Translator

When I was an elementary and middle school student, I liked mystery novels. I was a big fan of Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle. I realized there were translator. They translate English into Japanese. I had a vague images of translator then. And I dreamed if I can be a translator. I just remembered. 

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Murakami Magazine

I bought a magazine called Haruki Murakami English Magazine published by English Journal. The magazine is for English learners. You can see the difference between Japanese are English via Murakami's works.

The most interesting part of the magazine for me is the interview with Jay Rubin. He has translated some Murakami's novels. He talked about the difficulty of translation especially between English and Japanese. For example, he worked hard to translate into English Kaeru-san and Kaeru-kun. He finally decided to translate as Frog and Mr. Frog. 

If you are English learner and a fan of Murakami, the magazine might be worth to read. 

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Studying Rubin's Translation

I went to a book store and bought a book about an English translation work. The original text was "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo" written by Murakami Haruki and translated into English by Jay Rubin. Original Japanese, English version and some explanations of transportation in it. 

Jay Rubin is famous for studying Japanese and Murakami himself chosen him as a translator, so Rubin's work might be a good one. More over, he used simple English for the translation. 

Comparing with original and English, I've found lots of interesting and worthy things. For example, Rubin translated rather in detail. While original said simply took off his shoes, Rubin translated into English as unlaced his shoes. 

I don't represent NHK Publishing, but I recommend this book for English learners. It's useful for translation and writing English. 

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A Judgement

I translated a story. 

At a night, a man walked along a street of a town, looked back now and then. Suddenly, someone stopped him. 

"Hey. Wait!", said the unknown man. 

"What? I'm in a hurry."

"I'm a cop. Money thief incidents have been happening in this town recently, so I'm patrolling here. You look strange. I'll ask you some. You have to answer my questions or I'll drug you to the police office."

"I don't want to go to police station. I didn't do anything wrong."

"That's what I decide."

"I walk awkward, but that's the way I am.", he explained. And he let the unknown man searching his clothes and pockets. Nothing had founded. 

"Ok. You may go."

The man walked away there and after walking while he met a waiting person. 

"I think it went well."

"How was he? What is your judgement?"

"He's insane. I'm a psychiatrist. I'm sure he is."

The police officer nodded as he listened to the psychiatrist. 

"I'm sorry to bother you. We were not sure if he was a gangster pretending a directive or simply a crazy man who believes he was a police man. There was no clue. Then we should send him a hospital. Thank you doctor. Our police department will pay for you...."

The end. 

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Metal Plates Stolen in Shimane

Many metal bridges' name plates have been stolen since April in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture. One hundred twenty six plates have been taken away in four cities and two towns. The amount of damage is estemated at nearly 3,000,000 yen. The police are searching for the criminal and said, the cases happened due to rising metal prices. These stolen happened in little traffic areas and these malal plates were stolen with its metal fittings.


島根県東部で４月以降、橋や川の名前の記された金属製橋名板の盗難被害が相次いで確認されている。これまでに４市２町で計１２６枚が持ち去られ、被害金額は３００万円近くに上る。県警は金属価格の上昇が背景にあるとみて、窃盗事件として捜査している。犯行現場は交通量の少ない地域で、欄干に固定していた金具ごとなくなるケースが多い。

Fake Sphinx in Chine to be Broken Down

A full-sized fake Sphinx in Heinei, China will be broken down because Egyptian government complained about the statue. The fake Sphinx is made of iron frame and cement, and the size is 80m width and 30m height.

From sneakers to champagne, piracy is wide spread in China, you can even see the Eiffel Tower, Mount Rushmore, Hallstatt of Swiss, and more in the country.


http://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3015901

Dangerous Iceberg

A massive iceberg has left Antarctica and is drifting towards the ocean. When winter comes, it will be hard to trace the mountain of ice, and the area around the iceberg can become dangerous for cruising ships.
According to NASA, iceberg "B31" is about 660k㎡ and 500m thick.
A crack was found in the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica in 2011 and after that, a mass of ice was separated from the glacier in November 2013. The huge iceberg left Pine Island Bay, and now, it is drifting into The Amundsen Sea. It will soon ride the stream in the ocean.
As Antarctica enters winter, the area will go into the polar night season. Researchers say, it will be a hard time to trace the iceberg during the season. The huge size of the iceberg will take at least one year to melt down.


