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Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 靴のひもが切れる 一富士二鷹三茄子 ----Formal Vowelled---- くつのひもがきれる いちふじにたかさんなすび ----Formal Romanization---- Kutsu no himo ga kireru Ichi Fuji ni taka san nasubi ----Formal English---- "A shoestring snapping" "1. Fuji, 2. Hawk, 3. Eggplant" --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 「報告」「連絡」「相談」の頭文字をつなげ、この3つの行動をあわせて「報・連・相(ホウレンソウ)」と呼ぶ。 緑色の葉物野菜spinach「ほうれん草」に掛けた、日本語のことば遊びの一つでもあるのだが、社会人として最も重要な心構えとしてよく知られている。 新入社員は、はじめに「ホウレンソウ」について徹底的に叩き込まれるといっても過言ではないだろう。 早い話、職場のコミュニケーションを円滑に行うよう心がけよ、ということなのだが、これが簡単なようでなかなかに難しい。 職場において、コミュニケーションが円滑に行われていなければ、業務に支障が出る。 ミスが多発し、顧客の信頼を失う。 そうなれば業績も下がるだろう。 業績が悪化するだけならまだしも、ことと次第によっては企業の存亡に関わる責任を負わされることもある。 したがって、職場における「知らなかった」「聞いていなかった」のトラブルは、未然に防ぐべきなのだが、どの程度の「内容」を、「いつ」「誰に」「どのように」、報告・連絡・相談するのかの判断は難しい。 それは何度かの失敗も含めて、経験によって培っていくしかないのだが、そもそもが“判断能力”に基づくものであるがゆえに個人差も大きい。 かくして、今日も職場では、八百屋でもないのに「ホウレンソウ」が連呼されるのである。 ----Formal English---- Connect the initial kanji characters of the Japanese words for three kinds of conduct—“reporting" (hou_koku), "making contact" (ren_raku), and "consultation" (sou_dan)—and you get hou_ren_sou, which means the green leafy vegetable “spinach” in Japanese. This is a Japanese play on words, but it is also well known as the most important mental attitude among responsible adults. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the “spinach” concept is hammered home quite thoroughly for newly-hired, young employees all over Japan. To make a long story short, its purpose is to enable smooth workplace communication, but this is easier said than done. Business can be hindered by a lack of smooth communication in the workplace. Customer trust can be lost by frequent mistakes. Business performance may suffer as a result. Poorer performance can ultimately risk the company’s very existence. Therefore, workplace problems such as "I did not know" and "I did not hear” absolutely should be prevented. But, the details of “reporting" (hou_koku), "making contact" (ren_raku), and "consultation" (sou_dan) can be difficult. What details are important, to whom should they be reported, when, and how. This capacity is cultivated only by experience, including a number of failures, and because it is based on a person’s judgment, there is a great variation among individuals. Thus, in today’s workplaces, even though we are not greengrocers, we are continuously chanting "spinach, spinach…spinach (hou_ren_sou)!" --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 第二次世界大戦が終結した1945年の11月3日、「日本国憲法」が公布された。 「国民主権」「基本的人権の尊重」を謳うこの憲法に基づいて、新たに「公職選挙法」が制定され、「20歳以上の男女」に選挙権が与えられることとなった。 日本では、1925年に普通選挙法が施行されていたが、選挙権は「25歳以上の男子」に限られており、女性には参政権がなかった。 ここに、ようやく女性参政権が実現したのである。 これにより、人口の約50%が有権者となった。 それから70年、この規定が維持されてきたが、若年層の投票率の低下や、政治への無関心などが社会問題となってきた。 そうしたなか、18歳までに選挙権を与える国や地域は、世界の約9割にのぼることなどから、日本でも「選挙権を18歳に引き下げる」ことが検討されはじめる。 さらに、介護保険など高齢者向けの政策充実が優先される一方で、子育て世代の政策がなおざりになっていることが指摘されるようになり、若年層の意見をより政策に反映させる必要が生じてきた。 そうしたことからついに2015年6月17日、「改正 公職選挙法」が成立する。 これにより選挙権の年齢は「20歳以上」から、「18歳以上」に引き下げられ、それにともなって選挙運動をすることができる年齢も「18歳以上」に引き下げられた。 このように法律は70年ぶりに改正されたが、低下している若年層の政治への関心を高め、主権者としての行動を促すためにはどのようにすればよいかなど、多くの課題が残されている。 ----Formal English---- “The Constitution of Japan" was promulgated on November 3rd in 1945, in the year when World War II ended. Based on this constitution which advocated "popular sovereignty" and "respect for basic human rights," "Public Officers Election Act" was newly regulated and "men and women whose ages are 20 and above" were given voting rights. In Japan, Universal Manhood Suffrage Act was in effect in 1925 but it limited voting rights for "men whose ages are 25 and above" and women had no suffrage. Finally, women acquired their suffrage. This increased the number of voters to 50 percents of Japanese population. This rule was maintained for 70 years.However, decreasing voting rates and indifference to politics in younger generations become social problems. In such situation, Japanese government start to consider to "lower the age to acquire voting rights to age 18" as people are given voting rights by the time they become 18 in approximately 90 percents of countries and regions in the world. Moreover, the government was pointed that it made light of policies for child-rearing generations while they have priority on ones for elder people such as care insurance. So the government needed to reflect younger generation's opinion more to policies. In the end, the revised Public Offices Election Law was in effect on June 17th , 2015. This lowers the age to acquire voting rights from "age 20 and above" to "age 18 and above" and allows people to campaign from age 18. The act was revised after 70 years but there are still many problems left such as how to increase interests to politics in younger generations and make them vote in elections. --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! [...]

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com! In your home country, there are some phrases that are so common you use them or hear them every day. The same is true in Japan too, so why not give your Japanese an instant boost by learning them in this video lesson? With Risa's help, you'll be sounding like a native Japanese speaker in no time!In this lesson, you'll learn 10 "Gamer Speak" Words. Visit us at JapanesePod101.com, where you will find many more fantastic Japanese lessons and learning resources. Leave us a message while you are there!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 私は、日本語ができます。 私は、ピアノができます。 学さんは、料理ができます。 佐藤さんはテニスができます。 佐藤さんはテニスができません。 佐藤さんはテニスができますか。 ----Formal Romanization---- Watashi wa, Nihon-go ga dekimasu. Watashi wa, piano ga dekimasu. Manabu-san wa, ryōri ga dekimasu. Satō san wa tenisu ga dekimasu. Satō san wa tenisu ga dekimasen. Satō san wa tenisu ga dekimasu ka. ----Formal English---- I can speak Japanese. I can play the piano. Manabu can cook. Satō can play tennis. Satō cannot play tennis. Can Satō play tennis? --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

In this Intermediate lesson, you'll learn Japanese words about Valentine's Day. Visit us at JapanesePod101.com, where you will find Japanese lesson notes and many more fantastic lessons and learning resources. Leave us a message while you are here! Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com! How would you react if someone put you on the spot with a Japanese question? That's exactly what happens to Risa in this series...but it's for a good cause:  to help you learn Japanese! In each lesson of this fun and lighthearted video series, you'll learn five Japanese words and phrases, plus sample sentences. Join us for Must-Know Japanese Holiday Words at JapanesePod101.com!

