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7月5日号 1面

Man of the Moment
90歳を迎えるマンデラ氏、ジンバブエ情勢を懸念

0705_250 The 90th birthday celebrations in London for Nelson Mandela, revered elder statesman of South Africa, were overshadowed by his criticism of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. 

On June 25, Mandela noted one of the crises currently facing the world is the "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.

Mandela was in London to mark his 90th birthday on July 18 in a series of events, including meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Queen Elizabeth II and a June 27 concert for almost 50,000 people.

But Mandela had been pressed to comment on Mugabe, who ran unopposed in a presidential runoff election on June 27 after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the poll on June 22 and fled to the Dutch Embassy in Harare for safety.

Tsvangirai, who outpolled Mugabe in a March 29 presidential election but failed to gain the majority needed to take power, welcomed the former South African president's support.

"We appreciate the solidarity from Nelson Mandela," he said. "It is something we cherish."

A Zimbabwean government spokesman dismissed Mandela's comments, saying they came after bowing to Western pressure.

Mandela's concert, meanwhile, went ahead at Hyde Park with stars such as Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis,

Queen and Annie Lennox performing before 46,664 people. Mandela runs an AIDS / HIV charity called 46664, the prison number he was given when imprisoned for 27 years while fighting South Africa's apartheid rule. The concert was held 20 years after a feted show in London featuring Sting, Simple Minds and Stevie Wonder among the stars who urged Mandela's release from prison.

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
revered 尊敬される statesman 指導者 overshadow 影を落とす note 言及する crisis (pl. crises) 危機 failure of ~ ~の失敗 press 強く求める run unopposed 対立候補無しで(選挙戦に)立候補する(後出 run は運営する) runoff election 決戦投票 opposition 野党 withdraw from the poll 選挙戦から撤退する flee to ~ ~へ避難する outpoll ~ ~より多く得票する gain the majority 過半数を得る take power 政権に就く appreciate 感謝する solidarity 結束 cherish 大事にする dismiss ~ ~を退ける bow to ~ ~に屈する imprison 投獄する apartheid 人種隔離政策 feted 敬意を表した urge 要求する 【写真説明】 proceeds 収益

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Jul 4, 2008 1面

6月28日号 1面

Golfing God
タイガー・ウッズ選手がトリプル・グランドスラム達成

0628_250 "He's a demigod!" said Japanese golf legend and commentator Aoki Isao, in awe after Tiger Woods forced an unlikely playoff in the U.S. Open on June 16.

Making for a fairy‐tale ending, Woods went on to defeat courageous Rocco Mediate the following day ― though it did take him 19 holes ― for his 14th major tournament victory. The world's No. 1 golfer became the only player besides Jack Nicklaus to win the career Grand Slam three times, following wins in the Masters, British Open and U.S. PGA.

"I think this is probably the best ever," Woods said of his triumph.

Out of competition for two months because of knee surgery, Woods won the toughest test in golf, though it came at a price ― he will miss the remainder of the season, and major tournaments for the first time, to have more knee surgery.

He struggled early in the first round, double bogeying his first hole of the competition, but roared back into contention with a back nine 30 in the second round, making five‐straight birdies to move only one shot off the lead.

For an encore in the third round, Woods holed two huge eagle putts to take the lead.

From there, no one expected Woods to lose, even though at times he seemed to be trying to give the trophy away.

Although Mediate couldn't quite meet the ultimate golf challenge, he had no regrets.

"I never quit. I got what I wanted," Mediate said. "I got a chance to beat the best man in the world, and I came up just a touch short."

The comical Mediate wasn't about to cry over his loss, adding, "When I talk about golf, Woods doesn't count. He's not normal."

