinary light bulbs that are traditionally used in the traffic lights. Converting light bulbs to LEDs alone significantly saves power for traffic light systems. But many cities are taking one more step ahead.By networking traffic lights together, we could achieve further energy savings. By synchronized green lights, for example, trucks can go through the lights without stopping, thus saving the fuel.The smartphone on a truck driver could send signals to the traffic light warning the truck’s approach and getting a green light so that the truck can pass through the light without stopping.Here is what’s happening In Copenhagen:On a busy road in the center of town here, a string of green lights embedded in the bike path — the “Green Wave” — flashes on, helping cyclists avoid red traffic lights.

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On a main artery into the city, truck drivers can see on smartphones when the next light will change. And in a nearby suburb, new LED streetlights brighten only as vehicles approach, dimming once they pass.Aimed at saving money, cutting the use of fossil fuels and easing mobility, the installations are part of a growing wireless network of streetlamps and sensors that officials hope will help this city of roughly 1.2 million meet its ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.Eventually, the network will serve other functions, like alerting the sanitation department to empty the trash cans and informing bikers of the quietest or fastest route to their destinations. It’s all made possible through an array of sensors embedded in the light fixtures that collect and feed data into software.Word to noteembed 埋め込む、しっかりとはめ込む、 (In the text): green lights are embedded in the path. (In the text): sensors are embedded in the light fixtures. (Application): A crown is embedded with jewels.artery 動脈、幹線 (In the text): On a main artery into the city, truck drivers can see,,,,.installation 取り付け、据え置き　　install（動）据え付けるa raft of たくさんの、多数の　　raft=いかだ (In the text): a raft of functions and servicesconducive 良い結果の助けになる、に貢献する (In the text): the LED’s electronics are conducive to wireless communications (Application): Exercise is conducive to good health.ramp 暴れまわる、強める、強化するscramble 手に入れようと殺到するdisparate 異種の、共通点のない、連続してない　　　　　　　　　　　　　　＊desperate=向う見ずの、逆上した

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(In the text): the function of disparate agencies in cities (Application): He had no speech prepared, so he only made disparate remarks.node　　　　交点、連結点

3. 40 reasons to think that the Japanese are superficial – Sadayasu(Summary done by Tomozawa-san)This article of unknown origin was submitted by Sadayasu-san. Unfortunately he was not able to attend the meeting to enlighten us. So we did our best “not to get excited too much” as Sadayasu-san advised.The article is assumed to have been written by a man of unknown nationality, mostly non-American but English speaking male. It lists what the author thinks the typical Japanese idiosyncrasies.After finishing reading, we were too flabbergasted that the only comment was regarding store clerks greeting customers “Irasyaimase” and “Arigatougozaimasita” over and over even if the same customer comes in and out a few times within 5 minutes. We

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agreed that the scene is familiar to us.One of the members expressed an observation that the writer might have been associating with only female Japanese because many of his observations relate to women’s traits. But his observation was ignored.Word to noteanimadvert 非難する (criticize)excoriate の皮をはぐ、を激しく非難する。disparage を見くびる、けなす、 (Application): He called his opponent a fool and disparaged his abilities.idiosyncrasy 個人の好み、動作、意見などの特異性, an odd habit (Application): One of her idiosyncrasy is that she sleeps in her clothes.opulent 裕福な （名）opulence=great wealth and luxury (Application): The king of France lived in opulence in his palace.redemption 贖罪（しょくざい）

(Application): Most Christians believe that redemption comes with belief in Jesus Christ.＊外国人、特に欧米系白人の男性・女性は、日本の風習を上から目線で批判がましく指摘することがある。特に短期滞在者がそう。日本人は、一方的に「恥ずかしい、すいません」みたいに恥じ入る。どうなんだろうね。彼らも１０年も日本にいると、また違うことを指摘するのじゃないだろうか。

コラム　　full や little のような l（エル）の発音に関してl（エル）の発音は、舌先を上の前歯の裏に付けて音を出す。学校でそう習ったし、今でもそう思っている。舌を強く歯に付けると、音(声)自体が出ないというか非常に出にくい。柔らかく付けて音を出そうとすると、結局「ウ」のような、低い唸り声のような音を喉で作って、かすかに出す、ことになる。l が単語の先にくると、l の音を出す瞬間に舌を歯から離して、次の音を出すことになる。タイトルの little の l は「リ」のような音にしてしまう。というか、まあそうやって発音してきたわけである。

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l の音を喉に響かせる、即ち喉声にして発音するのが、本当に正しい発音なのか。日本人にとって喉声は自然な声の状態なのか。西洋人は喉声をどう感じるのか。（変なことをグダグダ考えるんだね、と皆さんは思うでしょうけど）昔の流行歌の歌手で、喉に音を響かせて有名になった人で、フランク永井がいる。低音の魅力とかいって、渋いその声は多くの人の心をとらえた。私も好きだった。彼の喉声と、l の発音の喉声とどこか違うのだろうか。Elvis Presley は喉を震わせて歌っているように聞こえる。フランク永井の声と似ている。いや、全然似ていない（？）。ヴィブラートの粗さなのか、その繊細さの違いか。いや、どうも違うみたい。人が違うのだから、声が違うのも当然、とも言えるが。まあまあ。さて、ごちゃごちゃと書いてきたが、私の最近の“推測的研究”の結果をここで発表しよう。l の音は、喉に響かせるのではなく、鼻腔に響かせるのだ。のどちんこ（軟口蓋についている口蓋垂）をあまり上げないようにして（強く上げると、息は鼻腔に流れないので、音も行かない）、l の「ウ」の音を鼻腔に響かせる。息が鼻に通るので、鼻の先から息が少し漏れ、声が響く。フランク永井の低音は、喉に響かせている、Elvis は軟口蓋を通して、鼻に息を流し、軟口蓋の周辺を振動させている。この推察、正しいか。l の発音のように、鼻腔に響かせる音を含む英単語はものすごく多い。m, n, ng を含む単語はすべて鼻腔に響かせる。特に m, n を含む単語は多い。そのような言語習慣から、Elvis は鼻腔に響かせることを無意識にやっているのではないか。と、私には思われる。日本語には鼻濁音がある。「が」はそうなのだが、昔とは違い、今ではほとんどの日本人が鼻濁音にしない。鼻腔への響きは日本語から消え去ろうとしているみたい。l の音は鼻腔へ響かせると、英語っぽくなるよ！！　（なんちゃって）January 5, 2015 1. Asahi’s switching points of contention on coerciveness – Nishimura (Summary)The Asahi Shimbun must seriously accept many criticisms made in a report (compiled by a third-party committee) over its reporting on the issue of so-called comfort women. The Asahi’s president

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Watanabe said: “We'll sincerely correct those points that need to be corrected. We'll push reform with a firm determination to remake The Asahi Shimbun from its very foundations."At the center of the controversy were the statements of Seiji Yoshida, who claimed to “have hunted” local women from Jeju Island to make them serve as comfort women. The Asahi carried articles based on his statements 16 times from 1982 to the mid-1990s. Historian Hata raised doubts about the authenticity of the Yoshida statements in 1992.In special pages it published on Aug. 5 this year, the newspaper finally admitted Yoshida's statements were false and retracted a series of the articles based on them.Initially, the Asahi reported extensively on “coerciveness in the narrow sense,” arguing that comfort women were forcibly taken away directly by the wartime Japanese military. But after doubts were raised about the credibility of Yoshida's statements, the newspaper began to report “coerciveness in the broad sense," claiming that the comfort women were taken away by private operators against their will. The panel's report condemned such a change in reporting stance as “switching points of contention.” This could be a point that gets to the heart of the matter given that the crux of the issue was whether coerciveness by the military existed in gathering comfort women. (the summary prepared by Nishimura-san)Word to notecontention 口論、議論、についての争い　　contentious 争い好きな　　＊content 中身、content満足して、contented 満足したretract 取り消す、撤回するincite 活気づける (In the text): The report incited South Korea to increase its criticism.2． Cuba vs United States relations – Umemura(Summary)

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Umemura-san introduced a Wikipedia article on the recent developments taking place between Cuba and the United States of America. Cuba was a Spanish territory until 1959 when it became independent from the Spanish rule and became a communist country. Since then, the communist Cuba and the United States of America had very little political and commercial interchanges and the relationship between two countries was marked by tension and confrontation at times. However, on December 17, 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro, younger brother of Fidel Castro, announced the beginning of a process of normalizing relations between two countries and indicated that they were working on an agreement which would perhaps lead to lifting of some U.S. travel restrictions, fewer restrictions on remittances, U.S. banks access to the Cuban financial system and the establishment of a U.S. embassy in Havana. This announcement is not a surprise for many. Following the transfer of presidential duties in July 2006 from Fidel Castro to his brother to Raúl, U.S. government representatives have been making a series of statements reiterating the desire for political change in Cuba. In response, Cuba maintained its position that they had always been disposed to normalized relation with the United States on an equal plane. Word to noteembargo 通商禁止、商船の出入港禁止 In the text): The US has maintained an embargo which makes it illegal for US corporations to do business with Cubabehest 要請、命令 (In the text): These plans were created at the behest of Cuban exile groups.

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3．Could Sony Hack Scare Other Companies into Beefing Up Cybersecurity – Tomozawa(Summary)This is from NBC News dated December 10, 2014 on the recent Cyberattack on Sony’s Picture’s computer system. The reporter, Keith Wagstaff, says the incident embarrassed Sony Pictures executives tremendously. The hacker, most likely a North Korean Government agency, got in the system and stole email addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates and other personal information for thousands of the Sony Pictures employees and its contractors. It appears that Sony Pictures was singled out because of a North Korean anger over the company’s recent movie “The Interview”, an action comedy movie centered around a plot to kill North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. Most of the hacking are made into computer systems of financial institutes and try to steal credit card number. Media companies like Sony Pictures generally don’t have the same level of security that the financial industries do as they do not deal with state secrets or regulated financial products. Will the Sony Picture’s incident make other non-financial companies like media industry, become more serious about cybersecurity and take actions? One of the computer security experts says, "I would like to say yes, but my past experience says no”. He further says, “other executives might say, 'Hey, I haven't pissed off hackers, I haven't pissed off North Korea. What do I have to worry about?'" Word to notejibe 嘲笑、悪意のないからかい　　offensive jibes

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encryption 暗号化deluge 大洪水、大水　the Delugeノアの大洪水retribution 仕返し、報復 (In the text): This latest incident is retribution.default 　 初期化、何もしない時に標準的に採用される値・動作　　　　　　　何もしないこと、成すべきことが成されないことjaded 疲れ切った、あきあきしたeffluvia (腐敗物などからの)悪臭　　effluvium(単数)January 19, 2015 1. What’s in a name: JAXA wonders what to call Hayabusa 2

destination – Kanzawa

(Summary)Mainichi Shimbun article dated January 11, 2015 reports that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s Hayabusa2 asteroid exploration project is facing a critical decision: what should the asteroid be called?The asteroid, the destination of Hayabusa 2, currently has the provisional designation "1999JU3." JAXA will decide its official name, but it'll have to follow detailed rules set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Under the IAU rules, an asteroid's name must not be the same as another asteroid; must be easy to pronounce; must be if at all possible only one word; be 16 letters or less; and abide by public standards of order and decency. In addition, if an asteroid is named after a politician or military figure, that personage must in principle have been deceased for 100 years or more. The IAU also rejects commercial names.

