A. Next, please. What will you have ?
B. I’ll have the hamburger and a small coffee.
A. Cream and sugar ?
B. Black, please.
A. That’s a hamburger and small coffee. 3.99,
please.
B. Here it is.
A. Is this for here or to go ?
B. For here, please.
A. May I see your passport?
B. Here it is.
A. What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?
B. Sightseeing.
A. How long are you going to stay?
B. One week.
A. What do you do?
B. I’m a house wife. (I’m an office worker.)
A. Do you have anything to declare?
B. No, I don ' t.
私が書いた「はじめよう！生きがいとしての英語（春風社刊）」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
私が編集した米国高校授業体験教材の「アメリカの政治」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
A. Fasten your seat belt.
B. Okay.
A. What would you like?
B. Guinness, please.
A. Would you like beef, pork or chicken?
B. Beef, please.
Excuse me ?
Pardon ?
what does .....mean ?
How do you spell that ?
Would you please speak more slowly?
I don’t understand.
A. Good evening. This way, please.
B. Thank you.
A. Here’s your menu.
B. Thank you.
A. What will you have ?
B. I’ll have the steak dinner.
A. How would you like your steak?
B. Medium, please.
A. What kind of dressing would you like on your salad ?
B. French dressing, please.
A. Anything to drink?
B. Beer, please.
B. Excuse me. Check, please.
A. Okay.
A. Hello. You must be Mikari.
B. Yes, I am. Are you Ms.Ryan?
A. Yes. Please call me Meg. Nice to meet you, Mikari.
B. Nice to meet you too, Meg.
A. Here. Let me take care of your suitcase.
B. Thank you.
創設理由
This is the Shitamachi Folk Life Museum. In English, Shitamachi literally means downtown.
It was built recently in 1980 with the invention of handing down from one generation to another the history of common peop1e’s life from the middle of the Meiji era to the Great Earthquake in 1923.
Many years ago there were a lot of merchants and artisans in this town, Shitamachi. Yet, sadly those people and many more suffered greatly from the Great Earthquake in 1923 and later the war in 1945 which destroyed many things representative of Japanese daily life. That is why this museum was built.
In this museum the objects on display may be handled by the visitors so that they can really experience the past. We don’t have to get special permission to open the drawers and look at everything. We can touch anything in the drawers.
昔の髪型
This is an example of the old Japanese hair style.
I am afraid I can not do it like this myself. Instead, I have to go to the beauty parlor.
ちょうちん
This is a Chochin or a paper lantern.
In order to create light, a candle is placed inside.
It is used mainly outdoors on festive occasions. They make a very pretty sight when they are all lit up.
アイロン
This is an old fashioned iron.
In the early times, we put coals in it to heat it up.
弁当箱
This is a lunch box.
Usually, we use it as a box for rice balls and pickles.
おろし金
This is an Oroshigane or a grater.
We use it for grating radish and ginger.
お神輿
This is an Omikoshi or a portable shrine.
People carry it on their shoulders in festivals.
Long ago, inside a portable shrine there was always a seat on which an emperor sat.
高枕
This is a Takamakura or a high pillow.
I will show you how to use it. Please watch me.
ゴミ箱
This is a Gomibako or a trash box.
It is made of wood.
障子
This is a Shoji or a sliding door covered with Japanese paper. It is used as a kind of curtain, admitting an outside light to the room.
厠と手洗い鉢
This is an old fashioned toilet.
This is a basin for washing hands.
洗濯板
This is a washboard.
We use one in the tub.
長屋
This is a tenement house.
People who lived in tenement houses always helped each other. In this way, the tenement houses became a community during the early times.
折り紙
This is Origami.
It is the art of folding paper. A piece of colored paper is folded to form the shape of birds, animals, flowers and many other things. We never use scissors or paste.
One of the most popular forms of Origami is that of a crane. The crane symbolizes long life.
三味線
This is a Shamisen.
It is like a guitar. The body is covered with cat skin.
箒
This is a broom.
A witch does not ride on the broom.
着物
This is kimono.
Kimono is a Japanese traditional costume. Today most women wear kimono mainly for social and ceremonial events such as weddings. They also wear kimono when performing certain traditional cultural arts.
The material and design of women's kimono differ with the season, occasion and the wearer's age.
The most informal kind of kimono is yukata. It is worn on summer evenings.
The most formal kimono for young ladies is furisode. It is a very colorful and expensive kimono. It is worn on ceremonial occasions.
