Sample newspaper article
東京都は4日、新型コロナウイルスの感染防止のため、桜の名所として知られる上野公園(台東区)などの都立公園では飲食を伴う宴会を控えるよう呼び掛けた。間近に控えた花見シーズンを念頭にした措置。
都によると都立公園は82カ所あり、花見シーズンに例年300万人以上が訪れる上野公園のほか、井の頭公園や代々木公園など桜の名所が多い。
都は「花見時期は混雑が予想される。禁止はできないが、自粛に理解を」と説明。シーズン中は職員を各公園に派遣し、宴会に自粛を求める予定という。 (KYODO)
Words and phrases
東京都 (とうきょうと) the metropolis of Tokyo [acts as a stand-in for the metropolitan government]
4日 (よっか) the 4th
新型(しんがた)コロナウイルス novel coronavirus
感染防止 (かんせんぼうし) infection prevention
~のため for~
桜 (さくら) cherry blossom
名所 (めいしょ) famous place
~として知(し)られる to be known as~
上野公園 (うえのこうえん) Ueno Park
台東区 (たいとうく) Taito Ward
など and others
都立公園 (とりつこうえん) metropolitan park
飲食 (いんしょく) drinking and eating
~を伴(ともな)う to accompany~
宴会 (えんかい) drinking party
~を控(ひか)える to refrain from~ [when 控える is used with noun about act/behavior of people, it means “to refrain from”]
呼(よ)び掛(か)ける to call for, to appeal
間近(まぢか)に just around the corner
控(ひか)える to be upcoming [when 控える is used with a time-related noun, it means “to be upcoming”]
花見 (はなみ) blossom viewing
シーズン season
念頭(ねんとう)にする to keep in mind
措置 (そち) measure, move
都 (と) metropolis [metropolitan government]
~によると according to~
82カ所 (はちじゅうにかしょ) 82 spots
例年 (れいねん) average year
300万人 (さんびゃくまんにん) 3 million people
~以上 (~いじょう) more than~
訪(おとず)れる to visit
~のほか in addition to~
井の頭公園 (いのかしらこうえん) Inokashira Park
代々木公園 (よよぎこうえん) Yoyogi Park
多(おお)い many
時期 (じき) time period
混雑 (こんざつ) congestion
予想(よそう)される to be expected
禁止 (きんし) prohibition
できない unable
自粛 (じしゅく) self-restraint
理解 (りかい) understanding
説明 (せつめい) explanation
~中 (~ちゅう) during~
職員 (しょくいん) official
各 (かく) each
派遣(はけん)する to send
求(もと)める to request, demand
予定 (よてい) plan
Quick questions
1) 花見シーズンの前に、東京都は何を呼び掛けましたか？
2) 都によると、都立公園はいくつありますか？
3) シーズン中はどんな措置が取られる予定ですか？
Translation
In order to prevent infection from the novel coronavirus, The metropolis of Tokyo appealed [to people] on the 4th to refrain from [the kind of] drinking and eating that accompanies parties in metropolitan parks that are famous cherry blossom spots such as Ueno Park (Taito Ward). It’s a move that keeps in mind the upcoming blossom-viewing season, which is just around the corner.
According to Tokyo, there are 82 metropolitan parks, and in addition to Ueno Park, which is visited by more than 3 million people in the average year’s blossom-viewing season, there are many famous cherry blossom spots including Inokashira Park, Yoyogi Park and more.
A city [spokesperson] explains, “The blossom-viewing period is expected to be crowded. We can’t prohibit [parties, but ask you to] keep self-restraint in mind.” During the season, officials will be dispatched to each park, requesting [people] to show self-restraint [when it comes to] parties.
Answers
1) What has the Tokyo Metropolitan Government called for ahead of blossom viewing season?
都立公園で宴会を控えるように呼び掛けた。
It has called for people to refrain from holding parties in metropolitan parks.
2) According to the Tokyo government, how many metropolitan parks are there?
82か所。
82 spots (parks).
3) What kind of measures are planned to be taken during the season?
職員を各公園に派遣し、宴会に自粛を求める予定。
Officials are to be dispatched to each park to urge people to refrain from holding parties there.
Click to enlarge
