Host
Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August eighth. Japan's great summer homecoming has begun — this weekend, millions of people are heading back to their hometowns by bullet train, car, and plane for the mid-August holiday. Let's listen.
News
今日のニュースです。
Here's today's news.
News
お盆をふるさとや行楽地で過ごす人たちの帰省ラッシュが、この週末から本格化しています。
The homecoming rush of people spending Obon in their hometowns or at vacation spots has been in full swing since this weekend.
News
「帰省」とは、生まれ育ったふるさとに帰ることです。
"Kisei" means returning to the hometown where you were born and raised.
News
お盆は、亡くなった家族やご先祖を迎える日本の伝統的な行事で、多くの人がふるさとに帰って、お墓参りをします。
Obon is a traditional Japanese event to welcome back deceased family members and ancestors, and many people return to their hometowns and visit family graves.
News
多くの会社が今月8日ごろから夏休みに入るため、新幹線や高速道路、空の便は、大きな荷物を持った家族連れなどで混雑しています。
Because many companies begin their summer holidays around the 8th of this month, the Shinkansen, expressways, and flights are crowded with families carrying big luggage and others.
News
JR各社によりますと、ふるさとに向かう下りの新幹線は、8日が混雑のピークで、指定席は午前を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
According to the JR companies, outbound Shinkansen trains heading to hometowns are most crowded on the 8th, and reserved seats are almost fully booked, mainly in the morning.
News
東海道新幹線の「のぞみ」は、混雑を避けるため、今月7日から16日まで、すべての座席が指定席になっています。
To avoid crowding, all seats on the Tokaido Shinkansen "Nozomi" trains are reserved from the 7th to the 16th of this month.
News
この期間は自由席がないため、JR東海は、早めに座席を予約するよう呼びかけています。
Since there are no non-reserved seats during this period, JR Central is calling on people to reserve seats early.
News
高速道路の下りも、8日と9日が混雑のピークで、各地で長い渋滞が予想されています。
Outbound expressways are also most crowded on the 8th and 9th, and long traffic jams are expected in various places.
News
場所によっては、最大でおよそ45キロの渋滞が予想されているところもあります。
In some places, traffic jams of up to about 45 kilometers are expected.
News
空の便も、国内線の下りは、8日と9日を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
For flights, outbound domestic flights are also almost fully booked, mainly on the 8th and 9th.
News
一方、ふるさとから都市に戻るUターンラッシュのピークは、今月15日と16日になる見込みです。
Meanwhile, the peak of the U-turn rush, when people return from their hometowns to the cities, is expected to be on the 15th and 16th of this month.
News
各地で厳しい暑さが続いているため、渋滞の中での熱中症や、車のトラブルにも注意が必要です。
Because severe heat continues in many areas, people also need to watch out for heatstroke in traffic jams and for car trouble.
News
高速道路の会社は、出発する前に渋滞の情報を確認し、時間に余裕を持って行動してほしいと呼びかけています。
Expressway companies are calling on people to check traffic jam information before departing and to allow plenty of time.
News
久しぶりにふるさとで家族と過ごす、日本の夏の大切な時間が始まります。
An important time of the Japanese summer, spending time with family in the hometown for the first time in a while, is beginning.
Host
Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.
Breakdown
Slow Repeat
お盆をふるさとや行楽地で過ごす人たちの帰省ラッシュが、この週末から本格化しています。
The homecoming rush of people spending Obon in their hometowns or at vacation spots has been in full swing since this weekend.
Host
The homecoming rush — people heading to their hometowns and resorts for the holiday — is in full swing this weekend.
Vocab
帰省
Host
It means returning to your hometown.
Slow Repeat
お盆は、亡くなった家族やご先祖を迎える日本の伝統的な行事で、多くの人がふるさとに帰って、お墓参りをします。
Obon is a traditional Japanese event to welcome back deceased family members and ancestors, and many people return to their hometowns and visit family graves.
Host
The holiday is a traditional event for welcoming the spirits of deceased family and ancestors — many people go home and visit the family grave.
Vocab
先祖
Host
It means ancestor.
Slow Repeat
JR各社によりますと、ふるさとに向かう下りの新幹線は、8日が混雑のピークで、指定席は午前を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
According to the JR companies, outbound Shinkansen trains heading to hometowns are most crowded on the 8th, and reserved seats are almost fully booked, mainly in the morning.
Host
According to the railway companies, outbound bullet trains peak today, the eighth, and reserved seats are almost sold out, especially in the morning.
Vocab
満席
Host
It means fully booked — no seats left.
Slow Repeat
東海道新幹線の「のぞみ」は、混雑を避けるため、今月7日から16日まで、すべての座席が指定席になっています。
To avoid crowding, all seats on the Tokaido Shinkansen "Nozomi" trains are reserved from the 7th to the 16th of this month.
Host
To ease the crush, the fastest trains on the main Tokyo–Osaka bullet-train line are running with all seats reserved from the seventh through the sixteenth.
Vocab
指定席
Host
It means a reserved seat.
Slow Repeat
場所によっては、最大でおよそ45キロの渋滞が予想されているところもあります。
In some places, traffic jams of up to about 45 kilometers are expected.
Host
In some places, traffic jams of up to about forty-five kilometers are expected.
Vocab
渋滞
Host
It means a traffic jam.
Slow Repeat
一方、ふるさとから都市に戻るUターンラッシュのピークは、今月15日と16日になる見込みです。
Meanwhile, the peak of the U-turn rush, when people return from their hometowns to the cities, is expected to be on the 15th and 16th of this month.