帯
This is an obi or sash.
It is used to tie a kimono. Like kimono, the color and design of an obi differ with the season, the occasion and the age of the wearer.
The most important part of an obi is the knot made in the back. There are many decorative ways of making a knot. This is a shape of a butterfly with the knot.
着物の着方
This is very important information when wearing kimono.
The left side of the kimono is lapped over the right in front.
The opposite is done only when dressing a body for burial.
井戸
This is a well.
People take water from a deep hole in the ground.
奇術箱
This is a trick box.
I will show you how it works. I put a coin in this box. I cover the box. When I uncover it, the coin has disappeared.
駄菓子屋
This is a Dagashiya. It is a cheap sweet shop.
This shop was in a tenement house. Children used to play together here.
人力車
This is a jinrikisha.
It is a man—pulled cart. The driver exerts the energy to make it go.
It has a folding hood.
用心籠
This is a Yojin Kago. It is a basket used when a fire broke out.
Everyone put their valuables and loved objects in it and with that pole there, people shouldered and carried it out and hastily escaped from the burning place.
番傘
This is a Bangasa or a numbered umbrella. It is made of oiled paper pasted on a bamboo frame and so it is waterproof.
On rainy days, the master lent the umbrella to his customers as they entered the store. You will notice that the umbrella is numbered. It serves like a record as the master can easily see who has borrowed the umbrella and he can be sure to get it back.
鼻緒屋
This is a Hanao store. Hanao in English means the thongs of Geta or Japanese wooden footwear.
There were many Hanao and Geta makers in this region about 60 years ago. Nowadays they have changed their business to sandal makers or shoemakers because Geta are not as popular. Today, there are more people wearing sandals and shoes than Geta. The reason for this is that we don’t wear kimono as much so therefore we don’t wear Geta.
The purpose of these extended parts on Geta is to keep the kimono above the ground.
高枕
This is a Takamakura or a high pillow.
I will show you how to use it. Please watch me.
ゴミ箱
This is a Gomibako or a trash box.
It is made of wood.
障子
This is a Shoji or a sliding door covered with Japanese paper. It is used as a kind of curtain, admitting an outside light to the room.
厠と手洗い鉢
This is an old fashioned toilet.
This is a basin for washing hands.
洗濯板
This is a washboard.
We use one in the tub.
長屋
This is a tenement house.
People who lived in tenement houses always helped each other. In this way, the tenement houses became a community during the early times.
折り紙
This is Origami.
It is the art of folding paper. A piece of colored paper is folded to form the shape of birds, animals, flowers and many other things. We never use scissors or paste.
One of the most popular forms of Origami is that of a crane. The crane symbolizes long life.
三味線
This is a Shamisen.
It is like a guitar. The body is covered with cat skin.
箒
This is a broom.
A witch does not ride on the broom.
着物
This is kimono.
Kimono is a Japanese traditional costume. Today most women wear kimono mainly for social and ceremonial events such as weddings. They also wear kimono when performing certain traditional cultural arts.
The material and design of women's kimono differ with the season, occasion and the wearer's age.
The most informal kind of kimono is yukata. It is worn on summer evenings.
The most formal kimono for young ladies is furisode. It is a very colorful and expensive kimono. It is worn on ceremonial occasions.
帯
This is an obi or sash.
It is used to tie a kimono. Like kimono, the color and design of an obi differ with the season, the occasion and the age of the wearer.
The most important part of an obi is the knot made in the back. There are many decorative ways of making a knot. This is a shape of a butterfly with the knot.
着物の着方
This is very important information when wearing kimono.
The left side of the kimono is lapped over the right in front.
The opposite is done only when dressing a body for burial.
私が書いた「はじめよう！生きがいとしての英語（春風社刊）」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
私が編集した米国高校授業体験教材の「アメリカの政治」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
井戸
This is a well.
People take water from a deep hole in the ground.
奇術箱
This is a trick box.
I will show you how it works. I put a coin in this box. I cover the box. When I uncover it, the coin has disappeared.
駄菓子屋
This is a Dagashiya. It is a cheap sweet shop.
This shop was in a tenement house. Children used to play together here.
人力車
This is a jinrikisha.
It is a man—pulled cart. The driver exerts the energy to make it go.
It has a folding hood.
用心籠
This is a Yojin Kago. It is a basket used when a fire broke out.
