神奈川・平塚で「湘南ひらつか七夕まつり」が今日開幕、3日間で日本有数の夏祭り

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July third. In Hiratsuka, a city in Kanagawa near Tokyo, one of Japan's biggest star festivals opens today, with about a hundred giant paper decorations lining the streets. Let's listen.

Let's break it down.

Starting today, July third, the Shonan Hiratsuka Star Festival begins in the city of Hiratsuka, Kanagawa.

The star festival, held in early July.

This is one of the biggest star festivals in Japan.

Most, or number one; the very top.

On the shopping street near the station, about a hundred big, beautiful decorations are lined up.

A decoration, an ornament.

The decorations use colorful paper and popular characters.

Popularity; being popular, well-liked.

The festival is held for three days, from July third to the fifth.

To hold an event; also, to open.

Along the streets, many food stalls open too, and it gets very lively.

Lively, bustling, full of energy.

This festival began in 1951. They say it started after people saw the star festival in Sendai.

To begin, to start.

Last year's festival drew 1.15 million people over three days.

Last year.

This summer is very hot, so the festival uses mist fans and other measures against the heat.

Hot, said of the weather.

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

Quiz time. Three questions.

When does the Shonan Hiratsuka Star Festival begin? Answer: today, July third.

What year did this festival begin? Answer: in 1951.

How many people came to last year's festival? Answer: 1.15 million over three days.

That's today's Japanese Daily News. If you're near Hiratsuka this weekend, look up at the streets full of color. Full transcript and vocabulary are on the site. See you tomorrow.