More than 600,000 asteroids have been identified in our solar system and all sort of names have been used. It is quite common to use names inspired by mythology like Izanagi, Amaterasu, Yamata no Orochi, etc. In some cases, names of the scientists who made a significant contribution in finding a particular asteroid are used. JAXA does not have the name for the asteroid yet. Word to note asteroid 小惑星（火星と木星の間にあり、太陽をめぐる多数の小天体

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　　　　　　　　　　　軌道が確認されている。小惑星は６万個以上ある）　　　　　　　＊android 人造人間Mars 火星bestow（ビストウ） 名誉や賞を人に授けるplanet 惑星（恒星の周囲を公転する星）：水・金・地・火・木・土・　　　　　　　　　　　天・海）　　　　　　 　＊恒星：太陽と同じく、自ら発光する天体comet 彗星、ほうき星nebula 星雲

2． ”Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Piketty - Kotake (Summary)This is a Guardian interview (Owen Jones) of the French economist, Thomas Piketty, whose book, “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”, has become the most influential book ever published by an economist in a generation (according to Jones). The book, which was published in August 2013, focuses on wealth and income inequality in advanced economies since the 18th century. Based on his 15 years of research using the mass of data, Piketty presents the reasons why modern capitalism makes wealth more concentrated at the top of the society. He argues that when the rate of return on capital (r) is greater than the rate of economic growth (g) over the long term, the result is concentration of wealth, and this unequal distribution of wealth causes social and economic instability. Then, Piketty goes one step further and proposes a global system of progressive wealth taxes to help reduce inequality and avoid the vast majority of wealth coming under the control of a tiny minority. But he does realize this will be “utopia” and cannot easily or perhaps never be implemented. The book is voluminous (nearly 700 pages) but considered easy to read without much mathematical models that most economists like to use. He even says “economists do so just to look scientific and try to impress other people.”Some people say the Piketty’s theory is a revolution in economic theories but he is not without accusations from others for being too dangerous and anti-

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capitalistic. But the book is unlike other ordinary books on economics and has a lot of references to history, culture and philosophy. It is selling like a hot cake world-wide and pushing Piketty to stardom. Word to notesurreal 　　 超現実的な

fete（フェイト）　　 　祝いの宴を張るunleash 　　ひも解くbemuse 　　 困惑させるcontemptuous 軽蔑を示すbotch 　 遣り損なうperpetrate 　 犯す、悪事を働くegalitarian 　 平等主義の3． Bio series – Raoul Wallenberg - Sadayasu(Summary)We read a biography (Wikipedia) of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish businessman and later a diplomat. He was born to a very prominent Swedish family in August 1912. As a diplomat of Sweden, he is said to have saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews who were about to be massacred by Nazi in the last phase of the World War II. However, with the war approaching its closure, he was mysteriously captured by Soviet army which was advancing into Hungary in early 1945. We never heard of him since. If he was killed, who killed him when and where ? It is still a mystery. Meanwhile, the United States awarded him an honorary citizenship in 1981 for his humanitarian efforts. Israel did the same in 1968. PS 1). He is likened to Chiune Sugihara（杉原千畝）of Japan who was a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania at the similar time frame and issued Japanese visa to thousands of Jews freeing from Nazi aggression. Both Wallenberg and Sigihara did it against the orders from their Governments. PS 2) Raou Wallenberg’s great grandfather (Gustav Wallenberg) was also a diplomat and was once stationed in Japan.Word to note

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labyrinth 迷路immunity 免除legation 公使館、 領事館＝consulate　大使館＝embassy

コラム　　英単語の意味を英語で覚えるメリット、そしてデメリット私たちはＡ４サイズのコピー用紙で、３０ページ近くの英文を毎月読む。毎回３テーマなので、２回で６テーマになる。トピックスは多岐にわたる。英文の用語上、読解的に易しいものもあるが、概して、多くの単語を辞書で確認することが多い。先日読んだシリア国の日本人人質事件に関連して、安倍首相のコメントに〝despicable”というタイトルがついていた。despicable を英英辞典で見ると、shamefully bad とか vile の単語が見える。despicable＝shamefully bad, vile と記憶す る と 、 despicable の 意 味 は 分 か る 。 も ち ろ んshamefully がどの程度の悪辣さを指しているのかが分かっていないと困るが。そして、その記事の先を読み進めることができる。次に、いつか別の記事で despicable が出てきた時、“あっ、shamefully bad だ”と思い出せばいいことになる。そのように、英英辞典で調べて、どんどん新しい単語を覚えていくとすると 、他の英語の単語も同時に覚えたり、記憶を強化できたりして、非常にメリットがある、と英文・英語学者は言う。もう５０年以上も前に、私が高校生の頃も、英英辞書を使え、なんて言っている大学の先生もいた。この覚え方は、慣れてくると非常に効果のある記憶法だろうと想像する。私の体験からも感じることだが、頭の中には「英語圏の世界」が少しずつ出来上がること、即、英語をマスターすることだと思うから。頭の中の「英語圏」の中に日本語を混在させない方が、英語の運用効率がいい、と私は感じ

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る。頭の中は通常、完全な「日本語圏」で占められている。日本語に“占領されている”と言ってもいい。そこに、英語の単語を注入していくと、最初、「日本語圏」にバラバラに英語を混在させることになる。でも、相当な英語量になり、更に英語を英語として使い始めると、独自の「英語圏」が出来上がる。頭の中では、日本語が出てくる瞬間は少なくなり、英語で考えて、英語で書いたり、発語するということになる。まあ、今の私や、メンバーの英語には、本当はこれがベストだと思う。一方、「英語の堪能な社員」として、日本の会社に勤める時には、これでは困る。社内ではすべて日本語だから、英語堪能者には、翻訳や通訳の仕事が付きまとう。despicable を瞬時に「卑劣な」と言い換えることができなければ、社内では、英語堪能者とはみなされない。帰国子女が社内で評価されない原因の一つはそこにある、と思われる。　　February 2, 2015

Warmer Pacific Ocean could release millions of tons of seafloor methane - Tsurumoto

(Summary)We read the article dated December 9, 2014 from “UW (University of Washington) Today” on their study on methane gas off the coast of Washington. Methane gas, the main component of natural gas, is trapped in frozen layers as carbon deposits below the seafloor at cold temperature and high ocean pressure. However, the study shows that the water in the intermediate depth in the sea water is warming enough to cause them to melt and release a powerful greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. The four decade long data UW collected show that deeper water has been warming mostly due to climate change at a surprisingly fast pace. They estimates that from 1970 to 2013, some 4 million metric tons of methane gas has been released from hydrate decomposition off Washington State coast. This is 500 times the rate at which methane is naturally released from the seafloor.Some fishermen have reported mysterious columns of bubbles on the sea surface suggesting that at least some of the seafloor gas may reach the surface and vent to the atmosphere.

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PSTsurumoto-san says that some scientists are suggesting that the huge amount of methane gasses released by earthquakes may be escalating the severity of Tsunamis caused by the earthquakes themselves. Word to noteplume 　　　大きくて派手な羽sediment　　　　　沈殿物decomposition 　 分解、変質core 　　　ドリルで地中から採った土の円筒状の標本coal bed methane 炭層メタンcoal mine methane 炭鉱メタン

2. Japan’s Abe Calls Latest Hostage Deadline “Despicable” - Sekiguchi(Summary)This is the Jan 27, 2015 article from the Associated Press reporting the status of the ISIS hostage (Goto) issue as of the date of the report. Kenji Goto was subsequently killed (beheaded!). We found that the Jordanian pilot had been killed (burnt in a cage!) long before (Jan 3) ISIS started negotiating a hostage swap for an ISIS woman terrorist who had been sentenced to death penalty and held in the Jordanian jail. The fight between ISIS vis a US-led coalition (including heightened airstrikes by Jordan Air Force) is continuing. Word to notedespicable 卑しむべき、卑劣な (In the text): This was an extremely despicable act. (Application): He was drunk and his behavior at the party was despicalbe.indignation 悪に対する憤慨 (In the text): We feel strong indignation.beseech 嘆願する、懇願する (In the text): The pilot’s father beseeched the Jordanian government to meet the demands of the IS group. (Application): The woman beseeched the chief not to steal her purse.saga 長編冒険談

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(Application): The film was a three-hour saga of World War II.

3． Is Capitalism destined to increase economic disparities as Piketty says? - Tomozawa(Summary)This is the January 26 article from The Yomiuri Shimbun on our super hero Thomas Piketty whose book “Capital in the Twenty-first Century” is selling like a hot cake throughout the world. By analyzing more than 200 years’ worth tax statistics from major national economies (mostly in the West), Mr. Piketty concludes that the concentration of wealth among owners of capital will continue well into the future, making the gap between the rich and the poor expand.His theory is not without criticisms but is significant in having stirred active debate among the academic as well as the public who are otherwise not much interested in economic theory books, especially of this volume (700 pages). The this Yomiuri article raises several questions such as:

1. Is Piketty not cherry-picking his huge data that are favorable to his theory?

2. Is the introduction of a universal wealth tax really possible?3. Should the same remedy be applied to countries like Japan

where disparity in income distribution is much more moderate? 4. Does the proposition (wealth tax) not discourage the rich of

their motivation to work and therefore slow the overall economy?43

PSPiketty–san, is the wealth tax the only solution? Is it not too simplistic? It is certainly most likely that the discussion on his theory/proposition will continue for many years to come. Word to note apprehend 逮捕する（arrest の遠回しの言い方）、意味を理解する(grasp)tenet 学派などの主義や教義en masse(アーンマス)　ひとまとめに、集団でin concert 一斉に、協力してpit,,,,,against 対抗させる、と戦わせる

February 16, 20151. Gov’t strengthens measures against terrorism threats - Nishimura(Summary)We read the Japan Times article dated February 4, 2015. Below is a shortened version of the summary provided by Nishimura-san.The recent hostage incident has posed serious challenge to the government regarding how to protect Japanese nationals from international terrorism.Prime Minister Abe emphasized that the government would make every possible effort to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens at home and abroad.ISIL employs a strategy of sending messages all over the world in multiplelanguages via the Internet, and having individuals commit terrorist attacks intheir own countries. A senior Foreign Ministry official said, ‘'The statement by ISIL of ‘wherever your people are found’ is not just a bluff.” Among its counterterrorism measures, the government places priority on border control to block the entry of terrorists to Japan. However, there is a problem with this border control Policy. As a pillar of its growth strategy, the government wants to increase the annual number of foreign visitors to 20 million by 2020 when the Tokyo Olympics are held. To realize this goal, the government eased requirements for visas for visitors from some countries. “More people entering Japan means a higher risk” of terrorists slipping

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through, a Justice Ministry senior official said.Word to noteLevant レヴァント地方（シリア、レバノン、イスラエルを含む地域）carnage 戦場での大虐殺、殺戮bluff おどし、はったりinviolate 犯されていない、破られていないdivest 捨てる、はく奪するpurportedly うわさによれば、その称するところによれば、to form a study team まずは勉強から、、、、、、、日本はいつもこれ。＊特別な災難や災害があって、今後の対策を考えるのに、まずは検討会、勉強　会、委員会などを立ち上げたりする。一人の人間が２、３時間で考えられる　内容である場合がほとんどなのに。なぜ、委員会が必要か。それは、皆と意　見を share したことが何より重要だという文化。2. Matured Anchorage Struggles to Shake Haunting Memories - Nishiwaki(Summary)This is the February 8, 2015 article from the New York Times. ANCHORAGE — This city often walks with a swagger as the metropolis of America’s far north, the high-rises of its oil-based economy glittering against a backdrop of mountain peaks and the ocean inlet named for Capt. James Cook, the English explorer. While Anchorage still occasionally glances south for approval, or for signs of a slight, it has recently carved a place of its own, residents say, with exciting art, dining and theater scenes, and job opportunities that go beyond energy.The great question now is whether maturity and diversity will provide shelter from the economic storm barreling fast in the city’s way.Six months of falling oil prices have come with some bitter and frightening memories of Anchorage in the mid-1980s, when the wild economic party ushered in by the Trans Alaska Pipeline shut down.“Gas prices going down are, to me, a red flag,” said Erica Wynn, who works for the city’s Office of Equal Opportunity.

