明日から京都で祇園祭が始まる、1か月続く日本有数の夏祭り

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is June thirtieth. Tomorrow, one of Japan's most famous summer festivals begins in Kyoto. It runs for the whole month of July. Let's listen.

Let's break it down.

From tomorrow, the first of July, the Gion Festival begins in Kyoto.

To begin, to start.

The Gion Festival is a festival of the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.

A Shinto shrine, a place to worship the gods.

It is one of the most famous festivals in Japan.

Famous, well known.

This festival is held from July first to the thirty-first, for a whole month.

To be held, to take place.

At the Gion Festival, large floats called yamaboko come out into the streets.

A festival float, a large decorated cart pulled through the streets.

The floats are decorated with beautiful cloth and figures.

To decorate, to adorn.

This is the biggest event of the Gion Festival.

An event or scheduled occasion, often a traditional one.

Long ago, when illness spread in Kyoto, it began as a way to pray to the gods.

Illness, sickness.

Because it is hot, Kyoto City is telling people to drink water and take care of their health.

To be careful, to take care.

Let's listen to the full story one more time.

Quiz time. Three questions.

In which city is the Gion Festival held? Answer: Kyoto.

On what date is the float procession? Answer: July seventeenth.

How long does the Gion Festival last? Answer: a whole month, from July first to the thirty-first.

That's today's Japanese Daily News. Full transcript and vocabulary are on the site. See you tomorrow.