お年玉は、正月に、両親やあいさつに訪れた親戚などが 子供に与えるお金です。元は正月に神に捧げた餅などを、 年 改めて神から賜わったものとして各自に分け与えたことか 玉 ら生まれた習慣だといわれています。近年では子供の数の 減少とともに、 1 人当たりに与えるお年玉 の金額が高額化しています。この時期には 出費の多い両親が、子供にお金を借りたく なったとしても不思議ではないほどです。 ew Year's gift : 0 ama is money given at New Year to children by parents and relatives who come tO visit. Originally, it was said tO be a custom born from sharing rice cakes dedicated tO the deities at New Year as something bestowed anew by the deities. ln recent years, along with the reduced number of children, the amount of 0 ama money given tO one child is increasing. SO much that it is not so strange for parents with a lOt Of expenses at this season to want to make a loan of the money to their children. もともとは「へそ ( 糸を巻きつけたもの ) 」を「繰る 0 ( 巻き取る ) 」ことで貯めた金という意味で、封建社会の 父長制の下で家計にタッチできなかった主婦が、内職 く でわすかに得られた、自由にできる金銭のことでした。 現在では、倹約してこっそり貯めた小額の金を意味し、 り 「へそくり」から「へそ」を連想するためか、悲壮感より はむしろ明るいニュアンスを持つ言葉となっています。 ecret savings ・ Originally, this meant money saved by spinning" はⅢ・の the "reel" ( ん 0 ) and it referred to the free spending money that housewives, who under the feudal society' s patriarchal system could not touch the family finances, barely earned with side jObs. At present, it means a small amount of money secretly saved by frugal means, and, perh 叩 s because the word 〃巳ゞ 0 Of んゞ 0 た″ alSO means S 、 navel" as well as 、、 reel,' it is regarded as a word with a comical nuance rather than with a tragic feeling. Otoshidama おとしだま ノ & 7 ◆

【振袖ー ふりそで Furisode ー 未婚女性の第一礼装 ong-slee 、 'ed kimono : The prime ceremonial clothing for unmarried women. 【日本髪】にほんがみ / 。。。。、 i 未婚女性は、着物を着るとき は主に島田髷に結います。 apanese coiffure Single women generally arrange their hair in the Shimada coiffure when they wear kimono. 【帯揚げ】おびあけ / 。 bi 。 g 。・ 帯の結び目が下がらないよ うに結びます。 ash bustle : Ⅱ is tied [ 0 prevent the knot Of the sash from sliding down. 0 T 「 aditional Cultu 「 e 【帯締め】びじめ / 。。ⅲ , 。。 帯が解けないように、結ん だ帯の上に締めます。代わ りに帯留めを用いることも あります。 ash band : Ⅱ is fas- tened 0 、℃ r a tied sash so that the sash will not be undone. lt can be substitut- ed by a sash clip. 0 へ . ノ、 【草履】卩うり / , 。。 , 和装用の履物で、底は平ら で鼻緒があります。主に革 やビニールなどでできてい ます。 apanese sandals : Traditional footwear for use with Japanese clothing. They have flat soles and a clog thong that is principally made of leather or vinyl. 和装用の靴下です。足先が、 親指と他の 4 本の指とに分かれています。 apanese SOCkS : SOCkS used when wearing a kimono. The toes are separated intO a part fO 「 a big toe and a part for the Other fourtoes. 7 7 7 ◆

◆ 地 理 気 風 ◆ か 活火山 active volcanoes 湯治場が形成されています。 泉は古くからさまざまな病気に効くことが知られ、各地に に温泉を湧出せしめて、人々の健康に寄与しています。温 この火山は日本列島に被害をもたらすだけでなく、各地 ますが、やがてまた爆発するだろうといわれています。 れています。富士山も歴史的に何度も大爆発を起こしてい 火はふもとの町を火砕流と土石流で襲い、全滅の危機に陥 をもたらします。 1991 年から続く長崎県の雲仙普賢岳の噴 ています。各地の火山はときどき大噴火をして山麓に被害 走り、世界でも最も地震・火山活動が活発な地域を形成し 地震地帯にほば重なるようにして火山地帯が日本列島を olcanoes : Kazan regions run along the Japan Archipelago, almost overlaying the earthquake belts, and together they form the world's most active earthquake and たこの 7 region. K こ召〃 in some regions occasionally have ーれ a. 」 or eruptions causing damage at the fOOt Of the mountains. The eruptions Of Mt. Unzen- fugen in Nagasaki Prefecture that have continued since 1991 have assaulted the surrounding villages with lava and earth and rock flows and the villages have fallen intO a crisis Of tOtal destruction. Mt. Fuji t00 has had large eruptions a number 0f times in the past, and it is believed that it might erupt again. These こ住〃 not only cause damage to the Japan Archipelago, they alSO cause hOt springs tO gush out in various parts Of the country and so are conducive t0 the good health 0f the people. Known for a long time tO be effective against vanous illnesses, there are h0t springs all over Japan. 326 ・