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Yet lower energy prices has positive effects on Alaskan economy; tourism and commercial fishing are far bigger than they were in the 1980s.And the state government has savings, built up in the last few years, that could help avoid the drastic cuts that badly hurt the economy last time. Nishiwaki-san did a homework and found out that the state has a $53 billion fund from the past oil revenues, which pays dividends to residents from investment earnings. The last year’s payment was $1,884 per person, one of the biggest ever.　A hefty sum for a state of 730,000 population.Word to noteswagger　　　　威張った歩き方や態度slight 軽蔑、侮辱barrel 疾走する、樽に詰めるin place その場で、あるべき場所にgusher 噴出油井pare back 削減する

コラム　　“元東大名物教授が「英語の常識」を一刀両断”文春新書で去年暮れに出版された「英会話不要論」行方昭夫著の本の宣伝文句が上記タイトルの文字。中味は、昔風の“読み書き”中心の英語教育で、十分且つ最大の効果があるという主張である。ううっ？　よくぞ言うてくれた（笑い）今更、こういう主張も珍しいなあと思う。今は会話とヒアリング中心の教育が重視されているし、文部科学省もその方向で、膨大な予算をつぎ込んでいるらしいし。何せ、小学校から英語の会話を必須にするとのことだし、中学、高校は英語だけの授業をするように学校に通達を出しているとのこと。筆者は、東大の英文学の専門家で、小学、中学、高校の英語とは無縁の人だが、さすがに今の英語教育の方針は間違っていると思って、このような本を書いたとのこと。会話中心だと、しゃべるのもいい加減、読むのも昔よりはるかに低レベルになっているし、まして、英文を書くことはほとんどできないと氏は主張している。就職した会社での日ごろの業務を考えても、もっとも多いのは書く作業。今はメールでやり取りするので、書く英語は、昔と比べて格段に頻度が増しているという。しかし、ビジネス会話をすることは、一部の人を除いて

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機会はほとんど増えていない。昔の読み書き中心の教育で、しかも東大を卒業した人でも、書くことすら充分だという人は多くないらしい。それなのに、今は書くことより、しゃべることに重点を置いた教育なので、書く能力は昔よりはるかに落ちているとのこと。海外で、買い物ができる会話力が付くかもしれないレベルで、ビジネスに通用する英語は全く書けないだろうと、著者は言う。著者は、言語的類似性から言っても、文化的な違いから言っても、日本はアメリカやイギリスとは違いすぎる。だから、ヒアリングを少し練習したくらいで、書くレベルへの転換は無理だと言う。じっくりと時間をかけて、学習していかなければ、日本人が英語を“ある程度”マスターすることは不可能だとも言う。５０年以上も昔の私の英語学習時代のことを、今の時代に、やっぱりその方法しかないのよと著者は主張しているみたいで、どうなんだろう？ちょっぴり不安になったりもする。聞くだけでペラペラになると盛んに宣伝している英語学習方法があるが、その方法で本当に素晴らしい成果を生んでいることはないのか。その方法の体験談を集めたデータはないのか。やっぱりダメなのか。やっぱり、昔の方法がいいのか。　うーん？？？？March 2, 2015 1. Rehabilitation robotics – Umemura(Summary)This is a Wikipedia article.Rehabilitation robotics is a field of research dedicated to understanding and augmenting rehabilitation through the application of robotic devices. Such robots are used mainly as therapy aids instead of assistive devices. Rehabilitation using robotics is useful for individuals suffering from motion impairments, especially due to stroke. The robotics was introduced two decades ago for patients with neurological disorders. It is critical for these robots which are designed and put together carefully as they work with humans who are disables can react quickly in case something goes wrong. The number of rehabilitation robotics has grown (mostly in the U.S.) but still limited as they must go through extensive clinical tests.

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The rehabilitation robotics therapy for the stroke patients, as an example, has grown significantly with potential for cheaper and more effective therapy. Umemura-san, who presented this material, feels particularly close to the article as he had to go through hard rehabilitation period after he suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage some time ago.Words to note augment 価値を増す、（収入や人口を）増大させる　　　　　　　　＊argument = 議論、論争、口論stroke 脳卒中、脳出血、発作recuperation 療養、回復、静養paraplegics 両下肢麻痺（の人）haptic 触角の　（sense of touch の）pneumatic 圧縮空気で動く　　　　　　　　　＊pneumonia = 肺炎trough くぼみflexion 屈曲、湾曲、屈折spasticity 痙攣性の　spastic = 痙攣性患者2. Bio series – Toten Miyazaki （宮崎滔天） - Sadayasu (Summary)Here is another Wekipedia article. A Japanese man, named Toten Miyazaki, supported Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙 or 孫 文 ) to build the foothold and raise funds for Chinese Revolution of 1911. Sun recognized Miyazaki as a friend of his life. This spirit is being carried on to the current Chinese Communist Government and invited Toten descendants as National Guests of Honor to their 50th Anniversary commemorating the birth of Sun Yat-sen. The Miyazaki’s were seated next to Mao Zedong and Zhou Enrai at the ceremony. Miyazaki Toten was born in Arao, Kumamoto prefecture in 1871 as the fourth son to a family of lower class samurai Masakata Miyazaki and his wife Saki. When Toten was 22 years old, his elder brother Yazou told him that the rise and fall of China would have a clue to

48

regain freedom and human rights for the Asian people and insisted that Toten should devote his life to Chinese Revolution. Toten sympathized with his brother's thought and, in fact, spent the rest of his life in pursuing his brother’s dream. After having met Sun in Tokyo in 1897, he found Sun to be the man to achieve the revolution and supported him and his colleagues with their needs for logistics (including weapons) and funds as assisted by prominent Japanese Government officials including Inukai Tsuyoshi and Okuma Shigenobu. Sun and his colleagues eventually succeeded overthrowing the Quing dynasty in 1911. Even now, all Chinese ambassadors to Japan visit the Miyazaki family upon their first arrival in Japan.Words to note foothold 足がかり、足場、cajolery おべっか、甘言　cajole (動)丸め込む、甘言でだます (In the text): He refuses any bribery or cajolery.canvass 頼んで回る＊明治５年の征韓論の西郷隆盛のように、朝鮮や清国の人々を覚醒させようと試みる日本人は少なくなかったように思われる。日本は、最後には朝鮮を併合して、近代化を推進した。しかし、今はそれが禍根を残している。March 16, 2015 1. The Singularity Is Near – Kanzawa(Summary)This is a June 17, 2013 article from the magazine, Livescience, written by Tanya Lewis, staff writer for the magazine.By 2045, the article says humans will achieve digital immortality by uploading their minds to computers. This notion formed the basis for the Global Future 2045 International Congress, a futuristic conference held in New York on June 15-16.Kurzweil, one of the speakers at the Conference, predicted that by 2045, technology would be surpassing human brainpower to create a kind of super-intelligence — an event known as the singularity. Other scientists have said that robots would overtake humans by 2100

49

assuming that the Moore's law was correct. The Moore’s law says computing power doubles approximately every two years. What is the Singularity? Chad Brooks, a TechNewsDaily contributor, says it refers to a theoretical moment in the near future when computers will become smarter than humans. The rest of the article discusses the history surrounding the Singularity and possible benefits from achieving it.

P.S – Personally I am glad that I will not be around when the Singularity will have been achieved and we are all surrounded by robots that would be much smarter than humans. Word to note singularity　　技術的特異点＊未来研究において、正確まつ信頼できる、人類の技術開発の歴史から推測さ　れ得る未来モデルの限界点を指す。強い人工頭脳が欠かせない。inexorable どうしても変えられないinterstellar 星と星の間のexponential 指数の、指数関数的、幾何級数的

2. 　　　Japanese Fighter Pilots Confront Chinese – Kotake(Summary)This article is written by Martin Fackler, chief of The New York Times’ Tokyo Bureau and appeared in the paper’s March 8, 2015 issue. With its rapid economic growth, China is spending ever larger military budgets giving Japan increasing threats especially in the area surrounding the Senkaku islands that Japan controls but China claims as its own.In response to the rising pressure from China, Mr. Shinzo Abe, a rather nationalistic Japanese Prime Minister and a promotor of the principle “Proactive Pacifism”, is undertaking an aggressive overhaul of Japan’s defense posture. He is determined to rewrite laws to lift a

50

number of restrictions traditionally placed on Japan’s armed forces so the SDF can take more active roles in protecting Japan’s national interests. Fro this purpose, he is proposing a defense budget of record \4.98 trillion ($42 billion), 2.8% increase over the prior year. Meanwhile, China announced recently that its military spending would jump 10.1% in 2015 to an estimated $145 billion at a much faster pace than Japan’s.Meanwhile, Maj Gen. Suzuki, Naha base commander, was quoted saying “Every year, China’s operational capabilities seem to be rising and our level of anxiety rises along with them.”Word to note backwater 僻地、辺地、心の沈滞reconnaissance 偵察、偵察隊nimble 軽快な、鋭敏なslip-up ちょっとした間違い、誤りdovish ハトのような、ハト派の　　　　　　this long dovish nation=日本unnerving 悩ませる、怯えさせるleery of を用心して、避けてkeep tabs on に注意している、から目を離さないhold sway を支配するthwart を挫折させる、くじくaircraft carrier 空母コラム　　人間は賢いのか、他の生物がもっと賢いのか？今回、Putin がクリミア併合に関連して、核臨戦態勢への準備をしたとの発言をしたことで、驚いてしまったが、アメリカは、数年前には使用可能な核兵器開発と維持というポリシーを堅持すると宣言していたので、アメリカ軍の中枢部は別に驚いてはいなかったかもしれない。でも、“Putin、お前もか”（ブルータスよ、お前もか、じゃないですが）と思い、個人的には思わずびっくりした。 先日、singularity について、勉強したが、コンピュータが人間よりもsmarter になる時が、２０４５年位に来る。しかしロシアがその前に、（ミスか、故意かは別として）、核戦争を始めてしまい、アメリカも中国もイン