 南極から分離した巨大な氷山が大陸を離れ、外洋に向けて漂流している。冬を迎えると追跡が難しくなり、船舶の航行に危険が生じる恐れもあるという。
米航空宇宙局（ＮＡＳＡ）地球観測所によると、この氷山「Ｂ３１」の面積は約６６０平方キロ、厚さは約５００メートルあまりとみられる。
２０１１年、南極のパインアイランド氷河に亀裂が観測され、１３年１１月に同氷河から分離した。その後はパインアイランド湾を離れて南極大陸西部のアムンゼン海を漂流。間もなく外洋の潮流に乗る見通しだという。
南極はこれから冬を迎えて太陽の出ない日が続くようになり、この間は氷山の追跡が難しくなると研究者は懸念する。これほどの規模の氷山になると、溶けるまでには１年以上かかる見通しだ。

Twelve Gold Bars Found in Belly

The police said on April 22 in India, 12 bars of gold were found inside a 63-year-old man's belly when he got a surgery. He went to the hospital in New Delih due to stomach pains.The man brought the gold bars to India hiding these in his stomach to skip the import tax. The gold bar was 33g each.The hospital sent the gold to the customs through the police. The customs is investigating this criminal now.

インドの首都ニューデリーの病院で、腹痛を訴えていた６３歳の男性の開腹手術をしたところ、中から金の延べ棒１２本が見つかった。医師や警察が２２日に明らかにした。男性は輸入税を免れる目的で、金の延べ棒を腹部に隠してインドに持ち込んだとみられる。延べ棒は１本あたり３３グラムの重さだった。延べ棒は病院から警察に引き渡され、税関に送られた。現在は税関が調査に当たっている。

Canadian Woman Receives Letter 45 Years Later

CBC news reported on April 22, that a letter sent by a Canadian girl 45 years ago has just reached her sister.

The recipient, Anne Tingle, told CBC that her sister sent the letter in 1969. At that time, her sister was nine years old.

 The letter, which it arrived, was covered with a plastic bag. An apology from the Canada Post was inside the bag. It said, "Sorry for the bad condition of the envelope", but they did not apologize for the delay. 

カナダの少女が姉に宛てて投函した手紙が、45年たってようやく配達された。同国の公営カナダ放送協会（CBC）が22日、報じた。

　受取人のアン・ティングル（Anne Tingle）さんがCBCに語ったところによると、手紙は1969年に当時9歳だった妹がアンさん宛てに投函していた。

　届いた手紙はビニールで包まれ、封筒の状態に関するカナダ郵便公社（Canada Post）からの謝罪文が添付されていたが、遅延についての謝罪はなかった。

Teen Stows Away to Hawaii in Jet's Wheel

A 16-year-old American boy who lives in California flew to Hawaii by creeping into an airplane's landing gear. After a 3,700km flight with Hawaii Airlines, he was found at the airport in Maui. Officials said, " It's a miracle that he was able to survive."
The boy climbed up into the jet and stole into the narrow landing gear and arrived at Maui. The airplane flew more than 38,000 feet( 12,000km) above sea level. That means it was below zero degrees and there was little oxygen inside the wheel space. He withstood those sevear conditions for almost five hours.




「１６歳少年、航空機の車輪格納庫に潜みハワイイへ密航」
米カリフォルニア州に住む１６歳の少年が、ハワイアン航空機の車輪格納部に潜り込んで約３７００キロ離れたハワイにたどり着き、マウイ島の空港で保護された。同航空の関係者は、「少年が生きていられたのはけた外れの幸運のおかげだった」と話している。
少年は同機の機体によじ上って狭い車輪格納庫に身を潜め、マウイ島までたどり着いたとみられる。高度３万８０００フィート（約１万２０００メートル）に到達した同機の格納庫は、気温が氷点下に下がって空気も薄くなる。少年はほぼ５時間、その環境に耐えていたことになる。

A Woman Flushes Her €400,000 Lottery Ticket Down the Toilet

According to a local media in Germany, a 63-year-old woman accidentally tore up and flushed a lottery ticket that won €400,000 down the toilet.
The nursing home where her husband stayed untill he passed way charged the payment because she won the lottely.
When she was drunk, she found the bill while opening the envelope and got angry. Then she tore and flushed the lottery ticket.