(By Greg Mettam, Mainichi Daily News)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
* demigod 半神半人 legend 伝説的人物 in awe 畏敬の念を抱いて force a playoff プレーオフ(優勝決定戦)に 持ち込む unlikely 予期せぬ fairy‐tale 夢のような courageous 勇敢な besides ~ ~のほかに career 通算の triumph 勝利 out of competition 競技から離れて knee ひざ surgery 手術 tough test 厳しい試練 come at a price 犠牲を強いられる miss 欠場する remainder of the season 今季の残り(試合) struggle 苦戦する double bogey ダブルボギ-をたたく roar back into ~ ~に復活する contention 競争 with a back nine 30 後半9ホールを30で ~ ‐ straight ~連続の move only ... lead 首位から一打差に詰め寄る encore 再プレー hole a putt パットを沈める take the lead 首位に立つ give the trophy away 優勝を逃す not quite ~ すっかり~ではない meet the ultimate challenge 最大の困難を乗り切る regret 後悔 quit あきらめる come up just a touch short ほんの少し及ばない cry over 嘆く count 考慮する 【写真説明】sink 沈める

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Jun 27, 2008 1面

6月21日号 1面

The Circus Comes to Town
太陽のサーカス「シルク・ドゥ・ソレイユ」、日本初の常設シアターオープンへ

062_250 Cirque du Soleil, the hugely popular circus‐style entertainment empire, held a performance in Japan on June 3 to publicize its plan to hold a permanent show at Tokyo Disney Resort.

Titled ZED, the show was scripted and performed by Francois Girard, director of the movie Silk, which starred Yakusyo Koji and Ashina Sei. The Renaissance‐style stage was constructed to resemble the inside of a brass and copper globe. The main character, Zed, is seen traversing the two completely different worlds of heaven and earth.

The various characters of Tarot cards appear, as the two disparate worlds become tied together.

Known for its elaborate performances on huge stages, Cirque du Soleil has earned worldwide fame, especially in Las Vegas, where it has quickly become a must‐see attraction.

Oriental Land Co., which operates Tokyo Disney Resort, signed an agreement with Cirque du Soleil in 2005 to stage regular performances from Oct. 3. The action will take place inside Theater Tokyo, whose construction has cost 14 billion yen and taken about two years. The facility is huge, measuring 35 meters wide, 20 meters long and 21 meters high. Covering it will be a semi‐circular roof with an area of 1,700 square meters.

The facility will also feature one of the world's biggest theater pits, roughly 6 meters deep.

The preview performance was a remarkable showcase of the performers' skills. They twirled batons rapidly and with great dexterity, and about a dozen performers were propelled into the air.

(By Igari Junichi)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
cirque (仏)サーカス soleil (仏)太陽 hugely popular 圧倒的人気の circus‐style entertainment empire サーカス式のアクロバットを見せる一団 publicize 公表する permanent show 常設の公演(後出 regular performance も同意) Tokyo Disney Resort 東京ディズニーリゾート title ~ ~と題する script 立案する perform 演出する director 監督 Silk 『シルク』(2007) star 主役にする Renaissance‐style stage ルネッサンス期をイメージしたステージ construct 建設する(後出 construction は建設)resemble まねる brass 真ちゅう copper 銅 globe 地球儀 main character 主人公(後出 character は登場人物) traverse 行き来する heaven 天 earth 地 disparate 異なる become tied 結ばれる elaborate 手の込んだ earn worldwide fame 世界的な名声を得る must‐see 必見の sign an agreement 契約を交わす facility 施設  measuring ~ 大きさは~で wide 幅 long 奥行き high 高さ semi‐circular 半球形の feature 特色とする theater pit 奈落(舞台の床下の地下室) remarkable showcase 目を見張るような披露の舞台 skill 技術 twirl くるくる回す with dexterity 器用に propel ~ into the air ~を宙に投げ上げる

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Jun 20, 2008 1面

6月14日号 1面

Historical Change
米大統領選、民主党指名争いでバラク・オバマ氏が勝利

0614_250 Barack Obama has campaigned by arguing for change in the United States, and by becoming the Democratic Party's nominee for this November's U.S. presidential election, he has already achieved it.

The 46‐year‐old Obama declared victory on June 3 following a bitter and divisive, 5‐month‐long primary contest with Hillary Clinton, who waited days to finally concede defeat in a race she appeared to have lost months earlier.