Host
Meanwhile, the return rush back to the cities is expected to peak on the fifteenth and sixteenth.
Vocab
一方
Host
It means meanwhile, or on the other hand.
Slow Repeat
高速道路の会社は、出発する前に渋滞の情報を確認し、時間に余裕を持って行動してほしいと呼びかけています。
Expressway companies are calling on people to check traffic jam information before departing and to allow plenty of time.
Host
Highway operators are urging drivers to check traffic information before leaving and to allow plenty of extra time.
Vocab
余裕
Host
It means extra room — time or space to spare.
Host
Let's listen to the whole story one more time.
News
お盆をふるさとや行楽地で過ごす人たちの帰省ラッシュが、この週末から本格化しています。
The homecoming rush of people spending Obon in their hometowns or at vacation spots has been in full swing since this weekend.
News
「帰省」とは、生まれ育ったふるさとに帰ることです。
"Kisei" means returning to the hometown where you were born and raised.
News
お盆は、亡くなった家族やご先祖を迎える日本の伝統的な行事で、多くの人がふるさとに帰って、お墓参りをします。
Obon is a traditional Japanese event to welcome back deceased family members and ancestors, and many people return to their hometowns and visit family graves.
News
多くの会社が今月8日ごろから夏休みに入るため、新幹線や高速道路、空の便は、大きな荷物を持った家族連れなどで混雑しています。
Because many companies begin their summer holidays around the 8th of this month, the Shinkansen, expressways, and flights are crowded with families carrying big luggage and others.
News
JR各社によりますと、ふるさとに向かう下りの新幹線は、8日が混雑のピークで、指定席は午前を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
According to the JR companies, outbound Shinkansen trains heading to hometowns are most crowded on the 8th, and reserved seats are almost fully booked, mainly in the morning.
News
東海道新幹線の「のぞみ」は、混雑を避けるため、今月7日から16日まで、すべての座席が指定席になっています。
To avoid crowding, all seats on the Tokaido Shinkansen "Nozomi" trains are reserved from the 7th to the 16th of this month.
News
この期間は自由席がないため、JR東海は、早めに座席を予約するよう呼びかけています。
Since there are no non-reserved seats during this period, JR Central is calling on people to reserve seats early.
News
高速道路の下りも、8日と9日が混雑のピークで、各地で長い渋滞が予想されています。
Outbound expressways are also most crowded on the 8th and 9th, and long traffic jams are expected in various places.
News
場所によっては、最大でおよそ45キロの渋滞が予想されているところもあります。
In some places, traffic jams of up to about 45 kilometers are expected.
News
空の便も、国内線の下りは、8日と9日を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
For flights, outbound domestic flights are also almost fully booked, mainly on the 8th and 9th.
News
一方、ふるさとから都市に戻るUターンラッシュのピークは、今月15日と16日になる見込みです。
Meanwhile, the peak of the U-turn rush, when people return from their hometowns to the cities, is expected to be on the 15th and 16th of this month.
News
各地で厳しい暑さが続いているため、渋滞の中での熱中症や、車のトラブルにも注意が必要です。
Because severe heat continues in many areas, people also need to watch out for heatstroke in traffic jams and for car trouble.
News
高速道路の会社は、出発する前に渋滞の情報を確認し、時間に余裕を持って行動してほしいと呼びかけています。
Expressway companies are calling on people to check traffic jam information before departing and to allow plenty of time.
News
久しぶりにふるさとで家族と過ごす、日本の夏の大切な時間が始まります。
An important time of the Japanese summer, spending time with family in the hometown for the first time in a while, is beginning.
Host
Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.
Slow Repeat
ふるさとに向かう下りの新幹線の混雑のピークは、何日ですか。
Host
The eighth — today, with reserved seats nearly full in the morning.
Slow Repeat
東海道新幹線の「のぞみ」は、いつからいつまで、すべての座席が指定席になっていますか。
Host
From the seventh through the sixteenth of this month.
Slow Repeat
Uターンラッシュのピークは、いつになる見込みですか。
Host
The fifteenth and sixteenth.
Host
That's all for today. If you're traveling this weekend, stay cool, be patient in the crowds, and safe travels home. See you tomorrow.
News
また明日。
See you tomorrow.
1 / 0
Grammar Reference
〜によりますと N3
according to (polite news style)
noun + によりますと
JR各社によりますと、下りの新幹線は、8日が混雑のピークです。
According to the JR companies, outbound bullet trains hit their congestion peak on the eighth.
the polite spoken-news form of 〜によると; introduces the source of information
Grammar notes → 〜ため N3
because; due to
verb/adjective plain form + ため / noun + の + ため
多くの会社が夏休みに入るため、新幹線や高速道路は混雑しています。
Because many companies are starting their summer vacation, bullet trains and highways are crowded.
formal reason-giving; very common in news; more written-style than から
Grammar notes → 〜を中心に N3
mainly; centered on
noun + を中心に
指定席は午前を中心にほぼ満席となっています。
Reserved seats are nearly full, mainly in the morning.
marks the core or focus of a situation; common in news for times, places, and groups
Grammar notes → 〜よう呼びかける N3
to call on people to do something
verb dictionary form / ない form + よう(に)呼びかける
JR東海は、早めに座席を予約するよう呼びかけています。
JR Central is calling on passengers to reserve seats early.
standard news phrase for public appeals by companies, police, or government
N3 grammar list → 〜てほしい N4
want someone to do something
verb て form + ほしい
時間に余裕を持って行動してほしいと呼びかけています。
They are asking people to act with plenty of time to spare.
expresses a request or wish directed at others; in news, often inside quoted appeals
Grammar notes →