◆ ミん目 日本では漫画は大衆文化の 1 っとなっています。子供向 けから少年・少女向け、サラリーマンや OL 向けなど、それ ぞれの年齢層に合わせた漫画雑誌が数多く発行されており、 スーツ姿のサラリーマンが電車内で漫画雑誌を読む光景も 珍しくありません。しかし、中には単なる娯楽を超えた作 品もあり、最近では経済、歴史などを漫画で分かりやすく 解説した本も出版され、好調な売れ行きを見せています。 omiCS : ln Japan manga have become a part Of mass culture. Large numbers 0f 〃〃 g magazines are being published, aimed at various age brackets: boys, girls, white collar business- men, young female office workers (known as OL—、、 office ladies")' and others. lt iS not unusual tO see white collar businessmen suits reading 襯〃 g magazines in trains. However, there are alSO works that go beyond simple entertainment. Recently, b00ks with easy-to-understand 〃 7 〃 g explanations Of economics, history, and so on have been published and show a favorable demand. ン一 オ 2 映画館の 3 分の 1 以下の料金で、自宅で気軽に映画が こ 10 年足らすの間 見られることから需要が多くなり、 にレンタルビデオ・ショップの数は急激に増加しました。 ビデオ・ソフトの売上高も、映画の興行収入の倍以上と なり、今や映画は映画館で見るものではなく、ビデオ化 されたものを借りて見るものとなりつつあります。その ため、閉館を余儀なくされた映画館も少なくありません。 ideo rental : There is a lot of demand for this, since the movies can be watched leisurely at home at a cost less than one-third Of movie theaters; in the span Of barely ten years the number Of video rental stores has increased rapidly. Gross sales Of video software, t00 , have more than doubled the exhibition income for movies. Movies now are no longer tO be seen only in theaters but increasingly are seen after being put on video. Consequently, quite a few movie theaters have been forced tO close down. ◆ 278

Preface May 1999 John K. GiIIespie and easily and without resorting tO stereotypes. explaining—the vast and fascinating array 0f J 叩 anese culture more clearly considered as a manual tO assist the reader in understanding--and format, will support its readers in that effort. ln that sense, this bOOk can be We hope that this book, with its wide selection of topics and bilingual describe their culture but t0 explain why they practice it the way they d0. The communication challenge for Japanese, therefore, is not just to only frustrate. not explain. B0th choices, therefore, are ultimately unsatisfying and will unsatisfying; saying that 、。 Japanese" dO an activity describes but does and all are challenging t0 explain t0 outsiders. The latter choice is also explanation; in short, all cultures feel that they are different or distinctive more or less different than any Other culture and just as deserving Of former chOice ignores the crucial truth that Japanese culture is in fact no offer only stereotypical descriptions Of the "We Japanese" variety. The understand it. S 0 they Often elect either tO give no explanation at all or tO fear that Japanese culture is SO different that non-Japanese will not be able tO may feel insufficiently fluent in English t0 express themselves adequately or Faced with that difficulty, many J 叩 anese despair Of explanations. They tO non-Japanese, most conspicuously tO Americans. The difficulty comes, therefore, when there is a need to explain their culture Japanese have the same culture, there is little need tO explain it tO each Other. but they probably know it in a subjective, subconscious way; since all tO that supply. J 叩 anese people already know their own culture, Of course, often have only a small supply of knowledge about Japan, can certainly add Japanese culture in an objective, systematic way. 、 Mestern readers, WhO Japanese culture. This allows the readers 0f b0th languages t0 learn about knowledge, in Japanese and English, on several hundred key aspects 0f perspective. lt attempts tO increase understanding by providing basic The purpose 0f this b00k is t0 address bOth reasons, from Japan's respective cultures tO each Other. non-Japanese Often experlence difficulty when attempting tO explain their Of the world, particularly the United States, is insufficient, and J 叩 anese and reasons account for this: mutual understanding between Japan and the rest does not always communicate effectively beyond its borders. TWO basic United States it produces nearly 45 % of the world' s econormc output—it Although Japan is a pre-eminent industrial power—together with the