Obama became the first black presidential candidate for a major party in U.S. history, a remarkable achievement considering African‐Americans were still conducting a bitter struggle to use their rights to vote well into the 1960s.

"Because you decided that change must come to Washington, because you believed that this year must be different than all the rest, because you chose to listen not to your doubts or your fears but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations, tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another," Obama told a crowd in Minnesota as he declared victory.

Obama has promised widespread change in U.S. policies regarding education, energy, health care and foreign policy, especially the country's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Obama's rival in the presidential campaign, Republican Sen. John McCain, is known as a maverick within his party and also strongly advocates change. McCain, who at 71 will also create history if he wins the November vote by being elected as the oldest ever U.S. president, also commands strong support among moderates and Democrats.

"The choice is between the right change and the wrong change," McCain said in New Orleans after learning of Obama's victory.

(Continued on page 2)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
campaign 選挙運動をする(後出は名詞) Democratic Party's nominee 民主党候補(後出 Democrat は民主党員)declare victory 勝利宣言する bitter 厳しい(後出 conduct a bitter struggle は苦闘する) divisive 亀裂を生じさせる primary contest 予備選挙 concede defeat 敗北を認める presidential candidate 大統領候補 major party 主要な政党 use one's rights to vote 投票権を行使する (be) different than ~ ~と異なる doubt 疑念 fear 不安 aspiration 渇望 mark the end of ~ ~の終わりを告げる crowd 群集 widespread 広範囲に及ぶ regarding ~ ~に関して health care (ここでは)医療保険制度 foreign policy 外交政策 Republican 共和党(の) Sen. (= Senator) 上院議員 maverick 異端者 advocate 主張する command support among ~ ~の支持を得る moderates 穏健派 【写真説明】rally 大会

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Jun 13, 2008 1面

6月7日号 1面

Toast of Europe
琴欧洲、ヨーロッパ出身力士で初の大相撲優勝

0607_250 Kotooshu, the David Beckham of the sumo world, scored a goal that would make the blond English midfielder proud. 

The Bulgarian hunk got past the defense of all but one of his opponents in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament to become the first European to win an Emperor's Cup.

"I still can't believe it," said a glowing Kotooshu at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena on May 25 as he spoke on his long‐awaited success. His father, Stefanov Mahlyanov, proudly looked on, waving a Bulgarian flag.

The ozeki finished the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with an impressive 14‐1 record ― falling only to journeyman Aminishiki in a nervous loss on Day 13 after earlier dumping Mongolian yokozuna duo Asashoryu and Hakuho into the dirt.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, was a promising Greco‐Roman wrestler in Bulgaria before switching to sumo six years ago.

The 2.02‐meter giant with the movie star looks had a storybook start to professional sumo in Japan in 2002, soaring through the ranks to become ozeki in 2005. But despite the expectations, the fan favorite suddenly stumbled as injuries took their toll.

"After I moved up to ozeki, I got hurt," offered the lanky grappler.

Following recent nightmare performances that saw Kotooshu enter the tournament needing eight wins just to retain his ozeki rank, the Bulgarian beefed up his diet and improved his training and sleeping patterns.

He was rewarded with a place in history and a chance to reach the pinnacle of the sport. "Of course I want to become yokozuna," beamed the toast of Bulgaria.

Another victory at the July tournament in Nagoya would probably elevate Kotooshu to the top spot. But to do so, he would once again have to "bend it like Beckham" around the Mongolian maestros Asashoryu and Hakuho.