Everyone put their valuables and loved objects in it and with that pole there, people shouldered and carried it out and hastily escaped from the burning place.
番傘
This is a Bangasa or a numbered umbrella. It is made of oiled paper pasted on a bamboo frame and so it is waterproof.
On rainy days, the master lent the umbrella to his customers as they entered the store. You will notice that the umbrella is numbered. It serves like a record as the master can easily see who has borrowed the umbrella and he can be sure to get it back.
鼻緒屋
This is a Hanao store. Hanao in English means the thongs of Geta or Japanese wooden footwear.
There were many Hanao and Geta makers in this region about 60 years ago. Nowadays they have changed their business to sandal makers or shoemakers because Geta are not as popular. Today, there are more people wearing sandals and shoes than Geta. The reason for this is that we don’t wear kimono as much so therefore we don’t wear Geta.
The purpose of these extended parts on Geta is to keep the kimono above the ground.
蓮の花
This is the Shinobazu Pond. It is a remnant of the sea from primitive ages. The Shinobazu Pond has three parts, the Lotus Pond in the south, the Boat Pond in the west and the Zoo on the water in the north. The pond measures about 2 kilometers in circumference.
It is a very nice area here and very different from the crowded streets of Tokyo. The Shinobazu Pond is also ideal for walking and therefore boys and girls have dates here and ride the boats on the pond. There is an open theater near the pond. Every night a variety of shows are presented here by first class entertainers.
Just after the Second World War, the pond was turned into rice fields because we didn’t have enough food to eat at that time.
As the Shinobazu Pond is famous for its lotuses, since the middle of Edo era it has been crowded with holiday makers. The lotuses come out in summer. It is such a pretty sight with the contrast of the white and red of the lotus blossoms and the green of lotus leaves with the pond.
渡り鳥
The Shinobazu Pond is also renowned as one of the largest wild bird habitats within the Tokyo area. Every winter, about 5,000 wild ducks migrate to this pond from northern areas such as Siberia.
The migratory ducks come annually from September to April and then return north. Common cormorants, great egrets and many other types of birds can be seen in this pond all the year round.
夏祭り
Around here from July to August, the Edo—shumi summer evening party is held for people to appreciate the charm of life in Edo era.
In addition, many people come here to enjoy the evening cool. They also enjoy Bon—dancing and looking at the garden lanterns floating in the wind. Some people wear Yukatas which is one type of summer kimono usually made of cotton and very cool to wear. Many shops are set up and with the many lanterns around the pond it is a very beautiful scene at night.
私が書いた「はじめよう！生きがいとしての英語（春風社刊）」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
私が編集した米国高校授業体験教材の「アメリカの政治」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
拝殿
This is Haiden. It is a hall of worship and has a roof of copper.
Inside the frame, the characters read Toshogu and they are made from pure gold.
That wall painting was painted by Tan-yu Kano. He was one of the most famous painters in Azuchi Momoyama era. In this painting, a pine tree is symbolized. That is a peony. It is a Chinese phoenix which is an imaginary bird of China.
The other sculptures and wall paintings were done by the Kano school.
左甚五郎の竜
Hidari Jingoro was a clever man. When he was asked by Tokugawa Shogun to make the relief of two dragons on the gate of Toshogu Shrine, he had never seen a picture of a dragon.
The Shogun said, " The dragon has a pair of antlers, scales like a carp, a mane like a lion, a muzzle like a cow and claws. " After hearing about the dragons from the Shogun, he made the sculptures.
He had very good imagination to design such impressive dragons. I admire his talent very much.
This is Bentendo Temple. Benten is a goddess in Japanese. Benten was modeled after the Benten of the Chikubu islet of Lake Biwa. Early in the Kan-ei era, Priest Tenkai built the islet inside the pond and enshrined Benten.
It is said a husband and a wife should not go there together because the goddess will envy them.
This is Kodakarajizo or a child statue. Poor unfortunate women who have no children secretly come to worship this statue.
They are joss sticks. Please try to get some of the smoke from the joss sticks. When joss sticks are burned, it is believed that bad things become better. We also say that this smoke makes you clever and healthy.
As part of our praying, we throw coins. Then, we ring the bell and often wish for success and prosperity.
This is Ueno Zoo. It was established over one hundred years ago in 1882. Altogether there are about 520 species of animals and birds. It is a pretty zoo as many of the animals can be seen in their own surroundings rather than in ugly wire cages.