( 1 ・日本という国 何かを決める際に、混乱を避けて皆の合意をあらかじめ 取り付けておくための技術を根回しといいます。このこと の本来の意味は、木を移動させる際に根をあらかじめ切 し りつめておき、移植を容易にすることでした。 異なる意見を持った者同士がいきなり会議に集まれば、 なかなか意見の一致をみることはできません。しかし根回 しをし、あらかじめ意見を調整しておけば、会議で無駄な 時間を浪費することなく結論へと至ることができるのです。 しかしこれが政治の場で行われるときには、国民には見え ないところで政策が決定される恐れがあり、民主主義的で はないという批判もあります。 rior consultation When making decisions, a technique tO avoid confusion and gain consent from everyone in advance is called 〃夜〃 w 仏ゞ〃 /. The original meaning Of this word is tO cut roots short before moving a tree, so that the tree can be easily transplanted. If people with different opinions suddenly hold a meeting, they can hardly reach an agreement. But if 〃群〃 w 仏ⅵ / is practiced and opinions are adjusted beforehand, conclusions can be reached in meetings without wasting time. However, When 〃川ル 4 、ゞ / 汀 iS practiced in politics, there is the fear that policies are not made in front Of the people's eyes; thus, some criticize 〃召〃 zaw 召、〃 / as not being democratic. Nemawashi ねまわし P 29 ◆

◆ な 蟇丿 ( ゾ 年イ匕び 日 祭 祝 花火大会は夏の代表的な風物です。江戸時代 ( 183 ~ 1867 ) に江戸 ( 現在の東京 ) の隅田川で、玉屋と鍵屋という花火メ ーカーが竸って打ち上げた花火大会がその起源です。夏には 各地で花火大会が行われます。日本の夏は暑く、湿気が多い ので、眠れぬ夜の慰みにふさわしいにぎやかな催しです。夜 いさきま 空に美しく咲いてパッと消える様子は、桜と同様、潔さや 無常の象徴にたとえられます。 ireworks display 〃〃わ / ー ta / constitute a typical summer scene. They originated in the Ed0 Peri0d ( 1603 ー 1867 ) with the exhibition 0f fireworks held competitively between の〃の and K 住 g い住 , which were firework factories. ln summer, fireworks displays occur throughout Japan. Because Japanese summers are hot and humid, these are appropriately lively gatherings for amusement on nights when one IS unable tO sleep. The spectacle of fireworks blooming beautifully, then dis 叩 pearing with a pop can be taken as a symbol Of graceful resignation or transiency like cherry blossoms. たき、供物を川や海に流すのです。 と霊を送り返します。これを精霊送りといい、送り火を門ロで しようりよう いにし、野菜や果物などの供物を飾ります。そして盆が終わる いたり、室内にちょうちんをともしたりするほか、仏壇をきれ われているため、霊が道に迷わないよう家の門ロで迎え火をた 先祖の霊を供養するものです。このときに霊が戻ってくるとい 7 月 13 日から 15 日、または 8 月に行われる仏教行事の 1 つで、 ◆ 280 homes and offerings are floated on nvers and the ocean. spirits and fires tO send them on their way are lit at entrances Of the spirits are sent on their way. This is called the escorting Of the vegetables and fruit are set out as offerings. And when わ 0 〃 is over, inside homes, the Buddhist home alters are tidied up and spirlts dO not lose their way, and, in addition tO lanterns being lit return at this time, fires are lit at the entrances tO homes SO the the spirits Of ancestors. Because the spirits Of the dead are said tO 13th to 15th of JuIy or August to hold a memorial service for 0 〃 Festi 、 'al : This is a Buddhist event occurring from the

◆ 0 は冐 ち三 : 尺八は竹製の管楽器です。長さが日本の昔の度量衡で、 1 尺と 8 勺・であることからその名が付けられました。構造 は竹筒に穴をあけた簡単なものですが、息の吹き込み方や 唇と吹きロとの間隔、指の押さえ具合などで音階や音色に 微妙な変化が出るのが特徴です。西洋の笛にはない独特な 音が出るため、ジャズや現代音楽にも取り入れられて、表 現の幅を広げています。 i 、← ho d bamboo clarinet : Shakuhachi is a wind instrument made 0f bamboo. lts length, by the 01d Japanese standard 0f weights and measures, is one 、ゞ / た″ (about one fOOt) and eight ac ん ) Ⅷ〃 (one tenth 0f a 、ゞ / たの , so that is how it got its name. lt is made by simply putting h01es in a bamboo tube, but its chief characteristic is the cur1011S changes in scale and tone coloration that come out with the style Of blowing intO it, with the space between the lips and the mouthpiece and with the manner 0f controlling the fingering. Because a unique sound, not found in Western flutes, emerges, the 5 ' / た″ / ん / has been incorporated intO Jazz and contemporary music, extending itS range Of expression. 工王 上ヒ 工王 巴 び三 わ 琵琶は東洋の弦楽器の 1 つです。起源はベルシア・アラ ビアとされ、インドや中国を経て奈良時代 ( 710 ~ 794 ) に日 本に伝わりました。木製で楕円形をした胴に 4 本ないし 5 本の弦が張ってあり、ばちを使って弾きます。『平家物語』 などを語るときに伴奏に使われることで有名で、女流演奏 者による演奏会も行われています。 originated in Persia and Arabia and came tO Japan through apanese lute : Biwa is an Oriental stringed instrument. lt lndia and China in the Nara Peri0d ( 710 ー 794 ). The body, which is made 0f wood and oval shaped, is strung with four or five strings, and it is played with a plectrum. lt is well- known for being used in chanting 、、 Heike monogatari" ( ん 0 / 〃 e 褫の and Other tales, and performances are most Often by female artists.