51

ドもパキスタンも参戦して、北半球は危機的放射能汚染にさらされ、人類が滅亡する（少なくとも北半球の人類は）可能性だって、なきにしもあらず、と想像してしまった！ ところで、先週、ＴＶでカラスの思考能力(問題解決能力)の高さについて、面白い番組をやっていた。ＢＢＣのドキュメンタリーだったように思う。三段論法的な難問を一瞬にして解決するその知能はすごい！と思わせる。一方、人類は道具を発明し、文明を発展させ、産業革命を興し、今やＩＴ革命で、コンピュータが人類より賢くなりそうな時代になっている（らしい）。 人類の我々はそのような進歩を誇りに思い、他の動物には絶対不可能、だから、人間は一番偉い とか考えて いるが 、三年前に読ん だ tardigrades (waterbears) を思い出し、そうじゃない可能性だってあるんじゃないかと思った。「俺たちは、人間のような文明は発展させない。それは馬鹿げたことだ。何故なら、それで、自滅する可能性が高いから。俺たちは何億年も生き残る道を選択する」と、、、、彼ら waterbears さん達は言っているかもしれないと。 １万５０００年前と言われる、高度な発展をとげたアトランティス文明(伝説)の突然の崩壊に懲りず、人間はまたまた文明を発展させ、核兵器を大量に製造し、もう一度自滅する道を突き進んでいるのじゃないかなんて、Putinさんの発言で考えさせられる。 まあ、こんな想像(妄想？)は笑うしかない戯言ではあるが、カラスの知能にして、しかも未だに棒っきれ以外の道具を使わない賢明さに、つい感じ入った次第でもある。カラスよ、ほんとにそう決心しているのかな？ waterbears もすごく高度に発展した生物なのかも(笑い）。

April 6, 2015 1. What Grain Is Doing To Your Brain – Tsurumoto(Summary)This is a Forbes article dated November 14, 2013 by Gary Drevitch, a web editor, about a rather radical dietary advice by David Perlmutter, neurologist and author of a book with rather shocking title of “Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar.”In this book, he argues that all carbs, including highly touted whole grains, are causing devastating damages to our brains eventually leading us to dementia

52

and Alzheimer’s disease. He says the origin of brain disease is not in our genes but is caused from what you eat. His arguments are supported by researches conducted by Mayo Clinic and other research institutes. Perlmutter says we need to return to the eating habits of early man, a diet which is generally thought to be about 75% fat and 5% carbs. This ratio compares to the average U.S. diet today of about 60% carbs and 20% fat (the ratio for Japanese?). He says the idea that grains are good for you seems to get too much play and” a low-fat diet for good health has been drummed into our heads, but it is completely off-base and deeply responsible for most of our modern illnesses.” He says we should eat more fat and less grain if we want to reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer, dementia and other type of brain diseases. Word to notetouted 褒めちぎった、ward off を防ぐ、から身をかわすepilepsy てんかんscourge 災難、たたりdebilitating 一時的に衰弱させるpremise 仮定、前提delve into 問題を掘り下げる、徹底的に調べるoff-base 全く的外れの、全くの間違いでoverhaul 健康診断、分解点検、整備free-range egg 外で飼われたニワトリの卵come what may どんなことが起こっても Grain Brain ( by Dr. Perlmutter) 　の本からのメモ

認知症　　　　dementia アルツハイマー病（第三の糖尿病だと判明、２００５年）

も

　　　　　　　含む。

Ⅱ型糖尿病患者　type II diabetics　　　大人になってから徐々にかかる糖尿病で、イ

ン

　　　　　　　スリン非依存型糖尿病である。

　　　　　　　永田孝志もこれ。６５歳以上のアメリカ人の１１００万人がⅡ型糖尿病。

Ⅰ型糖尿病　　自己免疫疾患と考えられる。子供がウイルス感染のどをきっかけとして

53

発

　　　　　　　症する。インスリンが分泌される膵臓のランゲルハンス島に対して自己

抗

　　　　　　　体ができ、壊してしまうのが原因。

ＡＤＨＤ　　　注意欠如・多動性障害　（換言すると、“集中力が欠け、落ち着きのない、

　　　　　　　ふらふら歩きまわる衝動のある子供”）　

　　　　　　　Attenton-deficit, hyperactivity disorder の略

１０秒と大人しく座っていられない。幼稚園でも小学校でも、そんな子供

　　　　　　　がいる。治療は気分を変える薬物療法で行う。精神障害や行動障害の割

合

　　　　　　　が急激に増えているので、益々強力な薬が開発されている。しかし、本

当

　　　　　　　は、粘着性のある小麦タンパク質をを除くと、直ることが多い。

グルテン　　　gluten　小麦粉に含まれる植物性タンパク質で、パンのもっちり感や麺

類

　　　　　　　のコシはグルテンの働き、粘着性があり、パン製品を作るのに欠かせな

い。

　　　　　　　地球上で最もありふれた添加物：調味料、カクテル、化粧品、ハンドク

リ

　　　　　　　ーム、アイスクリーム、スープ、甘味料、、栄養機能食品、調合薬、

etc.　　　　　　　に添加されている。神経回路網にダメージを与える。胃で分解されると

血

　　　　　　　液脳関門を通過できるポリペプチド混合物(エクソルフィン)になる。　

グルテン過敏症　　筋失調症、運動障害を起こす。癲癇も原因する。常に脳に影響を与

え

　　　　　　　る統合失調症、癲癇、双極性障害、うつ病、自閉症、ＡＤＨＤなどに結

び

　　　　　　　ついている。片頭痛、生殖不能、じんましん、etc.　　　　　　　炎症性分子の産生を増大させる。炎症分子は神経変性疾患に重要な関係

が

　　　　　　　　ある。

celiac syndrome　 セリアック病、小児脂肪便症、グルテンに関連する自己免疫疾患、

54

グ

　　　　　　　　ルテン性腸症

ヒトツブコムギ　　野生のコムギ、まだ自生しているところがある。

フタツブコムギ

スタチン（リピトール）　コレステロールを下げる薬、脳の機能を下げる、心臓疾患の

可

　　　　　　　　　能性を高めるという研究発表がある。そして、認知症のリスクが高

ま

　　　　　　　　　る。何百万人に処方されている。スタチン服用者で、ＬＤＬ（悪玉

コ

　　　　　　　　　レステロール）の値が低かった人の死亡率は高く、コレステロール

値

　　　　　　　　　が高い人の死亡率は低かった。　LDL = low density lipo protein西欧人　　　　　　狩猟採集民 日本人は漁労（狩猟）採集民か。

祖先の食事　　　　脂肪７５％、炭水化物５％、タンパク質２０％

現代の食事　　　　脂肪２０％、炭水化物６０％、タンパク質２０％

糖新生　　　　　　脂肪やタンパク質からグルコースを作る

トランス脂肪（酸）　trans fats　　水素を添加して、加工した脂肪で、サラダ油など。

　　　　　　　　　有害である。水素添加するプロセスを通じて油を硬化させ、バター

に

　　　　　　　　　似せる技術を開発し、マーガリンを開発した。１９８０年半ば頃か

ら、

　　　　　　　　　普及。

ＧＩ値（グリセミック・インデックス）　全粉小麦パン７１、精白糖６８、チョコバー

５

　　　　　　　　　５、バナナ５６。小麦粉が圧倒的に高い。

グルテンを含まない穀類　　米、大豆、ソバ、トウモロコシ、ジャガイモ、etc.コレステロール　　低いとパーキンソン病になりやすい。一方、飽和脂肪酸を摂取する

と、

　　　　　　　　　冠状動

　　　　　　　　　脈性心疾患、脳卒中、心血管疾患のリスクを増大するという従来の

主

　　　　　　　　　張には根拠がない。

55

米国心臓協会　　　１９５６年、「賢明な食事」の推奨：バター、ラード、卵、ビーフ

を

　　　　　　　　　控えて、マーガリン、コーン油、チキン、シリアルを食べるように

　　　　　　　　　と。

米国上院の栄養・人間ニーズ特別委員会　　１９７７年、「米国食事目標」を発表：脂

肪

　　　　　　　　　を減らし、高コレストレール食品を避けること。肉、牛乳、卵、

チー

　　　　　　　　　ズ、ココナッツオイル、ヤシ油は悪い食品の代表とされた。

米国糖尿病学会　　１９９４年、カロリーの６０～７０％を炭水化物から摂取するよう

に

　　　　　　　　　推奨。１９８１年から２０１１年に、糖尿病患者は３倍に増加した。

多価不飽和脂肪　　アボカド、オリーブ、ナッツは健康にいい。

卵　　　　　　　　コレステロール豊富で、頭にいい食品だ。

糖質（炭水化物）　sugar, carb, carbohydrateプリオン　　　　　誤って折りたたまれたタンパク質（misfolded protein）、狂牛病

