日本三大祭りの一つ「天神祭」が大阪で開催

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July twenty-fifth. Tonight in Osaka, one of Japan's three biggest festivals reaches its main night, with a parade of about one hundred boats on the river and three thousand fireworks. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

In Osaka, one of Japan's three great festivals has begun. Today, July twenty-fifth, is its liveliest day.

It means lively or bustling.

This festival belongs to a shrine called Osaka Tenmangu. It has a long history of about one thousand years.

It means history.

The god of this festival is Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar from long ago. He is famous as the god of studying.

It means a scholar.

From the evening comes the boat procession. About one hundred boats move slowly down a river called the Okawa.

It means to move forward, to advance.

From around seven thirty at night, about three thousand fireworks go up. Fireworks shaped like plum blossoms are famous here.

It means fireworks.

Because this year it falls on a Saturday, about one point three million people are expected to come. That is more than in a usual year.

It means always, or the usual.

Around the shrine, many food stalls line up, selling octopus balls, shaved ice, and more.

It means a food stall at a festival or on the street.

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

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Osaka.

About one hundred boats.

About three thousand fireworks.

That's all for today. Tonight in Osaka, one hundred boats glide down the river and three thousand fireworks light up the sky, as a festival with one thousand years of history reaches its biggest night. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.