Learn Japanese Children's Songs with JapanesePod101.com! This series is a great way to improve your Japanese and discover new music at the same time! Learn the song's key words and phrases, then add it to your playlist to master it 100%. By listening over and over, you'll reinforce your learning in the most sweet-sounding way! In this lesson, you'll learn the key words and phrases in the song Wheels on the Bus. Visit us at JapanesePod101.com for more fantastic language learning resources. Leave us a message while you're there!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 北枕 福耳 ----Formal Vowelled---- きたまくら ふくみみ ----Formal Romanization---- Kita makura Fuku-mimi ----Formal English---- "North pillow" "Plump ears" --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn to write in Japanese with JapanesePod101.com! Written Japanese has three scripts: hiragana, katakana, and kanji, which is the most difficult to master. With this series, you'll learn all about how to write in these first two easier scripts. You'll be writing in Japanese in no time! In this lesson, you'll learn the last three characters in basic Japanese writing. Visit us at JapanesePod101.com, where you will find many more fantastic lessons and learning resources. Be sure to leave us a message while you are there!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 天道　きり:そうそう、あなた、今夜、晴夜さん...来ているのよ。 山川　雪男:あ、お客さんですか。 天道　雷三:え？え？あ、いや。あの男はもう帰りました。 天道　美雨:あ、パパ、お帰りなさい。 天道　雷三:雪男君、うちの娘の 美雨です。東京に 住んでいます。東京で 大学院に 通っています。 山川　雪男:あ、どうも。はじめまして。山川雪男と 申します。 :コンサルティング会社に 勤めています。美雨さんの 専攻は　何ですか。 天道　美雨:社会学を専攻しています。 Click here to listen to the entire conversation. ----Formal Vowelled---- てんどう　きり:そうそう、あなた、こんや、はるやさん...きて いるのよ。 やまかわ　ゆきお:あ、おきゃくさんですか。 てんどう　らいぞう:え？え？あ、いや。あの おとこは もう かえりました。 てんどう　みう:あ、パパ、おかえりなさい。 てんどう　らいぞう:ゆきおくん、うちの むすめの みうです。とうきょうに すんでいます。とうきょうで だいがくいんに かよって います。 やまかわ　ゆきお:あ、どうも。はじめまして。やまかわゆきおと もうします。 :コンサルティングがいしゃに つとめています。みうさんの せんこうは　なんですか。 てんどう　みう:しゃかいがくを せんこう して います。 ----Formal Romanization---- Tendō Kiri: Sō sō, anata, konya, Haruya-san... kite iru no yo. Yamakawa Yukio: A, o-kyaku-san desu ka. Tendō Raizō: E? E? A, iya. Ano otoko wa mō kaerimashita. Tendō Miu: A, papa, O-kaeri nasai. Tendō Raizō: Yukio-kun, uchi no musume no Miu desu. Tōkyō ni sunde imasu. Tōkyō de daigakuin ni kayotte imasu. Yamakawa Yukio: A, dōmo. Hajimemashite. Yamakawa Yukio to mōshimasu. : Konsarutingu gaisha ni tsutomete imasu. Miu-san no senkō wa nan desu ka. Tendō Miu: Shakaigaku o senkō shite imasu. ----Formal English---- Tendo Kiri (to Raizou): That's right. Haruya is here tonight. Yamakawa Yukio: Oh, a guest? Tendo Raizou: Wha-? Huh? Oh, that boy already left. Tendo Miu: Welcome home dad. Tendo Raizou: Yukio-kun, this is my daughter Miu. She lives in Tokyo and goes to graduate school there. Yamakawa Yukio: Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Yamakawa Yukio. : I work at a consulting firm. What’ is your major, Miu? Tendo Miu: I’m majoring in Sociology. --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- 妹がいます。 こどもがいます。 日本人の友達がいます。 弟がいます。 弟がいません。 弟がいますか。 ----Formal Romanization---- Imōto ga imasu. Kodomo ga imasu. Nihon-jin no tomodachi ga imasu. Otōto ga imasu. Otōto ga imasen. Otōto ga imasu ka. ----Formal English---- I have a sister. I have a kid. I have a Japanese friend. I have a younger brother. I don't have a younger brother. Do you have a younger brother? --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- --------------------------- Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101! Don't forget to stop by JapanesePod101.com for more great Japanese Language Learning Resources!