ドイツの６３歳の女性が、４０万ユーロ（約５６００万円）が当たった宝くじを破り捨て、トイレに流してしまったと現地メディアが伝えた。
　女性の夫が死去するまで入所していた施設が女性の宝くじ当選を知り、滞納していた夫の医療費を請求。
　女性はシャンパンで酔っぱらっていた際に請求書の入った封筒を開けて激怒し、宝くじに手を掛けたという。

Indian General Election

India is called the world largest democratic country and has begun to vote for the general election. The number of the eligible voters is 814 million, more than the U.S. and Western Europe population.

Prime minister Dr. Singh who has lead the Indian goverment for ten years announced his retirement from politics. This election would be important to India more than any elections before.

Suffering corruptions, high inflation rate and slowing down economic growth, voters have to chose INC, supporting the Singh administration, or the largest opposition party BJP.

The election lasts until May 12th. Eleven million people will work for the voting stuff and the guards and the cost would reach $5 billion.

「世界最大の民主主義国」と言われるインドで７日、総選挙の投票が始まった。有権者の数は８億１４００万人と米国と西欧諸国の人口を合わせたよりも多い。
１０年にわたって政権を率いてきたシン首相が政界からの引退を表明しており、今回の総選挙はこれまで以上に大きな意味を持つかもしれない。
汚職や高いインフレ率、減速する経済成長など社会的な懸念が広がるなか、有権者は、シン政権を支えた国民会議派か、最大野党インド人民党（ＢＪＰ）かの選択を迫られそうだ。
投票期間は５月１２日までの５週間。投票所のスタッフや治安要員として１１００万人が動員され、選挙費用は５０億ドルに達するともいわれる

Homeless Man Withdrows $37000 from ATM

A homeless man was arrested because he illegally took out $37,000 from an ATM in a bank even thoug he was allowed to withdraw only $140 from his account in South Portland, Maine early in the morning on April 6th.
The bank said this incident was due to a computer error.
According to the police, after the homeless man withdrew $140 from his bank account using his cash card, he attempted to withdraw additional cash from the ATM and was successful.
The local TV station WGME said, a woman who waited to use the ATM next to the man called the police because the man used the machine for a suspiciously long time. The plice came and found the homeless man with a large amount of money in his bag.
The $37,000 was returned to the bank.
The bank dose not intend to sue the man but the police did not deny the possibly to charging him.
According to the bank, the incident did not affect their customer accounts.




 米東部メーン州のサウスポートランドで６日までに、銀行の現金自動出入機（ＡＴＭ）で早朝、１４０ドル（約１万４４２０円）を引き出そうとしていたホームレスの男性の手元に３万７０００ドル（約３８１万円）以上の大金がはき出される珍事があった。
銀行側はコンピューターの不具合が原因としている。
地元警察によると、男性は自分の銀行カードを使って口座から１４０ドルを引き出した後、追加の支払いを求める操作を続け、ＡＴＭはこれに応じたという。
地元テレビ局ＷＧＭＥによると、ＡＴＭの前で自分の番を待っていた女性が、男性の利用時間があまりにも長いため警察に通報。駆け付けた警官が、思わぬ大金をショッピングバッグの中に入れていた男性を発見していた。
地元警察は３万７０００ドルを銀行に返金した。
銀行は男性の刑事責任などは問わない方針だが、警察は訴追などの可能性を否定していない。
銀行によると、今回の騒ぎで他の顧客の口座に影響はなかった。

Samurai Tour Guide

Matsue Wakamusya Tai, Japanese samurai style armed warriors, have started acting as tour guides to Matsue near JR Matsue station from April 4th. They help travelers to go to sightseeing  spots such as Matsue castle or Yaegaki-jinsya. They also try to improve the satisfaction level for tourists. They will help tourists at between 10:30am and 3:30pm on weekends and national holidays until the end of March next year.

　甲冑（かっちゅう）姿の「まつえ若武者隊」による松江の観光案内が５日、同市朝日町のＪＲ松江駅周辺で始まった。同市を訪れた観光客に松江城や八重垣神社など市内観光地に出向いてもらう手助けをするとともに、観光の満足度アップを目指す取り組み。土日・祝日の午前１０時半～午後３時半の時間帯で、来年３月末まで実施する。山陰中央新報 http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=545152004

Welcome Event at Shimane University

Students in Shimane university held a welcome event for freshmen called Syuntou-sai on April 2nd in Nishikawatsu-cho, Matsue. The freshmen waiting the entrance ceremony on April 4th, they enjoyed the lights from lots of lanterns in the campus.

