Sample newspaper article

10月20日、81歳の誕生日を迎えた皇后美智子さまは、今年の４月に慰霊の旅として、天皇陛下とともに太平洋戦争の激戦地パラオ・ ペリリュー島を訪れたことについて回想し、「日米の戦死者の霊に祈りを捧げることができたことは、忘れられない思い出です」と述べた。 誕生日に際し、記者団の質問に文書で回答したものだ。健康状態に関しては、８月に心筋虚血と診断されたが「今のところ、これまでと変わりなく過ごしています」と述べた。過去1年を振り返ると、火山の噴火や 集中豪雨など、日本各地を襲った自然災害の報に接することが多く、 悲しいことでしたと述べた。 (Oct. 21)

Words and phrases

81歳の (hachijū issai-) 81st; 誕生日 (tanjōbi) birthday; 皇后さま (Kōgōsama) Empress; 慰霊の (irei-) commemorate; 旅 (tabi) trip; 天皇陛下 (Tenn ōheika) Emperor; 太平洋戦争 (Taiheiyōsensō) World War II; 激戦 (gekisen) fierce battle; ペリリュー島 (Periryūtō) Peleliu Island; 訪れたこと (otozu-) trip; 回想し (kaisō-) recalled; 日米の戦死者 (Nichibei-senshisha) Japanese and American war dead; 魂 (tamashii) soul; 祈りを捧げる (ino-sasa-) praying; 忘れられない (wasu-) unforgettable; 思い出 (omo-de) impression; 述べた (no-) saying; 際し (sai-) on the occasion of; 記者団 (kishadan) journalists; 質問 (shitsumon) questions; 書面 (shomen) written; 回答 (kaitō) response; 健康状態 (kenkōjōtai) health; 関して (kan-) concerning; 心筋虚血 (shinkin kyoketsu) myocardial ischemia; 診断され (shindan-) diagnosed; 変わりなく (ka-) without much change; 振り返ると (fu-kae-) looking back; 火山の噴火 (kazan-funka) volcanic eruptions; 集中豪雨 (shūchūgōu) torrential rain; 各地 (kakuchi) various places; 襲った (osot-) hit; 自然災害 (shizen saigai) disasters; 報 (hō) news; 悲しい (kana-) saddened

Sample radio or television report

10-gatsu hatsuka, hachijū issai-no tanjōbi-o mukaeta Kōgō Michiko-sama-wa, kotoshi-no 4-gatsu-ni irei-no tabi-to shite, Tennōheika-to-tomo-ni Taiheiyōsensō-no gekisenchi Parao Periryūtō-o otozureta-koto-ni tsuite kaisō-shi, “Nichibei-no senshisha-no tamashii-ni inori-o sasageru-koto-ga dekita-koto-wa wasurerarenai omoide-desu“-to nobemashita. Tanjōbi-ni-saishi, kishadan-no shitsumon-ni shomen-de kaitō-shita mono-desu. Kenkōjōtai-ni-kan-shite-wa, 8-gatsu-ni shinkin kyoketsu-to shindan saremashita-ga “Ima-no-tokoro, koremade-to kawarinaku sugoshiteimasu,“-to nobemashita. Kako ichinen-o furikaeru-to, kazan-no funka-ya shūchūgōu-nado, Nihon kakuchi-o osotta shizen saigai-no hō-ni sessuru-koto-ga ō-ku, kanashii-koto-deshita-to nobemashita.

Translation

Empress Michiko, on the occasion of her 81st birthday on Oct. 20, recalled her April trip to Palau with Emperor Akihito to commemorate those who lost their lives there in a fierce battle during World War II, saying, “Together we were able to pray for the souls of both the Japanese and American war dead on Peleliu Island” and “This has left an unforgettable impression on me.” Concerning her health after being diagnosed with myocardial ischemia in August, the Empress said in her written responses to questions from journalists: “So far, I have been able to continue as I have done before, without much change.” Looking back at the past year, the Empress said she was saddened by the news of natural disasters that struck various places in Japan, such as volcanic eruptions and torrential rain.

Conversation between acquaintances

A: Kōgōsama-wa, hachijū issai-no tanjōbi-o mukaerareta-sō-desu-ne.

(I heard Empress Michiko celebrated her 81st birthday.)

B: Tennōheika-to-tomo-ni 4-gatsu-ni Parao-o otozureta-koto-ga wasurerarenai omoide-da-sō-desu-yo.

(She reportedly said that her April trip to Palau with the Emperor left an unforgettable impression on her. )

Conversation between husband and wife

H: Kōgōsama-wa shinkin kyoketsu-to shindan sareta sō-da.

(I heard that Empress Michiko was diagnosed with myocardial ischemia.)

W: Hayaku yoku-natte hoshii-wa.

(I hope she gets well soon.)

(No. 1281)