の原

　　　　　　　　　因

糖化反応(glication)　糖分子がタンパク質、脂肪、アミノ酸に結合。

終末糖化産物は AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Product)と略記。

　　　　　　　　　高炭水化物の食事は糖化反応を促進する。糖質は体内でタンパク質

と

　　　　　　　　　簡単に結合する。タンパク質が糖化されると、フリーラジカルの量

は

　　　　　　　　　５０倍を超える。細胞の機能が阻害され、死んでしまう。アルツハ

イ

　　　　　　　　　マー病、パーキンソン病の原因。

A1c（ヘモグロビンA1c）赤血球の中のタンパク質で、糖化したヘモグロビンは糖尿病

の

　　　　　　　　　強い危険因子となる。脳の委縮が起こる。A1c を減らすことが重要。

インスリン　　　　The lower, the better. インスリン値は低ければ低いほどいい。

腹が出ていればいるほど、脳の海馬は小さくなる。

地中海式食事　　　オリーブオイル、ナッツ、豆、フルーツ、野菜、ワインを豊富に摂

56

取。

　　　　　　　　　典型的な低脂肪食事。脳卒中や心臓疾患は３０％低いと２０１３年、

　　　　　　　　　ニューイングランド医学誌が発表。

科学的根拠 vs事例証拠　evidence がないと、証明されたことにならないと考えるグ

ルー

　　　　　　　　　プ。一方、グルテンを除去すると症状がなくなるような臨床経験を

大

　　　　　　　　　切にする医師もいる。日々の診療の中で観察されるケースは、

　　　　　　　　　evidence を提供しない事例である。

鬱（うつ）　　　　コレステロールの低い人に多いことが分かっている。コレステロー

ル

　　　　　　　　　を下げるスタチン（リピトール）を飲んでいる人は、うつになる可

能

　　　　　　　　　性が高い。１９９３年、コレステロール値の低い男性は、同じ条件

で、

　　　　　　　　　高い人より３倍の可能性があると判明した。コレステロール値の低

い

　　　　　　　　　人はそうでない人より、自殺率が２倍高い。２００９年、精神医学

研

　　　　　　　　　究誌は、米国の退役軍人４５００人を調査。コレステロール値が低

い

　　　　　　　　　人は、自殺、事故などで、早死にするリスクが７倍高いと発表。

事例（統合失調症）１７歳で統合失調症と診断され、７０歳になって、低炭水化物の新

し

　　　　　　　　　い食事を

　　　　　　　　　始めた。１週間で症状改善、３週間で幻聴も幻覚もなくなり、完全

に

　　　　　　　　　治った。

片頭痛（migraine）グルテンフリーの食事を試す価値は十分にある。

炎症　　　　　　　脂肪細胞は炎症反応を引き起こすサイトカインを大量に分泌する。

頭

　　　　　　　　　痛は炎症の兆候である。

糖新生　　　　　　gluconeogenesis 糖質以外の物質からグルコースを生産する。

57

　　　　　　　　　筋肉にあるタンパク質アミノ酸からブドウ糖の分子を作る。だから、

　　　　　　　　　肉を食べていれば、炭水化物（糖質）を摂取する必要はない。

断食　　　　　　　脳はブドウ糖を使うのを止め、肝臓で作られるケトンを使う。脳が

ケ

　　　　　　　　　トンを代謝しているときは、細胞自殺（アポトーシス）は減り、ミ

ト

　　　　　　　　　コンドリアの遺伝子は始動し、ミトコンドリアを複製する。即ち、

脳

　　　　　　　　　はクリアに働くことができる。

DHA ドコサヘキサン酸、抗炎症作用がある。１週間に２回以上魚を食べて

　　　　　　　　　いる人はアルツハイマー病になるリスクが５９％下がる。

ココナッツオイル　神経変性の症状を予防し、直す働きがある。脳のスーパー燃料だ。

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2. Chinese Development Bank Gains Members – Tomozawa (Summary)This is from March 28, 2015 edition of VOA Learning English and talks about the AIIB that China has proposed and is intended to provide funds to help build infrastructure in Asia. This organization will supplement the already existing World Bank (WB), Asia Development Bank (ADB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). It expected to be capitalized at $100 billion, one half of which is funded by China. So far, 50 plus countries has applied for the membership. The United States and Japan are two major countries that have not applied for the membership. It is said that the Chinese government has been frustrated with the slow pace of reforms and governance in global established institutions (IMF, WB and ADB) that are mostly dominated by American, European and Japanese interests.With the dominant role played by China, will it replace existing institutions, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank? The U.S. and Japan as well as other key European countries are concerned whether the new institution will have high and adequate standard of governance in place. These are the key political but legitimate questions that are holding back their application for the membership. The deadline for the founding membership was March 31, 2015. Word to notegovernance 管理、制御、統治、統治能力。 「コーポレートガバナンス」と　　　　　　　は、直訳すれば「企業統治」を指す。企業をどのように経営(統　　　　　　　治)してゆくのかということ。

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＊現在、５０ケ国以上が参加したということは、それだけ、この AIIB に対する世界の国々の期待が高いことを示唆している。アジア市場で、インフラ投資に対する潜在需要が激しく高まってきていたにも拘わらず、アジア開発銀行は無視してきたことを意味している、と私は思う。例えば、フィリピンを例にとると、過去１０年くらいで、ものすごい経済成長を達成している。資金需要がどれだけ大きかっただろうか。アジア開発銀行の総裁は歴代日本人だそうである。大蔵省、財務省のＯＢが天下り先と考えて、老後の見栄と所得確保の地位としてしか考えてこなかったのか。爆発的アジアの潜在需要を感得することのない、ＯＢたちの大きな怠慢。“ダラカン”（ダメな幹部）の典型、、、、、。April 20, 2015 1. Beneath California Crops, Ground Water Crisis Grows – Nishiwaki(Summary)We read two articles from The New York Times (both dated April 2015) about the severe water shortages in California. The articles say that California residents are urged to conserve water usage to fight the drought, but a relatively small adjustment in agriculture use of water could solve the whole situation in the state. Agriculture consumes roughly 80% of the surface water available for human use in California. For example, the article (in the “Making Sense of Water” April 14) refers to the estimates published by Public Policy Institute of California that says more water was used to grow almonds in 2013 than was used by all homes and businesses in San Francisco and Los Angeles put together.” “Even worse,” it says, “all almonds are then exported, which means, effectively, meaning that we are exporting water.”Where does all this water come from in a state so arid? Farmers are drilling wells and pumping billions of gallons of water from the ground. This practice will deplete a resource that was critically endangered even before the drought. Yet, people do not readily notice it and the potential dangers associated with this practice. Many experts say the California’s water crisis cannot be solved without major contributions from the farming sector.

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Restricting the use of water including ground water by farmers? Moving production of some of the water hungry produces out of California? These moves can certainly ease the condition in California but they are closely entwined in politics and without doubt take time to be implemented. Word to notefrenzy 狂乱、狂気groundwater 地下水　　　surface water 地表水、表流水buoy を浮かすhouse of cards 野望の階段fallow 休耕田にするarid 乾燥した、不毛の、湿気のない

2. As the importance of intellectual capital grows, privilege has become increasingly heritable – Sekiguchi

(Summary)The article is from a recent edition of The Economist. It says that it is intellectual capital, not monetary assets that matters most in making some groups of people successful. These clever, successful men marry clever and successful women, conceive bright children, live and raise their children in stable and pricey neighborhoods and send them to good schools with all other financial and educational support. Thus it is quite likely that their children succeed as their parents did. If this pattern continues, we will see a new class of elite group (like old dynasties?) backed up by intellectual capital which can be increasingly heritable. The article says that the U.S. Government should get involved and start providing educational and other assistance to those children with high potential but without adequate financial resources so that the potential imbalance among the rich and poor due to educational background is minimized in the future.

PS – Thomas Pickety suggests use of taxation method to minimize 61

the gap between the rich and poor. Word to noteheritable 相続できる、（医学）遺伝性の　heritage=相続財産、伝統、環境calcify　　　石灰化する、を硬化するaristocracy 貴族階級、貴族政治(国家)robber baron　泥棒男爵（寡占、不公正な取引で膨大な私財を蓄えた大金持ち）trust-busting 独占、トラストを解散、解消するrelentlessly 情け容赦なく

splash out on 　金を派手に使う

tumbril （ギロチン台に）死刑囚を運んだ護送車

posh 上流の、しゃれた

meritocratic　　能力主義の

demagogue　　扇動する人　　demagoguery=デマ、扇動

Strike while the iron is hot 鉄は熱いうちに打て　（若い年齢を意味しない）

コラム　痴呆症から認知症へ、英語では dementia だけ２００４年、厚労省は「痴呆症」は蔑称と考える人が多いということで、「認知症」という中性的な表現に変更すると発表した。今はそれが一般に普及して、新聞でも、テレビでも認知症という表現しか使われていない。痴呆症は英語で言えば、dementia。英語で、cognitive impairment と い う表現も医学記事に 出 て く る 。 た だ し 、 cognitive impairment は、dementia の説明として使われていて、それを病名として、一般の人々は使っていないようである。アメリカのアンケート調査で、dementia が〝the most feared illness″と考えられているという。癌よりも恐れられた病気だそうである。日本人は、認知症という“きれいな”言葉に、深刻な病態を結び付けていないように見える。認知症とは、軽い物忘れ、場所の感覚に多少の混乱が見られる、時々トイレで失敗する、程度と考えているみたいでる。日本人は「認知症がもっとも恐ろしい病気」とは考えていない。アメリカ人が dementia を癌以上に恐れているのは、症状が実感できるからではないか。もし、日本で、今も「痴呆症」という表現が使われていたら、アメリカ人のような恐怖感をその病気に抱いたかもしれないのでる。

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人生５０年と言われていた時代、人は歳を取ると、「老いぼれる」、あるいは、「耄碌する」、そして、軽い「ボケ」になる、と自他ともに認めていた。人生５０年の時代、還暦を迎える人は少数派だったので、「ボケ」る頃には、ほとんどの人は亡くなっていた。今、認知症という言葉で、現代の人々が連想するのは、軽いボケ症状だろう。ボケも進めば、本当に深刻な事態になることは推測できても、言葉のニューアンスから「ボケ」、悪化してもせいぜい「ひどいボケ」くらいにしか感じていないように見える。そうなら、これからの日本、認知症の対応に大きなミスを犯すのではないかと危惧する。先日、朝日新聞に「認知症はもう怖くない」という本の広告があった。実際に本を買って、精読すれば、どういう意味で言われているのか分かるだろうが、一般の人々は、この広告だけを見て、“ああ、もう怖くないのか、大したことじゃないないのだな”と誤解するだろう、、、、と私は思った。痴呆症じゃなく、認知症なので、深刻な病気じゃないのだという最近の誤解が広がってしまう可能性もあるのではないか。言葉の変更だけで、事態が改善するかのような策は禍根を残すと私は思う。May 4, 2015 1. Motor-free Device Reduce Stress from Walking - Umemura(Summary)Umemura-san introduced a couple of articles introducing walking aid devices now available in the U.S.The first is a VOA Learning English article dated April 15 introducing a small, mechanical and wearable artificial ankle called exoskeleton which is connected to ordinary shoes and takes over part of the load from walking. The inventor says the device reduces the amount of energy required for walking by 7 %. It is meant for people recovering from a surgery operation or a stroke. The second one is an article from Health magazine (no date) introducing a new wireless device to help people suffering from multiple sclerosis. The device is called NESS L300. Although the article does not provide exact description of the device, it is an electrical device and sends signals to the muscles in your leg. Such

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signals stimulate your leg muscles to function as they should in healthy person. It does take a lot of training for you to get used to the device, both physically and mentally. Word to noteankle 足首、踝（くるぶし）　足指＝toe 膝＝knee 股間＝crotchcalf (calves) ふくらはぎ　　こむらかえり＝cramp (ひきつり)multiple sclerosis 多発性硬化症　動脈硬化症＝arteriosclerosis off-putting 当惑させる

(In the text): Its therapy expense was off-putting.convergence 収束、収斂

a twitch and a tingle ぴくぴく（けいれん）、ひりひり（うずき）

limp 片足を引くずる、ひきずって歩くこと

the dings and twitches ガンガン（鳴る）、ぴくぴく

marvel 感動する ～ atthe blinds （猟師などの）隠れ場

out of shape 体調が悪くて

(In the text): She was really out of shape.

2. 70 years after WWII: My view - Japan must learn to find its own way – Nishimura (Summary)We read a Japan News article dated April 22, 2015 about the opinion of Professor Shunya Yoshimi of Tokyo University on Japan’s postwar period. The postwar period began with the U.S.-led Occupation of Japan. The majority of Japanese people consider it as “basically a good thing.” The postwar period worked out because we voluntarily accepted U.S. rule. Postwar Japan has been consistently pro-United States. The United States helped Japan maintain its dominant position in Asia in the postwar period. The United States supported Japan's recovery to win the Cold War. In the postwar period, Japan prospered as the economic center of Asia.