Students association learned this event from Matsue Suitouro that many lanterns light in the area around Matsue castle has been held for five years.

About 200 lanterns lighted the aisle running through the entrance gate to the north and it looked fantastic. Freshmen visited there as watching the tender lights and took some pictures. The association member students talked with freshmen and gave some advice about college life.

　

学生手づくりの新入生歓迎イベント「春燈（しゅんとう）祭」が２日夜、島根県松江市西川津町の島根大学であった。４日の入学式を前に、数多くのあんどんの光に包まれたキャンパスで、新生活を始める１年生がもてなしを受けた。
　あんどんで城下町を照らすイベント「松江水燈路（すいとうろ）」にならい、学生で組織する実行委員会が企画・運営し、５年目を迎えた。

　正門から北に向かうキャンパス内の通りに、約２００個のあんどんが並べられ、幻想的な雰囲気になった。訪れた新入生らは優しい光に見入ったり、写真撮影をしたりしながら、思い思いに過ごした。実行委の学生らは新入生に話し掛け、大学生活についてアドバイスするなどした。

山陰中央新報  http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=545127004

Machi no ne

Local restaurant owners in Isemiya-cho, Matsue, are making a plan that musicians can perform on the streets whenever they want to. They named the plan "Machi no ne, or Sound of the town" and it will start in the middle of April.
Toshiro Yamano, 36, who runs a restaurant called Piano Man, is the leader of the event. He came up with this idea from Matsue's frendship town New Orleans. The city is known as the cradle of jazz and is famous for street live performanses.
Restaurants in Isemiya-cho and around JR Matsue station will allow professional and amateur musicians to perform in front of their shops. Both musicians and restaurants will benefit because the musicians will get a chance to play music and shop owners will get attention to their restaurants.
The event will take place several times per month at the biggining and the area will be filled with music every day in the future. Plays and art performances will also be allowed in the area.


島根県松江市伊勢宮町周辺を、ミュージシャンの路上ライブが日常的に繰り広げられる街にしようという企画が、地元飲食店経営者らによって進められている。「街×音（まちのね）」と題し、４月中旬から本格的にライブを始める考えだ。
　中心人物は伊勢宮町の飲食店「ピアノマン」の店主山野俊朗さん（３６）。松江市の友好都市で、ジャズ発祥の地とされる米国ニューオーリンズで路上ライブが盛んになことにならった。
 伊勢宮町やＪＲ松江駅周辺の飲食店に協力を呼び掛け、店頭をライブの場所として提供してもらい、プロ、アマ、ジャンルを問わず演奏してもらう。演奏者は演奏の機会が得られ、店は集客効果が期待できて双方に利点があることから、出演料や場所代など金銭のやりとりはしない。
　ライブは月に数回から始め、将来は毎日、どこかから音楽が聞こえてくる街を思い描く。演劇や美術の活動も受け入れる。 山陰中央新報　http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=545107004

Shidare Cherry Blooms in Senjuin

Senjuin is one of the best spots for cherry blossom viewing or hanami in Matsue. Now, you can see beautiful weeping cherries or shidare cherries there. Many families and couples are coming to the temple which is located near the historic Matsue castle to see the full-blown cherry tree.
They say some samurai that lived here gave the temple the tree about 300 years ago. The shidare cherry is about 8 m high and 90 cm in diameter. The tree was about to collapse over ten years ago but a tree doctor saved its life and after that it continues to blooming every year. The cherry bloomed at the end of March and the date was two or three days later than usual. You can enjoy cherry blossom viewing there until this weekend. 　


松江市の花見スポットの一つ、同市石橋町の千手院のしだれ桜が見頃を迎えている。城下町の風情漂う地区の一角で満開になった桜を一目見ようと、家族連れやカップルが足を運んでいる。
約３００年前に松江藩士が寄贈したとの言い伝えが残る桜で、高さ約８メートル、幹の直径は約９０センチ。１０年以上前に腐朽菌に感染して樹勢が衰えたことがあったが、樹木医の手当てで助かり、今も毎年花を咲かせている。ことしは例年より２、３日遅く３月下旬に開花した。今週末まで楽しめるという。 山陰中央新報 http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/news/modules/news/article.php?storyid=545064179