(By Greg Mettam, Mainichi Daily News)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
toast of ~ ~の評判の人 hunk 強い男 get past ~ ~をかわす all but one of ~ ~の一人を除いてすべて opponent 対戦相手 Emperor's Cup 賜杯 glowing 赤くなった fall to ~ ~に破れる journeyman ベテラン nervous ハラハラさせる dump 投げる dirt (ここでは)土俵 promising 有望な Greco‐Roman wrestler グレコローマンスタイルのレスラー switch to ~ ~に転向する storybook 物語のような soar through the ranks to ~ ~するまで階級を上り詰める favorite 人気者 stumble つまづく take its toll ダメージを与える lanky 手足の長い grappler (ここでは)力士 beef up 強化する diet 食事 pinnacle 頂点 beam ほほ笑む elevate 昇進させる bend it around ~ ~(の壁)をよける(ためボールをカーブさせる)(映画『ベッカムに恋して』〔2002〕原題 Bend It Like Beckham に掛けている)

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Jun 6, 2008 1面

5月31日号 1面

Breaking Through
今田竜二選手が米ゴルフツアーで優勝、日本人3人目の快挙

0531_250 Fortune finally favored Imada Ryuji.

After dunking his ball in a pond last year in a cruel playoff loss at the AT&T Classic, Imada watched American golfer Kenny Perry do the same thing on May 18, handing the Japanese golfer his first victory on the US PGA Tour.

Imada became the third Japanese player to win on the PGA Tour, joining Aoki Isao and Maruyama Shigeki. Aoki won the 1983 Hawaiian Open in spectacular fashion, holing out a wedge shot from 128 yards on the 18th hole.

But there was no surprise about Imada's victory ― the Japanese star, who worked his way up from the ground in America, had finished second on tour twice in 2008 before his breakthrough win.

"Well I never really believed in destiny, but I'm starting to believe it," Imada said in fluent English after his triumph.

Imada's American dream started at age 14 when his parents in Hiroshima agreed to send their son to a golf academy in Tampa, Florida. Alone in a foreign land, Imada turned to his teacher.

"I lived with my coach, Rich Able, since I was 15 years old and all we did was speak English," said Imada. While learning a new language, Imada became one of the top amateur golfers in the United States and led the University of Georgia to a national title in 1999. From there, his game graduated to the Nationwide Tour and then the PGA Tour.

"All I ever wanted to do was play golf, so this has been fun," he said. "To learn English, to learn a culture, it has been great."

(By Greg Mettam, Mainichi Daily News)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
breaking through 突破(後出 breakthrough は大躍進) Fortune favors ~ 運命の女神は~に味方する(諺から) dunk 沈める pond 池 cruel 非情な playoff プレーオフ loss 敗北 hand 与える in spectacular fashion (ここでは)見事なプレーで hole out ホールに打ち込む wedge shot ウェッジショット work one's way up from ~ ~からたたき上げる  believe in destiny 運命を信じる  fluent 滑らかな triumph 優勝 turn to ~ ~に頼る graduate to ~ ~に進む

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May 30, 2008 1面

5月24日号 1面

Quake Tragedy
四川大地震、推計死者5万人  北京五輪前の中国に試練

0524_250 China entered a three‐day period of mourning on May 19 following the devastating earthquake in and around Sichuan Province a week earlier that is feared to have killed as many as 50,000 people.

People across the world's most populous country were asked to observe three minutes of silence on May 19 from 2:28 p.m., the same time the quake struck on May 12.

As of May 19, the confirmed death toll from the quake was 32,476, with a further 220,109 injured and 4.5 million people displaced in Sichuan Province alone. Destruction from the earthquake extended over 100,000 square kilometers ― a region more than one‐quarter of Japan's entire land area.

Officials expect the death toll to continue to increase as fewer survivors are rescued.

"It will soon be too late to find survivors," Fujiya Koji, the deputy leader of a Japanese rescue team working in the northern Sichuan Province town of Beichuan, said on May 18. The Japanese team unearthed 14 bodies in the town.

Aftershocks continue to jolt the devastated area and another large quake on the morning of May 18 killed a further 13 people.

Many bodies lay by roadsides in body bags or wrapped in plastic sheeting, as authorities struggled to dig burial pits and crematoriums worked overtime.