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After the war, Japan gained benefits by going voluntarily under the U.S. umbrella. On the other hand, we neglected to develop the ability to decide on our own future by ourselves. In the “post-Cold War era” the premise of "a postwar Japan sustained by the United States” is collapsing, and it is also an era in which things Japan has preserved are wavering. Will we be able to draw our own scenario for the continued maturation of our society and move ourselves toward that goal? It is essential to have the ability to manage our society flexibly. (Prepared by Nishimura-san)Word to notevie with 張り合う、競うwaver ゆらめく、ちらつく、ためらう (In the text): Pro-American sentiment wavered.relinquish 放棄する、手放す (In the text): The United States began relinquishing bases in areas around major cities like Tokyo.remnants 名残り、遺産careen 揺れながら疾走するflinch しりごみする、身を引くfalter くじける、ゆらぐadeptly 熟達して、うまく

(2015 年 5 月 18 日は K-SEC創立１５周年記念の昼食会及び自己紹介＋free talking の session を持ち、通常の reading/discussion はなかった。)

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コラム　　　高速音読法（泉 幸男という人の提唱）泉 幸男さんは商社勤務の人で、「英語学習の極意」という文春新書を出している。本の帯の宣伝では「１０言語をモノにした商社マン」となっている。この本を本屋さんで見たとき、興味をそそられたのは、“高速音読法”という言葉だった。私は、長い間、音読をしてきて、今も音読することが多いが、私の音読のスピードは、ごく普通のもので、ことさら早く読もうと試みたことはなかった。すばやく音読することに対する理論（理由）を自分なりにまとめたこともなかったし。ところが、泉氏の高速音読はきちんと理論があり、脳科学的にも根拠があり、体験的にも実感があるようだった。

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私は、滑舌という面から、英語を早く読むと、口も滑らかになるのじゃないか、くらいの考えで、時々早く読むということをやることはあるが、それが記憶や会話の時に言葉が自然に口をついて出てくるとか、hearing が向上するとか、などを考えたことはほとんどなかった。これから、著者のいう高速音読法を試してみたいと思っている。滑舌は老人にとっては悩みの種で、少しでも言葉が滑らかに口をついて出てくるというのは、望むところである。言葉がスムーズに出てくるのは、何となく頭の回転が衰えていない証拠のように感じたりもするし。日本語の本を高速で読む速読術という技術がある。これは、もちろん無音で、目で文字を追って高速で読んでいく。若いサラリーマン時代に関心を持って、ハウツー本を買って読んだこともあるが、すぐ断念した。とても自分には向いていないように感じたから。だから、私は未だに、“遅読”である。英語の高速音読は、速読術とは全く違う。早く音読することによって、英語が口の筋肉になじむ。スピード感をもって音読すると、native speakers のスピードが自然なスピードに聞こえるというメリットがある。英語の単語を一つの塊として記憶し、塊のまま口をついて出てくる。もし本当にそのようなことが実感出来るのであれば、英語のレベルも上がるだろう。まあ、そうは言っても、私はもう老人である。老人がどのような方法でやろうと、そんなに身に着くとも思えないのが、事実だろうね。昔、「６０の手習い」ということを言った。そのような年齢になって、新しいことを習い始めるということは、感心なことではあっても、進歩は本当に遅々たるものですよ、ということであろう。でも、この高速音読法は、少し試してみるのも悪くない気がする。　　June 1, 20151. Speech by PM Abe at the U.S. Congress - Kotake (Summary)First, I would like to quote Kotake-san’s introduction of the material. QuoteThis is the first time that Japan’s prime minister has addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress. Now is a good opportunity for us to access to our prime minister’s historic public speech in English as well as in mother language Japanese, regardless of his length. There must be pros and cons about the contents of his speech. Judging

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from present various confused international situations, which are caused by the rampancy of China’s ethnocentrism, we are forced to strengthen our national security stance by solidifying Japan-US Alliance. His speech seemed to be welcomed and favorably commented upon by US lawmakers and press as a symbol of reconfirming not only our friendship but also our mutual readiness to cope jointly with complicated international situation. Unquote

Although we all agree that Abe-san did quite a good job as a Prime Mister of Japan, who are usually poor in making a speech in English, there were some opinions from among the members that he could have spoken a little faster and read paragraph that convey one and the same message in one breath (or maybe in two?). Instead, he took time and tried to pronounce each and every word meticulously (not successful at times) with almost the same pitch. This made the speech a little boring and did not impress the audience as much as it should have. Word to notefilibuster (長い演説で)議事の進行を妨害するcheeky 生意気な、厚かましい (In the text): Hey, you are so cheeky, Abe.repentance 後悔、悔恨、（regret, remorse）valor （戦闘での）勇気、勇敢さseedbed 苗床、温床crossroads 岐路2. Worst Natural Disasters 　　　　　 – Sadayasu(Summary)We read a list of the 25 worst disasters of the world. The list covered the natural disasters caused by extreme weather, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and killer viruses. The list did not include the human inflicted disasters such as wars, terrorisms, simply tyranny, etc. The ranking is based on the number of human causalities and dollar

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values each disaster ended up costing in recovering from the damages caused.The list attempts to include the disasters in the ancient days for which we have some but very limited definitive evidences. One example is the Black Death epidemic (mid -14th century?) which is supposed to have caused tens of millions of deaths in Europe. .The Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami (in 2011) is included in the listBut it reports a death toll of 15 thousand and 1,814 missing. So, I am afraid the data there is a little old. Word to notepyroclastic 火災性の、火砕流 (In the text): swift-moving currents of hot gas and rock called pyroclastic flows.obliterate を完全に破壊する、取り除く to destroy, eradicate (In the text): causing the city to be obliterated (Application): Sand blown by the wind obliterated the writing on the temple walls.pestilence （致命的な）伝染病 a plague　　pestilent=伝染病の (Application): Doctors could not stop the pestilence.arable 耕作に適する fit for plowing (Application): Farmers must have arable land in order to grow crops.propagate 増殖させる to breed, reproduce and spread (Application): Plants propagated near the pond and gradually covered it over.

June 15, 20151. Japan Pension Service data leak made worse by insufficient measures

– Kanzawa69

(Summary)This is a June 2, 2015 article from the Mainichi Japan reporting a major security breach at the Japan Pension Service (JPS). It was announced that, due to insufficient data security measures in place, approximately 1.25 million data items leaked from the JPS’s virus affected server between May 8 and May 29. Nearly 1.17 million items out of them included such critical information as the 10-digit ID numbers given to National Pension Plan and Employees' Pension Plan members, members' names, and birthdates. Information security companies and metropolitan police determined that the virus was a new type, but a senior JPS official admitted, "Looking back now, we may have been too lax”. The JPS says it will assign new ID numbers to those affected by the leak, and will take thorough measures to confirm the identity of plan members and take all procedures to prevent the leaked information from being used illegally. Word to noteprovenance 出所、由来、起源lax ゆるんだ、たるんだ lacking in strict attention to details (Application): Hi bookkeeping is lax.fiasco 完全な失敗、不面目な結果 complete and usually embarrassing failure (Application): Her attempt to run for Senator was a fiasco.swipe かっぱらう steal or to try to hit with a broad stroke (Application): The children swiped all the candy from the jar. He swiped at the ball with all his strength.snafu （俗語）大混乱、てんやわんや　a very confused situation (Application): We sent back the shirt because it was the wrong color. Then the company sent us the right color but the wrong size. What a snafu.

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2. Facing Early Death, on Their Terms – Tsurumoto(Summary)This is a March 28, 2015 article from the New York Times written by Jan Hoffman reporting renewed efforts to help dying adolescents to be better prepared for their imminent death. There are no firm estimates of the number of young patients facing life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart disease and congenital deformities, etc. It is said that they account for an estimated 11 percent of deaths among adolescents, about 1,700 per year. And many thousands are said to live with the uncertainty of grave illness.It is rather common to have end-of-life discussions before a patient is too sick to participate, but this is mostly focused on older adults. When patients are under 18 and do not have legal decision-making authority, doctors have traditionally asked anguished parents to make advanced-care choices on their behalf.However, more recently, health service providers have begun approaching teenagers and young adults directly, giving them a voice in these difficult decisions. The guide, called “Voicing My Choices”, is an end-of-life workbook for young children and their parents, as well as planning guides for older adults, and is the first guide created for — and largely by — adolescent and young adult patients.The guide is made up of a number of questions asking patients on 1) how they would like to be supported, 2) what they would like their family and friends to know about them and 3) how they would like to be remembered. The article we read gives detail accounts of how a 17 year old patient called Ashley McHale (who died in July this year from tumor) and others used the workbook to ease their last days. The approach met some resistance initially from parents and patients, but gradually became accepted by them and proved helpful tools after all.Word to note

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features 容貌 the mouth, chin, nose, eyes, etc. of the human face (Application): That model has a beautiful features.melanoma メラノーマ、黒色腫underage 未成年 a person who is below the legal age for some purpose (Application): Anyone below the age of twenty is underage and cannot drink alcohol in this state.congenital （病気、障害などが）生まれつきの、先天的なpalliative (痛みを)一時的に緩和する、一時しのぎのhushed 　　　　小声のexacerbate 悪化させるadolescent 10代の若者lymphoma リンパ肉腫congestive うっ血性のrenal 腎臓の of kidneyallay （悲しみを）和らげるgalvanize　　　　人に衝撃を与える、に電気を通す、亜鉛メッキする　　　　　　　　to stimulate, make somebody act to cover metal with zincmetastatic （がん細胞などの）転移のfrantic 大あわてのprognosis 予知、予測 a prediction or forecast (Application): The prognosis for the economy is uncertain. 予後 (in medicine) a doctor’s opinion of how a patient’s disease will end (Application): The prognosis for the cancer patient is that he has six months to live.steppingstones 踏み石、足がかりautoimmune　　　自己免疫性のrelapsed 再発する、ぶり返すmarrow 骨髄 a soft jelly-like substance inside bones that make new

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blood cells (Application): Dogs love to chew on bones to taste the marrow.

コラム　　　母親の言葉は羊水の中の胎児に聞こえている胎児は出生後に初めて人の言葉を聞き、その後の家庭環境で身につける、と長い間考えられてきた。医学会でも、です。しかし、４０年くらい前に日本の医師が、胎児がお腹の中にいて、羊水に浮かんでいる時から、母親の言葉をお腹の膜を通して、また体の振動を通して、聴いているということを発見した。その後、胎教ということが本当にあるのだと人々は考えるようになった。今や常識になっている。モーツアルトの音楽を聞かせていると、出生した時に既にモーツアルトの音楽が乳児の脳細胞の奥に浸透していると考えられている。生後 2 年もすると、ほとんどの乳幼児は日本語の基本文型、文法を身につけている。片言での会話でも、文法的におかしなことはないし、文型も日本語になっている。あとは語彙が増えていくことを待つだけ、ということになる。早い子は 3歳で大人と同じように正確な会話を行う。遅くても 5歳。知らない大人がその子に話しかけると、丁寧語やきちんとした文章にしようとして、話し方がスローになったり、たどたどしかったりする。でも、友達同士だと、非常にスムーズに、語彙豊富にしゃべっている。言語習得の神秘？胎児の脳が羊水の中で聞いていた言葉をどのように分析して、日本語の文法や文型を覚えるのか。まさしく神秘としか言いようがないと思う。胎児の時から生後にかけて、複雑な日本語をどうやって分析・分類して記憶しているのだろうか。脳細胞の神秘、ホント。私達が中学から学ぶ英語はどうなのだろう？日本語の回路が奥深く根付いた脳細胞に、果たして英語の文法や適切な文型をはめ込むことができるのだろうか。日本語と同じ奥の奥に英語を根付かせることができるのだろうか。確かに少しずつとはいえ、英語の文型を記憶し、語彙を増やしていくことはできる。記憶力のずば抜けていい人は、その習得が速いことも確かである。彼らでさえ、身に着けた英語の深度が、日本語の深度と同じかと言えば、違うであろう。一方、記憶力が普通の人は、英語を話すことさえままならない。私も、何十