小唄も今日に引き継がれている邦楽の 1 つで、三味線に 合わせて洒落や風刺のきいた歌が歌われます。江戸時代 ( 1603 ~ 1867 ) の小品の三味線唄である端唄から派生したも ので、明治時代 ( 1868 ~ 1912 ) 後期に今日のような形にな りました。現在では家元がたくさんあり、小唄の愛好者も つミ 多く、手軽にできる宴会芸としても人気があります。また、 小唄の三味線ではばちを使わす、爪弾いて演奏するのが特 徴です。 ittle ballads : Kouta is a kind 0f Japanese music handed down to tOday and features songs Of humor and irony sung tO s al 〃 e 〃 accompaniment. KO ″ ballads are derived from the short s ん〃 e 〃 songs 0f the Ed0 Peri0d ( 1603 ー 1867 ) known as shortlove songs (ha- の , and they assumed their present form at the end 0f the Meiji Period ( 1868-1912 ). Today there are lots of schools and many lovers Of た 0 ″ ; it is alSO popular as informal entertainment at dinner parties. ln addition, an outstanding feature Of た 0 ″ is that the s んのれな〃 is played with the fingers, not with a plectrum. 一定の演じる場所を持たず、人々の多く集まる道ばたで 大 演する芸をいいます。演じて喜捨を乞う場合と物を売るた 道 めに演する場合とがあります。浪花節など日本の伝統芸の いくっかも、最初は大道芸から出発しました。物を売る場 合は初めに口上を述べて人々の関心を引きつけ、最後に物 を買わせるという手順を踏むため、その口上自体が芸とな し、三 . ったものもあります。がまの汕 ( 膏・脂 ) 売りはその典型 ど ・つ 例です。 treet performances : These are performances with no fixed locale on roadsides where a lot 0f people gather. They are performed either tO receive donations or tO sell things. Some Of Japan's traditional performing arts, such as 〃 0 れ i ル 4- わ〃 s ん i reciting, started out as イⅲイわ g . Events usually began with a monologue drawing people's attention tO the items for sale tO entice them tO buy at the end, and the monologues themselves sometimes became artistic performances. Selling "toad's grease (something like "snake 0il") is a typical example. T 「 aditional Cultu 「 e 石 7 ◆

◆スポーツ Sports 【空手 空手は中国の拳法と沖縄の武術とが組み合わさって完成 され、護身術として発達してきました。武器を使わす、 ぶしやひじ、足などを使って戦います。基本戦法は突き、 守り、蹴りとひじうちです。 空手の試合は、「組手」と「型」の 2 種類に分けられます。 組手試合では、有効な突きや蹴りの技を仕掛けると得点に なるのですが、実際の攻撃は相手の身体に当たる寸前でや めなければなりません。型試合では、 1 人または団体でさ まざまな技の組み合わせを披露します。このときは技の正 確さや姿勢、気合いなどが判定基準となります。空手では 強さだけでなく、精神面も重視されているのです。 arate was formed by combining Chinese kung-fu ( 〃〃の with Okinawan martial arts and developed as an art 0f self- defense. One fights not with weapons but with fistS' elbows and feet. Basic tactics include the forward fist thrust and defense' kicking, and the backward elbow thrust. Karate matches are Of tWO kinds: sparring match ( たⅢ〃″の and form competition は ta ). Matches against an opponent are scored by launching effective thrusts and kickS' but blows must st0P short of hitting the opponent's b0dy. ん matches are demonstrations Of various combinations Of by person or a group. Judgment is based on such standards as the accuracy, posture, and spiritedness 0f the techniques displayed. Karate emphasizes not only physical strength but spiritual aspects as well. ◆ -98