The World Health Organization warned that shortages of clean water and warmer, humid weather in Sichuan Province made the region ripe for epidemics. (Continued on page 2)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
quake 地震(後出 earthquake も同意) tragedy 悲劇 period of mourning 哀悼期間 devastating 壊滅的な(後出 devastated area は被災地)  Sichuan Province 四川省 (be) feared to ~ ~と見られる populous 人口の多い observe three minutes of silence 3分間の黙とうをささげる strike 襲う as of ~ ~現在 confirmed 確認された death toll 死者数 injured 負傷した displaced 住居を失った destruction 破壊 extend over ~ ~に広がる rescue 救助する survivor 生存者 deputy leader 副団長 Beichuan 北川(県) unearth 発掘する body 遺体 aftershock 余震 jolt 揺さぶる lie (→lay) 横たわる by roadside 沿道に plastic sheeting ビニールシート struggle to ~ 苦労して~する dig 掘る burial pit 墓穴 crematorium 火葬場 World Health Organization (WHO)世界保健機構 shortage  不足 humid 多湿の make ~ ripe for ... (ここでは)~が…の温床となる epidemic 伝染病 【写真説明】 rubble がれき collapsed 倒壊した

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May 23, 2008 1面

5月17日号 1面

Singing Japan's Praises
オーストラリアの歌姫、デルタ・グッドレムが来日  大好きな日本を語る

0517_250   Delta Goodrem is a household name in Australia. The 23‐year‐old pop star is tall, talented and beautiful, and could not be more successful in her home country if she tried. So she has set her sights on winning new fans abroad, starting with Japan.

The "Mainichi Weekly" interviewed Goodrem when she was here at the end of April to help Tokyo radio station J‐Wave celebrate its 20th anniversary, and to promote the local release of her latest album, Delta.

Earlier this year, Goodrem had recorded the FM radio station's theme song, "Live! Together" (Tokyo Girls Anthem), a duet with J‐Pop singer Juju. The two vocalists took the opportunity to perform the song at Roppongi Hills Arena in a mini‐concert that was simulcast live.

"I hope it sounded good on radio," joked Goodrem shortly after the performance. "It sounded good in the room!"

The visit was not Delta's first encounter with Japan. In fact, she has been here some seven times since 2006, when she first came to Japan to promote her 2nd album, "Mistaken Identity." A track from this album, "Flawed," was used in Director Fujita Akiji's 2006 film "Adiantum Blue" starring Abe Hiroshi and Matsushita Nao. The tie‐up resulted in Goodrem performing the song on Tamori's "Music Station" television program, with actress Matsushita accompanying in a rare public performance of her piano skills.

"She was so beautiful!" says Goodrem about Matsushita. "I really liked her."

Another of Goodrem's tunes, "In this Life," has been used as the opening theme for the popular anime series "Deltora Quest" (which, incidentally, is based on the book series by author Emily Rodda ― another Australian!)

So what is Delta's attraction to Japan?

"I don't say this in every country: I genuinely love Japan. I fell in love with Japan the first time I came here ― absolutely fell in love with it. I would live here in a heartbeat," she says.  "I think I must have been Japanese in another lifetime."

Continued on page 3

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
sing Japan's praises 日本の良さを歌う household name 誰もが知っている名前 talented 才能ある could not be more successful これ以上の成功はない set one's sights on ~ ~を目指す win 得る celebrate ~ ‐th anniversary (ここでは、開局)~周年を祝う promote 宣伝する the local release (ここでは)日本発売 latest 最新の anthem 賛歌 take the opportunity to ~ ~する機会を持つ simulcast live 同時放送のライブ encounter with ~ ~との出会い track 曲(後出 tune も同意) starring ~ ~を主演とする tie‐up 共演 result in ~ ... ~に…をもたらす accompany 伴奏する rare めったにない incidentally 偶然に attraction to ~ ~への興味 genuinely 心から absolutely 完全に in a heartbeat すぐに in another lifetime 前世で

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May 16, 2008 1面

5月10日号 1面

Flaming Passions
厳戒下、長野で北京五輪聖火リレー

0510_250 Passions flared brighter than the Olympic torch when it passed through Nagano on April 26 on its long journey around the world in the lead‐up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Clashes between Chinese students, pro‐Tibetan demonstrators and Japanese ultranationalists overshadowed the torch's trip through the city.