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年も文型を覚え、語彙を増やし、スムーズに話せるように努力してきたが、深度の違いは未だに歴然としている、と実感する。言語というものは不思議なものだ。たとえ明確に意識してなくても、何かを感じたり、ひらめいたりしても、後で思い返してみると、すべて言語になっている。言語は人格、人としての存在と一体となっている。うーん。July 6, 20151. The Rohingyas – Sekiguchi(Summary)We read the Economist’s June 13, 2015 article on The Rohingyas. The Rohingyas are considered the most persecuted people (Muslims) on earth. The original Rohingyas probably arrived in what was then the independent kingdom of Arakan (now Rakhine) in the present day Myanmar as long ago as the 8th century. They were seafarers and traders from the Middle East and in the 17th century tens of thousands of Bengali Muslims joined them. Some were forced to serve in the king of Arakan’s army, others were sold as slaves and many of them were forced to settle in Arakan. “Rohingya” simply means “inhabitant of Rohang (early Muslim name for Arakan). The kingdom of Arakan was consequently conquered by the Burmese army in 1785.At this juncture there was little tension between the Muslims and the Arakanese (mostly Buddhist). But this all changed with the British conquest of Arakan in 1825. As Arakan and Burma were administered as part of British India, hundreds of thousands of Bengalis flooded into Arakan to work in Arakan. This mass immigration boosted the colonial economy, but local Arakanese bitterly resented it as their jobs and land were being taken over by the Bengalis. The hostility among the two sides only accelerated with the ethnic cleansing that took place in Rakhine state in 2012. A Rakhine woman was raped and murdered by three Muslim men and then about 200 Muslims were killed as Rakhine mobs rampaged through Sittwe and other parts of Rakhine to drive the Rohingyas out. Despite these and other dreadful provocations, the Rohingyas have so far remained somewhat pacific and stayed out of the religious and racial

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confrontations. For them, the alternative to fighting is flight. You see more pictures of Rohingyas adrift in the Andaman in a desperate attempt to flee from persecution in Myanmar. Recently, pictures of the Rohingyas adrift are drawing attentions of the international communities including Malaysian Muslim politicians and demanding actons, but “It will be talked for three or four months, and nothing will come of it,” says Aegile Fernandez of Tenaganita, a migrant-rights charity. But, unless something changes, life is so bad for the Rohingyas in Myanmar that thousands more will try to escape on boats when the next dry season arrives in November.Word to notepersecute 人を迫害する、人や動物をいじめる (In the text): They are the most persecuted people on Earth.on Earth, on the Earth 　　　the がついてもつかなくてもいい。bunk 　　①ソファなどに寝る、寝台、　cot＝ズックの折り畳み式ベッド　　　　　 ②でたらめ　　debunk=正体をすっぱ抜く　　　　 ③ずらかる、逃げる、学校をさぼるreek of 悪臭を放つemaciate 痩せおとろいさせる to make very thin and weak through lack of foodunscrupulous 　無法な、破廉恥なatrocities 非道、残虐maraud 略奪専門のpejoratively 軽蔑的にchauvinism 身びいき、同族偏愛思想indigenous 固有の、原産のstave off を避けるimpunity 刑罰を受けないこと without risk or fear of punishmentstigmatize に汚名を着せるreligiosity 信心深さ、狂信rickety グラグラする、 unstable, weak and likely fall (Application): I was worried that the rickety chair would break when I sat on it.

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2. The Internet of Things – Tomozawa(Summary)We read a NYT article dated June 24, 2015 about so-called Internet of things. The term “Internet of Things” or IoT was coined by British entrepreneur Kevin Ashton in 1999. So, it is not a brand new word, but is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine communications and usher in automation in nearly all fields including such applications like a Smart Grid, Smart city, etc. and many others.For example, in energy management, it is expected to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics, etc., in energy production and distribution. In medical and health care areas, the system will monitor the health and general well-being of senior citizens. There are many other areas where the IoT provides major benefits for the well-being of the people. The economic opportunity created by the IoT is expected to be in trillions of dollars. It is difficult to calculate the benefits because most people now working with the technology are still in the early investment phase.Word to note the Internet of things: 「モノのインターネット」 IoT　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 sensor-laden machines connected to the web IoT とは、コンピュータなどの情報・通信機器だけでなく、世の 中に存在する様々なモノに通信機能を持たせ、インターネットに 接続したり相互に通信することにより、自動認識や自動制御、遠 隔計測などを行うこと。 自動車や照明器具、電力を制御するスマートメーター、あるいは 農業で使われるビニールハウスのセンサーなどもインターネット

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につながる「IoT（Internet of Things）」時代が、本格的に到来する と予測されています。離れた場所にあるモノの状態の検知・分析 や、インターネット経由での遠隔操作により、新たな価値が生み 出されることが期待されます。

July 20, 2015 1. The Complicated Political History of The Confederate Flag – Terazaki

(Summary)

Terazaki-san presented a NPR (National Public Radio) article dated June 22 on the latest

development of the tragic shooting in the U.S.

In the evening of June 17, 2015, a white young man shot to death nine black

parishioners gathered for a Bible study in a church in South Carolina. The man claimed

himself to be a white supremacist. This has renewed the debate over one of the most

controversial Southern symbols — the Confederate flag, a symbol of the white

supremacists’ movement.

After the civil war in the U.S ended, the “Stars and Bars” flag, as it is called, became a

source of Southern pride and heritage, as well as a remembrance of Confederate soldiers

who died in battle. Although the new United States officially abolished the slavery, strong

racism and segregation continued in the southern states. The most violent and active

among many white supremacist syndicates was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). KKK came to

use the flag as an emblem. As a result, the flag has been viewed as a symbol of modern

white supremacist groups.

The flag is still flown in many public places and at many occasions in the southern states.

Some states have already decided to take them down, but others are still debating

whether and how they deal with it.

Word to noteparishioner 教区民

a cascade of 多くの、　cascade=段々滝の一部の小滝　　　

flank 外側に、、、、を配置する、本人を囲むように両側に立つ

primer 入門書、手引書

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secede from 同盟から脱退する、（名）secession 脱退

(Application): Japan seceded from the League of Nations in 1933.

half-staff 半旗にする　　　　full staff

colonel （カーヌル） 大佐　

weigh in 口出しをする

hopefuls 前途有望な人

tenacious 頑強な、固守する

affront 無礼な行為、公然の侮辱

2. Plankton More Important than Scientists Thought - Umemura

(Summary)

Umemura-san presented a VOA article dated June 7, 2015 on a new finding about

plankton. He provided an additional reading material taken from the AAAS on the same

topic.

For years, most people thought of small organisms called plankton as food for whales and

other large sea animals. But a four-year long study by AAAS researchers discovered that

plankton is a major supplier of oxygen on our planet.

Recently, a French non-profit group called Tara gathered 200 scientists from 45 countries

launched the project called Tara Oceans in September 2009. The project team visited 210

areas and collected 35,000 samples of plankton. The researchers followed the lives of

plankton, examined their genetic material and watched their movements.

Chris Bowler, the project’s scientific coordinator, says the researchers found that plankton

are very important to the health of our planet. He says the plankton “generate the oxygen

we breathe, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and generally maintain this

Earth in a state that is habitable for us human beings.” He further says “almost half of the

oxygen we breathe comes from very small algae called diatoms, which basically mean

every fifth time that you breathe, you’re breathing oxygen generated by plankton. So,

they’re as important as a tropical rain forest in terms of their global contribution.”

There are different groups of researchers studying different things about plankton. For

instance, one group identified more than 40 million plankton genes formerly unknown to

scientists. We are yet to see the final results of these studies. 

Word to note algae 藻　　(単)algatreasure trove 知識の宝庫、貴重な発見

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crustaceans 甲殻類squid ヤリイカmollusks 軟体動物protists　　　　　　　　原生生物parasitic 寄生するsymbiosis 共生、共益関係contiguous 切れ目のない、連続して

コラム　　　　アメリカ人と日本人はどっちがフォーマルに喋り易い？先日もテレビを観ていると、小学生が、大人のレポーターに感想を聞かれて、喋っていた。小学校３、4 年生か。ほとんど“たどたどしい言葉”で、短い感想を述べるという、いつものパターンだった。どうして“たどたどしい言い方”しかできないのだろうか。遠慮した小さな声で、感情のない、とってつけたような、もん切り方の感想だった。子供は、頭が悪いのか、感想そのものがないのか、鈍いのか。いやいや、どうして、どうして。子供同士の会話を聞いてごらん。豊かな語彙で、よどみなくいろんな事を、元気な声で叫びあっている。語彙も、大人顔負けの難しげな言葉をどんどん使っている。この“たどたどしさ”の答は、明白。レポーターである大人に返事するには、大人言葉、即ちフォーマルに話さなければならないと思いこみ、普段使い慣れていない丁寧な言葉使いをしようとするので、発言内容は極端に貧弱になる。声も小さくなる。当然な反応だね。教室で、先生の質問に答える時だけ使う丁寧語。しかも、自分の意見を長々と述べるような、discussion形式の授業はないから、先生の質問には、ほとんど、yes か no のような短い返事ですんでしまう。「○○君の意見はどう？」なんて質問は小学校では全くない（と思う）。「○○君の意見とはちょっと違うんですが、僕の意見、言っていいですか、、、、」と、別な生徒が発言することもない（と思う）。要するに、大人の世界では常識の丁寧語、尊敬語、謙譲語の訓練が学校ではほとんどなされない。これはほとんど大学まで続く。社会に出て、会社員となり、課長や部長に自分の意見を述べる時に、たどたどしさや稚拙さが残ってしまう遠因だと、私は思う。もちろん、学業成績のいい子、地頭がいい子、頭の回転が速い子などは、高

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校卒業くらいまでに、丁寧語、尊敬語などの用法をほぼ身に着けてしまうが。この問題の対処法には下記が考えられる。１）授業中、discussion時間を増やし、フォーマルな発言ができるようにする。２）友達語だが、失礼にならない程度の簡易な丁寧語を習得させる。３）小学校 1 年生から少しずつ始め、6 年生で完成させる。４）先生は、丁寧語や尊敬語のモデルを日ごろ生徒に示す。さて、一方、アメリカ人はどうか。英語には、丁寧語も尊敬語もない。そう言いきってしまうとちょっと語弊があるかも。丁寧さや尊敬をこめる言い方はある。しかし、友達語をちょっとだけ、きちんとした文章に構成するだけで、ほとんど大人の表現になるのが英語の特徴。スラングは避けなければならないが。アメリカ人の子供達は discussion　sessions が多いので、自己表現の訓練もできている。普通の教育を受けた普通の人達なら、社会人になって、会社で会議に参加しても、発言時の言葉使いで苦労することはない。私の個人的経験でも、若い時は上司の課長や部長、歳が行ってからは、本部長や社長に自分の意見を言うとき、どうしてもかしこまってしまい、緊張してしまい、発言が堂々としてもいないし、自信無げに聞こえてしまうし、ああ、小さい頃にもっと丁寧語、尊敬の訓練をしていればよかったのになあ、と思ったことが、少なくなかった。同僚同士なら、自信を持って、活発に発言し、賛同も得られるのに、社長には自由に発言できなく、声もちいさく、意見の内容も紋切り型になり、創造性が乏しいように聞こえてしまう、、、、と自分で感じることがよくあった。一方、英語で発言する時は、そのうような感じになることが少なかったように思う。アメリカ人の同僚がアメリカン人の社長に発言する時も、いかにも自由に発言しているように感じたものだ。このような言語感覚は、外交交渉時の、日本人、アメリカ人の発言にも表出してくると想像する。アメリカ人は、“後進国の日本人”に話しかける気楽さがあるのか、会議では、まず彼らが話し始める。しかも簡単なコメントじゃなく、えんえんとしゃべったりする。日本人は、まず“拝聴する”態度に出る。そして、日本人が発言する時、丁寧語を挟んで、遠回しに意見を言う。ストレートな反対意見は避け、オブラートに包む。、、、、、、、、、、。控室で日本人の同僚に話すようなしゃべり方はしない。すると、十分な意見表明ができない。アメリカ人は、日本人はその程度の意見しか持っていないと誤