One of the main attractions is the pandas from China. As you can appreciate, the pandas are very popular among the young children.
This is Tokyo National Museum. It is one of the largest museums in Japan. It was formerly the Imperial Household Museum. Not until after the Second World War did it become the National Museum.
This impressive building has an oriental appearance and was built in 1937. The building maintains the proper temperature, humidity and ventilation in order to preserve exhibits in the best possible manner.
There are 25 showrooms and about 86,000 exhibits in all. Many of them are regarded as " National Treasures " or " Important Cultural Assets" .
We can see each type of Japanese artistry there. For example, you can see paintings and calligraphy of Japan and Asia, sculptures, ceramics, metal works, swords, wood works, bamboo works, lacquer art and textiles.
That building over there is Hyokeikan. It is famous for its large collection of relics of ancient Japan. The building has a somewhat Renaissance appearance. It was built in 1908 and is also considered an " Important Cultural Asset" by the Japanese Government.
This is the National Museum of Western Art . This museum was established in 1959. The main collection in this museum is called the " Matsukata Collection " because it was originally owned by the late Matsukata Kojiro.
Matsukata was a very rich man. He went to Europe after the First World War and bought a great deal of art and sculpture. After the Second World War, his collection of art and sculpture was opened to the public.
This collection comprises about 500 works of famous Western sculptors and painters. The impressionist works of Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Renoir and Rodin are the main part of the collection. In addition, there is one of the most famous sculptures, " The Thinker " by Rodin .
This is Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall. This hall was established in 1961 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Tokyo.
There are two concert halls inside, a big main hall and another relatively small hall. The big hall seats 2,327 people and the smaller one seats 611 people. There is quite a big difference in the seating capacity of each hall. The acoustics of the big hall are said to be among the best in the world.
It is used every day for performances of ballet, opera and classical music. Many famous foreigners have performed here.
私が書いた「はじめよう！生きがいとしての英語（春風社刊）」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
私が編集した米国高校授業体験教材の「アメリカの政治」を購入したい方はこちらをクリックしてください。
春のうららの 隅田川
のぼりくだりの 船人が
櫂のしずくも 花と散る
ながめを何に たとうべき
On a bright spring afternoon
Passengers are going up and down the Sumida River
The drips from the paddles of the boats are falling like cherry blossoms
What can you compare the beautiful scene to ?
見ずやあけぼの 露浴びて
われにもの言う 桜木を
見ずやゆうぐれ 手をのべて
われさしまねく 青柳を
On an early spring morning
Why don’t you look at cherry trees talking to you with a full of dews
On an early spring evening
Why don’t you look at willow trees beckoning you with their twigs
錦おりなす 長堤に
暮るればのぼる おぼろ月
げに一刻も 千金の
ながめを何に たとうべき
Over the long river banks colored with cherry trees and willow trees
A hazy moon is rising after dark
Here forever is this spring night
What can you compare the beautiful scene to ?
解説：
この詩には二つの本歌取りがある。
櫂のしずくも花と散る
「源氏物語・胡蝶の巻」で、光源氏が六条院の春の賑わいを歌った下記の歌から引いたもの。
春の日のうららにさして行く船は 棹のしずくも花ぞ散りける
一刻も千金の
中国の詩人蘇軾の「春夜」にある春宵一刻値千金から
作詞者の武島羽衣に、明治時代の人が質問をしています。但し、この「花」には関係の無い質問です。興味のある方はこちらをクリックしてください。
このブログにはコメントがあります。お読みになりたい方は下のコメントのところをクリックしてください。
Cherry Trees in Ueno Park
Ueno Park has been famous for its beautiful cherry trees since the Edo era.
Every year in April, the cherry festival is held for two weeks. The very first cherry festival began in April 1948. As part of the festival, lanterns are hung on the trees. It is a very pretty sight, particularly at night. Many people enjoy having small parties under the blooming cherry trees. They sing and dance and eat and drink .
Long ago, there were many beautiful cherry trees on a mountain called Yoshino. After Kan-eiji Temple was built, Priest Tenkai who liked cherry trees ordered that those trees be carried from Mt.Yoshino to Ueno Park.
Shortly after the Second World War, many vagrants who lost their houses as a result of the war came to live at Ueno Park. They burned most of the cherry trees as firewood so that they could cook their meals.
Later, people around Ueno Park planted these cherry trees. There are about 1,200 cherry trees in Ueno Park now.
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