Although six arrests were made and four Chinese students suffered minor injuries in clashes with protesters, heavy security ensured the torch got through its journey around the city that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

About 3,000 police lined the route. The torch was guarded by a cordon of about 90 security officers and although around 85,000 turned up to watch, access to the relay was strictly controlled and the public could not get close.

Olympic officials were generally pleased with the way the relay turned out.

"It was a shame the relay had to go on with all this fuss in the background. But we passed on a message of peace and the Nagano torch relay was a success," said Takeda Tsunekazu, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

An estimated 5,000 Chinese students gathered to watch the relay. There were 80 torch bearers who followed an 18.7‐kilometer course through Nagano. A star‐studded cast was among the bearers including Olympic baseball team manager Hoshino Senichi, table tennis prodigy Fukuhara Ai, comedian Hagimoto Kinichi, dual Olympic gold medalist Kitajima Kosuke and reigning Olympic marathon champion Noguchi Mizuki, who ran the anchor of the relay.

"I was praying for peace while I was running," Noguchi said when she arrived in Nagano's Wakasato park, the finishing point of the relay.

The torch was flown to Seoul on April 27 and passed through the two Koreas before going to Hong Kong on April 30 and then around China before reaching Beijing for the start of the games on Aug. 8.

Protests have dogged the torch relay in its progression throughout the world. Most of the anger has been directed at China's harsh crackdown on pro‐Tibetan demonstrators in March, as well as its poor record of respecting human rights.

(Mainichi Weekly)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
flaming 燃えるような passion 情熱 flare 燃え上がる Olympic torch 聖火(後出 torch bearer は聖火ランナー)in the lead‐up to ~ ~が近づく中 clash 衝突 pro‐Tibetan チベット擁護の demonstrator デモ参加者 ultranationalist (ここでは)右翼 overshadow 影を落とす make an arrest 逮捕する suffer minor injuries 軽傷を負う protester 抗議者(後出 protest は抗議) heavy 厳重な security 警備 ensure 守る line ~ ~に沿って並ぶ a cordon of ~ ~の警戒線 strictly 厳重に get close 近づく shame 残念なこと fuss 大騒ぎ estimated ~ 推定~ star‐studded 著名人がそろった prodigy 天才 dual 二つの reigning champion 現チャンピオン pray for ~ ~のために祈る fly 空輸する dog 後を追う progression 進行 harsh 厳しい crackdown 弾圧 poor record 劣悪な歴史 respecting human rights 人権尊重  【写真説明】 press pool photo 代表撮影

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May 9, 2008 1面

4月26日-5月3日号

Running for Water
マサイの6戦士、「井戸」募金を訴え ロンドン・マラソン力走

0426_250 Of the more than 34,000 runners who finished the Flora London Marathon, six stood out ― they were warriors of the Masai tribe of Africa.

The Africans, who ran while dressed in their traditional clothes and carrying sticks, took part in the race from April 13 to raise money for drinking water in their village of Eluai in Tanzania.

The marathon course took runners through the center of the capital and past some of its most famous landmarks, while a crowd of hundreds of thousands looked on.

But it wasn't a smooth run for two of the Masai visitors. The group leader, Isaya, fell ill after a ceremonial strap on his leg cut his circulation, forcing him and a fellow Masai to stop running and go to a hospital.

Yet after Isaya's recuperation, the pair returned to the course on April 14 to finish the second half of the 42‐kilometer‐long race.

The African visitors were presented with medals at the finish line in The Mall by marathon director Dave Bedford. 

"It was very important for me to do this," the Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted Isaya as saying. "This is what I came to do."

Earlier, their four teammates had finished the marathon in a group time of 5 hours, 24 minutes and 47 seconds. The event was won by another African, Martin Lel of Kenya, in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

The Masai, who number between 500,000 and a million, inhabit regions in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. They have managed to maintain their traditional culture.