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解する。俺たちの意見に彼らは大いに賛成した、と誤解する。会議終了後、日本人は、控室で、不満タラタラとなる。「あいつら、分かってない、デりカシーがない、すぐカーッとなる、俺たち日本人をなめているんじゃないか、、、、、、、、、、」と。　　　　　小学生の発言を聞いて、こんなことを思った。

降伏はしても、無条件に降伏することもなっかただろうし、独立時に沖縄を米国に取られることもなかったろうし、米軍基地も大きく限定させることができただろうし、日米同盟も、もっと対等に結ぶことができたんじゃないか。ＴＰＰでも、もっと有利に交渉できるだろうに、、、、。嗚呼、、、、、、。(ため息)

小学生のころから、訓練しなきゃダメだよー！

Aug.3, 20151. Security legislation a pivotal legitimate step to ensure peace for the nation

– Nishimura (Summary)We read a Japan News article dated July 18, 2015 which is a translation of an article from the Yomiuri Shimbun news dated July 17 earlier. Here is a summary of the article prepared by Nishimura –san.(Quote) A package of security-related bills that allows Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defense in a limited manner has passed the lower house and sent to the upper house for further deliberations. Prime Minister Abe stressed that the bills “are absolutely necessary for protecting the lives of the people and preventing the outbreak of war.” The security legislation bills are of epoch-making significance in that they will make it possible for this country to expand defense cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and forces of friendly nations such as U.S, while enabling the SDF to perform its activities

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more flexibly and effectively.DPJ President Okada criticized that the government-envisioned limited exercise of the country's collective self-defense right is “nothing but an alteration of the interpretation of the Constitution for the sake of convenience, in violation of the spirit of constitutionalism.” But his assertion is far off the mark. 　The bills stipulate strict conditions that must be fulfilled for the exercise of Japan's collective self-defense right. The envisaged exercise of the right in a “survival-threatening situation,” with the nation's survival being jeopardized and the people's rights obviously facing a danger of being fundamentally overturned, does maintain basic logical consistency with the 1959 Supreme Court ruling in the Sunagawa case and the 1972 government view on the nation's security (Unquote). Words to notedeliberations 審議、討議in tandem with 息の合った二人buttress 主張を、、、で強化するestrange 、、が人を、、、と仲たがいさせる2. Vortex Bladeless: a wind generator without blades - Nishiwaki(Summary)Nishiwaki-san presented a couple of Wiki articles along with a VOA article dated June 12, 2015 introducing Vortex that is s bladeless wind-power generator. So, what is it exactly? Vortex is a wind generator without blades. Instead of capturing energy via the rotational motion of a turbine, the Vortex takes advantage of what’s known as vorticity, an aerodynamic effect that occurs when wind breaks against a solid structure. According to Spanish inventor of the device, David Yanez, who is now based in Boston, U.S.A., says Vortex doesn’t just eliminate the blades but is deliberately designed to have no parts in contact at all (no gears, linkages, etc.). He says this we can therefore make Vortex cheap and

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easy to maintain. Yanez says he saw a video of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge swaying and oscillating in wind in back in 2002. The bridge apparently got caught up in aero elastic coupling and collapsed under influence of the wind. Can this phenomenon be used to general electricity? He started working on his idea in 2011, got a substantial grant in 2012 to develop the technology and produced a working prototype that year. Yanez says he will have the first batch of products for small-scale and residential use in next 12 months. His target is to introduce to the market full scale models for industrial and commercial use by 2018.He is currently soliciting further investments from the public.Words to note vortex 渦巻きvorticity 渦の強さ、渦度nacelle エンジン収容部shed 取り除く、捨てるcoupling 連結器

August 17, 2015 1. The Parallel Lives of Verdi and Wagner - Kotake(Summary)Here is the summary prepared by Kotake-san on this highly sophisticated and educational material:

Quote - Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi and German composer Richard Wagner were great operatic composers of all time. They represented two powerful cultures, Italy and Germany respectively. Just as their lives and personalities were strangely parallel but widely different, so are their musical legacies. Each was a product of the prevailing Romanticism of the age. Verdi’s stories were often on historical events taken

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from, for example, notable works of William Shakespeare. Verdi relied heavily on his gift for creating melody as the basis of opera but also took full advantage of the expressive power of the orchestra. It should be noted that dramatic expression of human passion was his strength. Wagner‘s greatest works were taken from North European mythology and German philosophy of his day, especially, that of Arthur Schopenhauer rather than from history and real events. His works also had a significant influence on the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. 17-hour Der Ring des Nibelung was to create a foundation of myths for gathering German culture and nation. He called “the art-work of the future.” He proposed that opera should become a total network –a unity of music, song, dance poetry, visual arts, and stagecraft. He called “music drama” He created deeply philosophical tales with meaning that went beyond human passion. His relation with King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Judaism is unforgettable. Toward the end of their lives, Wagner built the Bayreuther Festspielhaus for his opera performance. Verdi devoted his last years to the charitable project, the Rest home for musicians. In Verdi’s death, all of Italy mourned and state funeral was held for the most popular Italian of the nineteenth century - unquote Words to notetectonic 地殻変動のrivalry （発音に注意）ライと最後のリ以外は子音(-valr)debacle 敗走、総崩れ　　　　　　　＊大戦中、日本も“総崩れ”で、途中で敗走すればよかったかも。profligate 　　乱費するunscrupulous 破廉恥なarias（エイリアス）　　　偽名、別名　　（複数）aliasesstupendous 並外れたepitome（イピタミ）　　（発音に注意）　縮図chromaticism 半音階主義discord 不調和Bach １６８５－１７５０

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Handel １６８５－１７５９Mozart １７５６－１７９１Wagner １８１３－１８８３Verdi １８１３－１９０１The Holy Roman Empire ９６２－１８０６　　　　　現代のドイツの周辺の国を含んだ大きな版図のドイツ国家。オーストリアも　　　　　領内で、モーツアルトは神聖ローマ帝国時代の人。＊パバロッティは生前インタビューに答えて、３０代、４０代の頃、ワグナーの曲を歌うような依頼が何度もあったが、自分の声に合わないと断ってきたと。ワグナーのテノールは、同じテノールでも、重い、暗い声でないとダメで、パバロッティは自分の声をダメにしてしまい、キャリアを縮めてしまうからと。大金で誘われたこともあったと言う。ええ、そんなものなのかと私は思ったものだ。実際、若いテノールで、勇んで挑戦して、大会場に響かせるように声を張り上げて歌って、４０代にはもう声が出なくなった歌手がいっぱいいたそうである。自分の声に合う曲なのか、そうでないのかという判断は、プロの歌手にとって、非常に大切なのだと聞かされる。ちなみに、私の声は、細く、少し甲高いので、重い暗い声がふさわしい曲には合わないらしい。昔の小学唱歌にぴったりなのかもしれない。バリトンやバスの男らしい声が大好きなんだけどなあ。

2. Bio series – Ben Bruce Blakeney: Defense lawyer at the Tokyo Tribunal - Sadayasu(Summary)Major Ben Bruce Blakeney served as a Defense Lawyer at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (the Tribunal) that was convened on April 29, 1946. The Tribunal was to try the leaders of Japan for war crimes.He argued that the Tribunal was unjust due to the selection of a

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predominance of judges from the victor nations. Among these judges, there was only one representative who also proclaimed the trial was not fairly conducted. He was Judge Pal from India. Major Blakeney’s another key argument was that the act of war by a nation could not be defined as a crime under international law, hence he took the bold step of addressing the extremely sensitive issue of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima saying: "If the killing of Admiral Kido by the bombing of Pearl Harbor is murder, we know the name of the very man whose hands loosed the atomic bomb on Hiroshima."Regrettably, no matter how impressive his argument and the extraordinary bravery he showed, his contributions of the trials are hardly known to Americans, or to the world citizens.After the Tribunal, he taught law at Tokyo University but was killed in a plane crush over Izu Peninsula in 1963. Words to notemajor 少佐　　lieutenant colonel と captain の間の位とのこと。　　　＊major の偉さ加減がよくわからない。東京裁判を根本的に否定するよ　　　　うな発言を堂々とできる立場にあったのだろうか。あるいは単に個人　　　　の義侠心から、そんな発言をしたのだろうか。首をかけてやるような　　　　仕事だとは、当時誰も思わなかっただろうに。神のようにあがめられ　　　　ていたマッカサー元帥に恥をかかせ、歯向かうなんて。あるいは、そ　　　　れもマッカーサーの企みだったのか。

コラム　　「そりゃ、無理よ」と言いたい学校での英語学習86

今は、小学校から英語を正式の科目として勉強している。会話中心で。中学からは、従来のような「読み、書き、話す」英語を勉強するらしい。子供の頃に経験していれば、どんなことにしろ、大人になってから、結構役に立つことがあることも確かである。例えば、子供の頃、けん玉をしたことがあれば、大人になってけん玉をせがまれたとき、ちょいとやって見せることに違和感がない。小学生の時、母親の料理を手伝うことがあったなら、大人になって料理することに違和感を感じないだろう。スイミンブクラブに通っていたことがあれば、大人になっても、すぐ泳げる。でも、小学校のころに経験したことで、大人になってできるレベルは大したものじゃない、とも言えるでしょう。大人になって、仕事で英語が必要になり、また勉強しようと思ったとき、小さい頃に会話中心の“遊び”をやったことが、再度挑戦するのにハードルが少し低いと感じさせる利点はあるかもしれない。だからといって、ビジネスで十分に使えるレベルの英語に仕上げるには、並大抵の努力ではおさまらないはず。学校英語と、ビジネスの世界で十分にコミュニケーションを取れるレベルの英語とは、天と地ほどの開きがある。新聞の記事を見る限り、政府の目指す学校教育での英語の目標が大部分の生徒に、無駄な時間と多くの努力を強いていると思えてしょうがない。６０万人弱の大学卒業生の中で、１万人がビジネスに耐えられる英語力を身に着けていると仮定したら、６０人に一人の割合となる。同級生が６００人いたら、１０人が英語堪能、、、、。そんなには多くなく、５０００人くらいかもしれない。すると１２０分の１の割合にある。６００人の同級生で５人か。私が外資系企業に勤めていた時の経験から言うと、もっと少ない印象だった。「英語はできます」という自己申告で、面接してみると、確かに旅行で買い物はできるだろうなあ、親しい友達と日常会話はできるだろうなあ、英文メールにごく簡単な（意味は通じる）返事は書けるだろうなあ、というくらいのレベルの人がほとんどだったから。ビジネスマンとして、フォーマルに、それなりに知的に、違和感なく理路整然と、自分の職歴を話せる人は多くなかった。大学まで出て、買い物ができる程度の英語ができればいいというレベルを文科省が目標としているわけじゃない。大勢の若者がグローバルな人材に育ってほしいと望んでいるのだ。

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ああ、そりゃ、無理だよ、たぶん、、、。いや、絶対無理、、。

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