(Compiled from wire reports)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
stand out 目立つ warrior 戦士 Masai tribe マサイ族 dressed in one's traditional clothes 民族衣装を着て stick(ここでは)やり take part in ~ ~に参加する raise money for ~ ~の資金を集める drinking water 飲用水 take runners through ~ 走者を~へ導く landmark 歴史的建造物 a crowd of ~ ~の観衆 look on 見守る smooth 順調な fall ill 気分が悪くなる ceremonial strap 儀式用の皮ひも cut one's circulation ~の血流を妨げる fellow 仲間(の) recuperation 回復 pair 二人 second half 後半 (be) presented with ~ ~を贈られる The Mall バッキンガム宮殿前の遊歩道 quote ~ as saying ~の発言を引用する number ~ ~に達する inhabit 住む region 地域 【写真説明】 don 着る robes 衣装 beads ビーズのネックレス shield 盾 

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Apr 25, 2008 1面

4月19日号 1面

Speaking Out
ダライ・ラマ14世が日本で「私が悪魔に見えますか?」とポーズ

0419_250 Visiting Japan on a stopover, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said he supported China's hosting of the Olympic Games, and called for nonviolence in pro‐Tibet protests.

"From the beginning we have supported the Olympic Games," said the Buddhist spiritual leader, who stopped over in Japan before making a trip to Seattle.

The leader's comments followed worldwide protests that emerged along the routes of the Olympic torch relay after China's crackdown on riots in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The riots were sparked by protests against Chinese rule in Tibet.

In a news conference in Japan, the Dalai Lama said demonstrators had the right to voice their opinions, though he stressed that nonviolence was important.

"The expression of their feelings is up to them," he said. "Nobody has the right to tell them to shut up." He said one cause of problems in Tibet was that there was "no freedom of speech." He added that Tibetans resented a lack of true autonomy.

"This crisis is an expression of their deep resentment," he said, adding it was time for the Chinese government "to accept reality" and find a solution accordingly.

"I really feel sad that on the government level, they almost demonize me. I'm just a human being, not a demon. I have no horns," he said.

The Dalai Lama said "at least a few hundred people" had been killed in Tibetan areas since March 10, and a "few thousand arrested."

The European Parliament has urged European Union governments to consider boycotting the Olympics' opening ceremony if China doesn't resume talks with the Dalai Lama. However, the Dalai Lama has not crossed the Aug. 8 ceremony off his list himself.

"If things improve and the Chinese government starts to see things realistically, I personally want to enjoy the big ceremony," he said.

(Compiled from Mainichi and wire reports)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
stopover 立ち寄り(後出 stop over ~ は、~に立ち寄る) exiled 亡命中の spiritual leader 精神的指導者(宗教指導者) hosting 開催 Olympic Games オリンピック call for ~ ~を呼びかける nonviolence 非暴力 pro‐Tibet protest チベット擁護の抗議 worldwide 世界各地の emerge 発生する torch relay 聖火リレー crackdown 弾圧 riot 暴動 spark 引き起こす rule 支配 demonstrator デモ参加者 right 権利 voice 表明する stress 強調する expression 表現 up to ~ ~次第で shut up 黙る cause 原因 freedom of speech 言論の自由 resent 憤る(後出 resentment は、憤り) a lack of ~ ~の欠如  autonomy 自治権 crisis 危機 solution 解決策 accordingly 状況に応じて demonize 悪魔呼ばわりする(後出 demon は悪魔) horn 角 arrest 拘束する European Parliament 欧州議会 urge 強く求める European Union governments 欧州連合の各加盟国  resume 再開する cross ~ off one's list oneself 自身は~を予定から消す

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Apr 18, 2008 1面

4月12日号 1面

Sushi Soul
国際派俳優を志す 伊原剛志さんに独占インタビュー

041201_250 We had the pleasure of interviewing Ihara Tsuyoshi, who recently appeared in "Sushi Prince Goes to New York: the Movie." The "Sushi Prince" is Maizu Tsukasa, a man on an unending quest for the perfect "shari" (sushi rice). In this film, the Prince finds himself in training at a New York sushi bar called Yasohachi, where he meets up with such characters as Haruki (played by Ihara), an expat sculptor who frequents the shop.

Many people may remember Ihara in "Letters From Iwo Jima," where he played the part of Baron Nishi, an officer of the Japanese Imperial Army who was killed in action on the island. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, met with great critical acclaim and was nominated for four Academy Awards. The film won an Oscar for Best Sound Editing, and also left Ihara with a penchant for foreign shores.

This time, though, Ihara takes on an entirely different kind of character. Wearing shades and a short mustache, he comes across as a lightweight "yakuza." "I was a bit uncomfortable at first," he admits, but says the character opened his mind to new possibilities.

Like the sushi in the film ― such as the tandoori chicken sushi invented by an Indian and a special Korean sushi roll topped with spicy grilled beef ― Ihara's character has torn down a stereotype.

"Sushi is part of our national psyche. This film is a wake‐up call to the `sushi soul' within us all and that's what makes it so fun."

(Continued on page 7)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
have the pleasure of ~ ~する光栄な機会を得る appear 登場する unending quest あくなき探求 find oneself in training いつの間にか修行している meet up with ~ ~に偶然出会う character 人物(後出は役) expat 海外在住の sculptor 彫刻家 frequent よく訪れる Baron 男爵 officer (ここでは)陸軍中佐 Japanese Imperial Army 日本帝国軍 killed in action 戦死した meet with great critical acclaim 批評家の称賛を浴びる (be) nominated for ~ ~にノミネートされる leave ~ with a penchant for foreign shores ~に海外への(俳優活動の)思いを残す take on 引き受ける entirely different 全く異なる wear shades サングラスをかける short mustache ちょびひげ come across as ~ ~のような印象を与える lightweight 軽い uncomfortable 居心地の悪い tear down 打ち壊す stereotype 固定観念 national psyche (ここでは)日本人の魂(とも言える食べ物) wake‐up call to ~ (ここでは)~を呼び覚ます刺激

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Apr 11, 2008 1面

4月5日号 1面

Rising Hopes
日本初の宇宙拠点「きぼう」の大役果たし、土井さん帰還

0405_250 Just like the boomerang he threw during an experiment in space, Japanese astronaut Doi Takao is back after the space shuttle Endeavour landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 26.

During the shuttle's 16‐day mission, Doi, 53, attached the storage compartment for the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo to the International Space Station, giving Japan its first‐ ever space in space.

"It was a great moment not only for me, but for Japan," Doi said just before the Endeavour got ready to land.

During the mission, during which the shuttle traveled 10.46 million kilometers, Doi set up the first section of Kibo, which will be completed on later shuttle missions to take place at the end of this year and next year.

JEM Project Manager Yokoyama Tetsuro from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told a news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Texas during the mission about the importance of Kibo.

"Kibo is as big an accomplishment for the Japanese as the Apollo 11 moon landings," he said.

JAXA hopes to have Kibo operating for about 10 years. In its first two to three years, about 100 experiments are planned for the space laboratory. The next stage of Kibo's construction will be carried out when astronaut Hoshide Akihiko flies on a space shuttle Discovery mission due to take off in late May. Within this year, flight engineer Wakata Koichi is also expected to fly to Kibo and spend several months working there.

(Mainichi Weekly)

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【WORDS 単語をチェック】
boomerang ブーメラン experiment 実験 space 宇宙(後出 space in space は宇宙での空間、施設) astronaut 宇宙飛行士 land 着陸する mission 任務 attach ~ to ... ~を…に取り付ける storage compartment 保管室 experiment module 実験棟 first‐ever 初めての get ready 準備する set up 組み立てる complete 完成する take place 行われる Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 宇宙航空研究開発機構 accomplishment 偉業 moon landing 月面着陸 operate 機能する laboratory 実験室 construction 組立 due to ~ ~する予定である take off 離陸する

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Apr 4, 2008 1面